Hulu Going Subscription .... What's The Alternative?

It appears that Hulu will no longer be free. They're moving toward a paid subscription model.

In an interview of CEO Jonathan Nelson on Charlie Rose he said they were soon going payware because fee based services, as well as ad supported, was the model that works best. Charlie Rose had to drag it out of him, but he finally admitted to this plan.

They're making a slow drive towards a pay model because they could potentially make more through an Itune's like model of pay-per-episode.

Right now there's no alternative, except to go directly to the broadcaster - as most put up the shows on their site. Most major channels have some sort of capacity to watch recent episodes after the broadcast premier. Some require you to have a certain ISP/telecom while others require you to live in a certain country. If you're in America, you should be ok - but outside of North America is where it'll get tricky if not impossible to watch shows legally.

"Hulu, which ranks second only to Google's YouTube in terms ...... generated more than $100 million in revenue from advertising."

Greedy morons. It's the fact that it's free that so many use it. They need to look at the real world. Online games that where once month sub are now also going free to play using other means to make there money. The wells are drying up. If they want bigger profit margins, pay the ceo's more realist salaries.

Besides, all these big corps need to get their heads out of their rear ends and realize, without the customers, there would be no companies for the money bags to invest in. Stop worrying about investors and worry about the customers. Make them happy and you'll have something attract the investors.

Bundled High Speed Internet, Phone Service, And Cable TV From Comcast, Charter, Time Warner

Probably the most cost effective way to have residential high speed internet, phone service, and cable TV ..... is to get them bundled together from one provider.

Not all providers of any of the 3 offer the other two though.

But .... Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Charter Communications do offer all three. At a very nice cost savings too.

You should see for your self:

* Comcast

* Time Warner Cable

* Charter Communications

Outsourcing Telecom Networks And Managed Services

Outsourcing of Telecom Networks and managed services APPEARS to be a strong trend in the Telecom world.

However, is this really providing valuable benefits to the organization …… or just a perception of benefit?

The main perceived benefits seem to be:

- Increased efficiency

- Access to a broader and deeper knowledge pool

- Clearer visibility of, and more control over, capital and operating expense

- Allows the operator to focus its efforts on serving the customer better rather than the management its technology infrastructure.

Cost is definitely one reason for outsourcing and potentially an increase in quality as someone else has suggested in this discussion. The buyer however needs to take into consideration the total cost of the project and have a contingency element to cover any cost of quality issues that may arise. I have had personal experience of where an new supplier came on board to maintain a network who needed a lot of hand holding by both my employer's company and also another incumbent supplier to bring the new supplier's level of quality up to scratch. On paper the new supplier's offering had been very good.

Another key reason for outsourcing can be the opporunity to reduce the numbers of staff that the network operator has. By outsourcing the network operation the operator can TUPE across staff into the new supplier's business. This potentially reduces the operators exposure to redundancy costs and also enables it to have a more flexible service provision.

KPIs and SLAs can certainly be introduced but they do not ensure quality levels. When putting KPIs together, irrespective of commodity, it would be suggested that there is a risk and reward element rather than using them as a stick to beat the supplier with. If you try to shift all the risk on to the supplier by introducing high penalties then you could well find that the KPIs and SLAs have a negative impact rather than the positive one you were hoping for.

Outsourcing is often seen as the panacea to a company's problems however if you are not prepared to put in the time and effort to manage and build the relationship with the supplier then the company could end up with more problems than ever before.
There are potentially bad outcomes too … often overlooked or ignored in the planning and honeymoon stages. Remember to keep in mind that:

-It takes time for an outsourcing company to learn the inner workings/processes of an operator, so there will be an inevitable teething period in the meantime.

-Depending on the business model of the outsourcing firm, IBMs model was to bring in employees from the Indian operations. And although hardworking/diligent/professional workers there were undeniable language, communication and cultural barriers which most certainly hindered efficiency. Both these cons counteract the perceptions that the outsourced model is more efficient.

- I found that there was a lack of ownership/accountability within an outsourcing company. I hazard to say that this is due to the displacement between the management of the operator and who the technical support staff are reporting to, and there being another layer of management to communicate between.

- Definitely a valid point too often given little attention is this ….. as an employee that is outsourced you don’t have the same feeling of belonging within the organization or job satisfaction, which in turn effects an employee’s motivation and therefore productivity.

The outsourced model has certainly taken hold for network operators, even more so since traditional telecoms services such as Voice/SMS are becoming less and less profitable. But the perceived merits of the outsourced model are yet to be proven in my opinion.

Will Android Kill The iPhone?

It seems to me that Google is well on it’s way to doing to the iPhone what Microsoft did to Apple/Mac. I see a lot of similarities. Many analysts also predict Android based phones will dominate the handset market in the years ahead.

