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Friday, October 02, 2009
Skype Headset Giveaway!!!
Frugal Upstate is giving away 3 Skype Everyman Headset Packages with Unlimited Calling to NA but you have to hurry. Comment or tweet to enter on the Frugal Blog!
Only 3 days left to enter.
Only 3 days left to enter.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Skype For Business Winners Announced
Skype For Business Winners Announced: "I've been meaning to post this since Monday, but the Smart Grid Summit is just keeping me too busy. Anyhow, I've been a Skype follower from the beginning, and try to keep up as best I can. I don't have the dedicated focus of Skype Journal or Jim Courtney's blog, and those are the places to go for the in-depth low down on what Skype is up to.
That said, I get asked by the media a lot about Skype for business in particular. It's always been a bit of a conundrum, as you don't always think of Skype as a business application, even though it's so widely used in the office. Problem is, most people associate Skype with PC-based telephony, but of course, it's so much more.
Aside from the Summit activity, we're off on vacation tomorrow, so I don't have the luxury to time to give you any real analysis of the purpose of this post. Basically, on Monday Skype announced the winners of their global Skype For Business Competition. The results were posted on Stefan Oberg's Skype blog that day, and you can review them all there. I don't know how many entries were submitted, but it's great way to get the Skype developer community focused on real world applications that add value for business users.
It's great to see the global breadth of the winners, although it's too bad there were no Canadian winners! Anyhow, just a quick scan indicates there are business applications that go beyond basic voice calling, and hopefully Skype is takig some good steps forward to develop a suite of features that can be monetized with business users. There's lots of latent opportunity for building on everyday Skype features and extending that to collaboration, and there are some examples of that in the posting.
What really stands out for me, though, is how many winning apps have to do with language translation and learning English in foreign countries. Skype sure is a natural tool for that, and all Skype users get their share of random requests from people who just want chat to learn English - I know I do. The international community is probably the one thing Skype has over all the other IM platforms, mainly because they are largely U.S. in origin. By extension, I would think this could be the pot of gold for Skype as a business tool - either to support multinational businesses or as a platform to enable international business, regardless of language. That's my two cents for now, and if you have another take, I'd love to hear it.
All told, though, congrats to the winners, and I sure hope this is a sign of good things to come for Skype in the business world.
"
That said, I get asked by the media a lot about Skype for business in particular. It's always been a bit of a conundrum, as you don't always think of Skype as a business application, even though it's so widely used in the office. Problem is, most people associate Skype with PC-based telephony, but of course, it's so much more.
Aside from the Summit activity, we're off on vacation tomorrow, so I don't have the luxury to time to give you any real analysis of the purpose of this post. Basically, on Monday Skype announced the winners of their global Skype For Business Competition. The results were posted on Stefan Oberg's Skype blog that day, and you can review them all there. I don't know how many entries were submitted, but it's great way to get the Skype developer community focused on real world applications that add value for business users.
It's great to see the global breadth of the winners, although it's too bad there were no Canadian winners! Anyhow, just a quick scan indicates there are business applications that go beyond basic voice calling, and hopefully Skype is takig some good steps forward to develop a suite of features that can be monetized with business users. There's lots of latent opportunity for building on everyday Skype features and extending that to collaboration, and there are some examples of that in the posting.
What really stands out for me, though, is how many winning apps have to do with language translation and learning English in foreign countries. Skype sure is a natural tool for that, and all Skype users get their share of random requests from people who just want chat to learn English - I know I do. The international community is probably the one thing Skype has over all the other IM platforms, mainly because they are largely U.S. in origin. By extension, I would think this could be the pot of gold for Skype as a business tool - either to support multinational businesses or as a platform to enable international business, regardless of language. That's my two cents for now, and if you have another take, I'd love to hear it.
All told, though, congrats to the winners, and I sure hope this is a sign of good things to come for Skype in the business world.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Voxeo + Tropo + Adhearsion = $
Some really great news today from the folks @ Adhearsion. I have spoken about Adhearsion in the past, it is very impressive - it goes beyond telephony toolkit or Voice API's, and with today's announcement puts it in a class of its own when it comes to Voice applications.
Adhearsion has joined Voxeo to launch Voxeo Labs. Essentially what this means is now the 'Sandbox' Adhearsion once sat in, has the power of the Voxeo network to draw on for applications.
To put this in context, I can (in probably less than 2 days) build a customized and interactive Voice Recognition front end tied to an ecommerce engine with an interactive telephony driven website. Doing something like that even 2 years ago was a 6 month build - this is child's play for Adhearsion. It is really groundbreaking stuff.
The challenge Voxeo Labs has is clear. Make decision makers understand the value add Voxeo Labs can bring to their business. They need (and I know they will build) sample apps. to demo the network, and recruit an army of business saavy developers to make the apps that will drive the traffic on the network.
Most importantly however is this - This platform gives developers an opportunity to really make money $$, the apps. created on this network will be affordable and powerful, this really levels the playing field for small developers and gives them an excellent opportunity to reach a global audience for their applications much in the same way that the App Store has done with the iPhone.
Congrats to the Adhearsion guys and kudo's to Voxeo for seizing this opportunity.