In the battle of iPhone vs Android, it is hard to tell, but since Apple will never license its software (at least for as long as Jobs is alive) I am pretty sure they will both have a share.

The PC market explosion was driven by the cost benefits of standardizing hardware, which took PCs from specialized workstations to household items. But the mobile hardware market is already more or less standardized and prices aren't that high. I bet Apple could launch an "emerging markets iPhone" in terms of pricing, they just don't want to for the risk of cannibalization right now.

So Android's value proposition comes from the ability to vary the hardware configuration and user interfaces while maintaining a common platform. That could be attractive, but only if and when vendors other than Apple can find at least a niche where their portfolio of devices are better. Right now I am not seeing it, but I think its mostly due to poor execution, oversized organizations (the old mobile vendors) and inexperience with user interface differentiation (the PC vendors).

Maybe the most interesting aspect to your question is: what will become of the _other_ operating systems? Windows Mobile, Java, Symbian, LiMo, Bada, Maemo, Blackberry, Palm WebOS come to mind. Can there really be a third and fourth platform when there is also the mobile web (HTML5 etc) to contend with? I think the line goes at max 3, and that puts them all at risk.

The major difference between Android and iPhone, is the fact that Android offers a completely open development environment. Anyone can produce an Android device; and anyone can develop and distribute Android apps (without the need of having a MAC or a single distribution channel).

In my opinion, THAT's the major benefit of the Android platform.

Is Business Ethernet The End Of SONET Bandwidth Network Solutions?

Greg Collins and Mark Streaker wrote a great article in the Business Communication Review magazine about how Ethernet will eventually replace SONET. See Ethernet and SONET

[As a quick refresher for anyone needing it .... SONET establishes Optical Carrier (OC) levels from 51.8 Mbps (OC-1) to 9.95 Gbps (OC-192). OC3 bandwidth is probably the most common version in the business environment.]

Keep in mind that this article was published back in 2001, when the Internet bubble was in the midst of bursting.

Fast forward 9 years later and the telecommunication industry has fully recovered, carriers are now focusing on filling the capacity of their "dark fiber" sitting in the ground.

Mr. Collins has a great point, but at the pace at which carriers can afford to build out lit buildings I believe it will still be quite some time before we see the end of SONET. Investors aren't throwing money at Telecoms for more fiber like they did in the late 90's - carriers have to wait for existing footprint to fill up before charging up the next hill to plant their fiberous flag.

Now the other side of the build out assessment is more rosy in their view. Believing that leading carriers tend to be extremely willing to "lite" a building if reasonably close to their current presence .... and if the business case supports it. It may well be that we will soon see new carriers exploiting this space as (1) I agree the telcos are slow; and (2) the investment dollars appear to be coming back.

Keep in mind too that Ethernet over Copper, DS1, and DS3 are viable options currently. You do not have to physically be in a lit building to get fast and gig-E ethernet ..... when in fact you may still be able to get it if you are close enough to have the signal piped in using copper Cat-5, a naked DS1 or DS3 circuit.

If you want to get really technical and to the point about ethernet connectivity, here you go. Ethernet connectivity logically makes more sense than any other bandwidth connection that exists today ..... mainly because of the low cost compared to the traditional fiber connectivity. Let's face it, people are cost conscience nowadays due to the uncertainty of our economy and their cost of doing business. In all reality, if a business can surf faster, send emails and files faster, and so on ...... then time = $ and $ = time.

If your business is searching for an ethernet solution for your network infrastructure I suggest using this tool to find what's available to you: Ethernet Solution

If you're more inclined to use a SONET based solution try this free consultant service for assistance: OC3 Bandwidth Solution

Voice Over MPLS ….. MegaPath Duet Hosted Voice

MegaPath Duet Hosted Voice is the industry's first true, national, Voice over MPLS solution. It is business-class hosted VoIP delivered on the award-winning MegaPath network - the largest broadband reach of any network in North America, and the broadest Quality of Service (QoS)-enabled voice network. The MegaPath nationwide MPLS network is the key to offering any size organization an enterprise-level hosted voice experience.

Benefits of MegaPath Duet Hosted include ......

• No expensive PBX equipment to lease, purchase or maintain, and minimal upfront capital expense

• Network-based Quality of Service (QoS) for crystal clear voice calls that are securely delivered, and always prioritized over data communications. Bring-your-own-broadband (BYOB) just doesn't measure up the same way.

• Turnkey Service with professional project management, on-site installation, and on-demand training across a national footprint

• MegaPath Duet Hosted Voice service comes with a FREE month of service, FREE installation, and FREE router rental.

If you are looking for business class hosted voice ….. voice over MPLS solution via MegaPath is the perfect choice. To get free quotes and assistance designing just the right voice over MPLS package to meet your requirements …. Simply ask here:

Business VoIP Solution

The Clear Network …. 4G WiMAX Grid For Faster Wireless Internet Access

The Clear network is composed of deployments from two companies: Sprint and Clearwire.

Sprint in 2007 began 4G installations on the eastern seaboard under the now-defunct XOHM brand. Sprint approached Clearwire, who was deploying pre-4G services at the time, to form a comprehensive agreement to share both spectrum and market for the purposes of growing WiMAX's presence in the US. This deal broke down by the end of 2007.

As the deal broke down, it is reported that Clearwire picked up a massive chunk of the 2.5GHz spectrum used to provide WiMAX; it was sold by AT&T as a condition of its merger with Bell South. Geographically, the acquisition gave Clearwire rights to the second largest coverage area behind AT&T.

Fast-forward to 2008.

Sprint once again approached Clearwire for a deal, this time with a merger of services in mind: Sprint with the 4G infrastructure, and Clearwire with the capital, spectrum and experience to do wireless broadband. That Clearwire/XOHM merger is now known as Clear.

Sprint owns 51% of the company, Clearwire shareholders own 27%, and the remaining shares are owned by a consortium of Comcast, Time Warner, Intel, Google, and Bright House.

As of right now, Clear/Sprint currently covers …..

Georgia - Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii - Honolulu, Maui; Idaho - Boise; Illinois - Chicago; Maryland - Baltimore; Nevada - Las Vegas; North Carolina - Charlotte, Greensboro, (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon - Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania - Philadelphia; Texas - Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Washington - Bellingham, Seattle.

If you live in one of these cities, nobody but Sprint/Clear will offer better/faster service until Verizon Wireless and AT&T start turning on their 4G networks (using a tech called "LTE") in 2011.

Since the infrastructure is developed on a WiMAX distribution grid ….. it’sa pretty error free wireless distribution methodology to put it very simply. Clear is faster than DSL and cable ..... and much cheaper too.

However, they're not available everywhere (yet) as stated above …. so please look over the service areas listing to see if you’re location is there.

For more specific information go to ….. Clear 4G WiMAX

Managed IT Computer Services

"Managed services" is defined as an umbrella term for third-party monitoring and maintaining of computers, software and networks. The actual equipment may be inhouse or at the third-party's facilities, but is running at a certain quality level or keeping the software up-to-date.

For example, an ISP (Internet Service Provider) that hosts a web site typically offers managed services. If the web server goes down, the ISP would be responsible for restoring it. If an organization requires a secure, available, and redundant IT environment to support their business-critical systems and applications, usually it needs the managed IT services including replication services, storage services, hosting services, network services, managed security services, email and collaboration services, and application services, etc.

Are you looking for a way to keep your web-driven applications up and running? Are you looking for an economical yet efficient way to handle systems monitoring and management?

No problem.

Are you looking for an ISP that offers reliable web hosting services?

You've come to the right place.

We have compiled an extensive database of managed IT services and managed IT technology providers in your immediate and surrounding areas. You can begin your search using the website below, which will only gather just enough information to enable the managed IT service providers in your specific area to get in contact with you. There is no pressure or commitment to buy - this is a free service that helps buyers contact the most appropriate (and nearest) provider.

Managed IT Computer Services

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Rapid Growth Of Medical Imaging Creates New Challenges For Network Bandwidth Requirements

Medical imaging studies, as part of a patient’s historical records, are subject to long-term security, integrity, and availability regulations defined by governing bodies. Examples include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States and the Medical Device Directive (MDD) in the European Union. However, the change from film to digitized storage has created a new set of challenges and requirements.

Digital mammography and multidetector computed tomography (CT), coupled with post-processing techniques such as 3D and CAD, enable medical imaging to be used more extensively for diagnosis, not only in radiology but also in other departments such as cardiology. Dynamic studies using positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enable clinicians to image diseases and to increase the effectiveness of resulting therapies. These technologies enable medical imaging to be included in protocols for a wider class of clinical applications and, in some cases, replace invasive (and risky) diagnostic procedures.

The growing adoption rate of these medical imaging technologies is causing an exponential and often hard-to-predict increase in the volume of images that must be stored. The magnitude of the increasing storage requirements for medical providers is often tens to hundreds of terabytes per year. This growth makes it difficult for IT managers to ensure adequate storage capacity. These challenges also highlight the need for affordable yet flexible storage systems that enable growth on-demand. Information access and business continuity needs must be met from the provider’s perspective, while addressing the stringent regulatory requirements for data privacy and protection.