Adhearsion has joined Voxeo to launch Voxeo Labs. Essentially what this means is now the 'Sandbox' Adhearsion once sat in, has the power of the Voxeo network to draw on for applications.
To put this in context, I can (in probably less than 2 days) build a customized and interactive Voice Recognition front end tied to an ecommerce engine with an interactive telephony driven website. Doing something like that even 2 years ago was a 6 month build - this is child's play for Adhearsion. It is really groundbreaking stuff.
The challenge Voxeo Labs has is clear. Make decision makers understand the value add Voxeo Labs can bring to their business. They need (and I know they will build) sample apps. to demo the network, and recruit an army of business saavy developers to make the apps that will drive the traffic on the network.
Most importantly however is this - This platform gives developers an opportunity to really make money $$, the apps. created on this network will be affordable and powerful, this really levels the playing field for small developers and gives them an excellent opportunity to reach a global audience for their applications much in the same way that the App Store has done with the iPhone.
Congrats to the Adhearsion guys and kudo's to Voxeo for seizing this opportunity.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Note to Jim Balsillie: Forget the Coyotes, get me a bloody BB Desktop Manager for Mac before I buy an iPhone.
Here is a public note to RIM, Jim Balsillie and anyone else in that organization that will listen.
Why do you hate Mac Users?
Herein lies the problem (as you don't seem to understand it) and the reason for my tirade, you don't have a Blackberry Desktop Manager for Mac. You license an application called PocketMac which 'sort of works' but not really.
The incredible lack of foresight and business strategy by ignoring 11% of your customer base is astounding, it is almost criminal. I can't explain it, the only possible reason for your utter contempt for Mac users is that no one in RIM uses a Mac.
Here is an important piece of information for you - the only reason I haven't switched to an iPhone is because of Google Sync. If it wasn't for Google Sync, I would have no way to reliably sync my calendar and contacts to my Mac and I would no longer be a Blackberry user. And let me be clear, I don't want to use an iPhone - it doesn't run background apps., it doesn't support UMA, it doesn't have a program like BB messenger and I really don't like typing on the softkeyboard.. but what is important to remember is it doesn't do these things YET...
I currently run Windows 7 on my Mac in a Virtual Machine (a feature you don't support btw, which just lights my fire even more). I am running the Windows 7 beta which runs out in exactly 1 year. At this point, if I wish to continue to run Windows I will have to pay. The ONLY reason I run Windows at all, is to have the ability to update, backup and maintain my BB . I am NOT going to buy a Windows license just so I can continue to use my BB. I will be forced to switch to an iPhone.
Your strategy to not support Apple is astoundingly poor. Last year you spend a bunch of money developing Media Manger for Mac.. A completely useless piece of software, that does NOTHING as drag and drop works perfectly, and is actually easier to use.
Mac users are early adopters, influencers, bloggers, and the people whom are passionate about technology. I can't tell you how much I drive my peer group nuts blabbering on about how much the BB is the one and only work solution. I don't think you can afford to lose 11% of your customer base to Apple, it is completely unnecessary, hire a Mac team - and let them loose. You will be surprised at the unexpected benefits...
Why do you hate Mac Users?
Herein lies the problem (as you don't seem to understand it) and the reason for my tirade, you don't have a Blackberry Desktop Manager for Mac. You license an application called PocketMac which 'sort of works' but not really.
The incredible lack of foresight and business strategy by ignoring 11% of your customer base is astounding, it is almost criminal. I can't explain it, the only possible reason for your utter contempt for Mac users is that no one in RIM uses a Mac.
Here is an important piece of information for you - the only reason I haven't switched to an iPhone is because of Google Sync. If it wasn't for Google Sync, I would have no way to reliably sync my calendar and contacts to my Mac and I would no longer be a Blackberry user. And let me be clear, I don't want to use an iPhone - it doesn't run background apps., it doesn't support UMA, it doesn't have a program like BB messenger and I really don't like typing on the softkeyboard.. but what is important to remember is it doesn't do these things YET...
I currently run Windows 7 on my Mac in a Virtual Machine (a feature you don't support btw, which just lights my fire even more). I am running the Windows 7 beta which runs out in exactly 1 year. At this point, if I wish to continue to run Windows I will have to pay. The ONLY reason I run Windows at all, is to have the ability to update, backup and maintain my BB . I am NOT going to buy a Windows license just so I can continue to use my BB. I will be forced to switch to an iPhone.
Your strategy to not support Apple is astoundingly poor. Last year you spend a bunch of money developing Media Manger for Mac.. A completely useless piece of software, that does NOTHING as drag and drop works perfectly, and is actually easier to use.
Mac users are early adopters, influencers, bloggers, and the people whom are passionate about technology. I can't tell you how much I drive my peer group nuts blabbering on about how much the BB is the one and only work solution. I don't think you can afford to lose 11% of your customer base to Apple, it is completely unnecessary, hire a Mac team - and let them loose. You will be surprised at the unexpected benefits...
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Puddle Jump Fail
Totally unrelated to technology, but please vote for this picture on Failblog of my buddy Jean Marc attempting a puddle jump - it is a one in a million picture.
It is at the bottom of Page 3 of the voting page.
more fail, owned and pwned pics and videos
It is at the bottom of Page 3 of the voting page.
more fail, owned and pwned pics and videos
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