The mergers and consolidations that are so common in healthcare today have resulted in IT environments that most often do not work well together. Currentapplication architectures as well as the slow movement of the industry towards interoperability and the limited adoption of industry standards have created a utilization, management and access problem that is common to most providers.

The current healthcare infrastructure can best be described as complex, inflexible and inefficient. As a result, applications that depend on it are slow, exhibit bottlenecks, suffer unacceptable levels of application downtime due to single points, and require unnecessary amounts of dedicated resources. Managing this hybrid infrastructure demands expertise for each type of application and manufacturer at multiple levels, as well as resources to manage the environment across each storage platform. Infrastructure scaling and upgrades prove to be very costly and difficult due to the time, money and people required to perform them.

As a result of these inefficiencies, healthcare IT resources are severely underutilized with storage utilization running at between 15% and 30% over a 24-hour period.

A potential fix for these issues is use of a framework for the creation of an enterprisewide, grid-based virtual medical image storage system designed to enable healthcare organizations to share data across distributed sites. These solutions are meant to be complementary to PACS applications and extend the capabilities of these systems across a wide area network.

Many providers have implemented multiple PACS solutions across many geographies, each with its own storage environment. Each PACS implementation drives its own requirements for storage and administration. The application of grid technology enables the sharing of storage and allows the logical separation of the application from the underlying storage infrastructure. This means that multiple systems can share storage resources wherever they are available. Additionally, through their local applications, users can access remote images populated by other systems on the grid. Key benefits include higher utilization of existing storage investments, the migration from storage silos to grid-enabled storage pools that can be made available to all applications, and the ability for IT departments to administer the grid centrally from a single location.

For assistance in finding just the right grid-based storage system for your Medical organization and/or network architecture bandwidth solution for your PACS application(s).... comparing multiple providers available in your specific area....we highly recommend the no cost consulting services from: "Medical Imagery Bandwidth Solutions"

Ethernet-VPN vs IP-VPN

What's the pro's and con's of an Ethernet VPN compared with an IP-based VPN?

The answer to this actually depends if you have a switch based network, or a router based network. An Ethernet VPN is equivalent to two switches communicating securely, thus creating a private LAN. An IP-based VPN is equivalent to two routers communicating securely, thus creating secure connection between two different subnets.

An Ethernet VPN is going to be copying more data (the ethernet headers). On the other hand, you can do some neat things with MAC layer filtering. (This doesn't really add to security because it's easy to fake, but whatever.) And you can run obsolete protocols like DecNet or IPX/SPX. And you will get Ethernet broadcasts over the wire. (This is a bad thing, since computers are quite chatty.)

IP VPNs are used far more widely. Presumably, this makes them more secure (i.e. battle tested). I'd say go with IP VPN unless you have a really compelling reason to copy that lower layer around.

However, I'm not sure we are comparing apples to apples here. An ethernet "VPN" is just an isolated broadcast domain carried across multiple carriers. This could be VPLS or Tunneled VLAN's. If you want to encrypt you are going to use SSL or IPSec or similar, which makes it an IP-based VPN over Ethernet.

An IP-based VPN is just that, an encrypted channel across a shared IP segment. Unless, of course, you are using VPN to refer to an MPLS network sans encryption.

In either case, I would look at the cost and the SLA associated with each. Since they are both doing the same thing, essentially, pick the provider with the better terms and conditions.

Also, if you're doing voice services you might want to consider IP instead of Ethernet so you have more control over jitter, provided your IP provider allows you to set QOS across the network.

If all of that just confuses you more …. here’s a solution. Request the free assistance available through this link …. simply describe in the comments section the specifics of what you need the solution to accomplish for your network. Include the address location for where this network will be installed as well as the npx for that location. The comparison software and expert advisors will do the rest for you.

Ethernet & DS3 Bandwidth Solutions

Apple Or Android: Who Has Better Business Applications?

Apple has roughly 93,000 apps and Google/Android has roughly 23,000. But ... which one has apps that are more useful for the business person?

I don't know how this translates into the availability of better apps ….. but I don't like how "locked down" Apple keeps their products. My brother uses Android on a business phone and has been extremely pleased with it. With Android you can use Google's app marketplace ….. but you also have the option to venture outside of their walled garden. Not something Apple lets you do. This means fewer hurdles if a business wants to develop their own apps.

I can't speak for iPhone apps ….. but I have seen a lot of open source programs that have been ported over to Android. This made my brothers transition over to Android very easy. I also take the number of available apps each platform has with a grain of salt. A lot of those are games or are otherwise not helpful for business use.

Who has the best business apps really depends on what tasks you need to perform. I'd start with making a list of your "must have" apps that are deal breakers if a platform doesn't offer them. If iPhone has it and Android doesn't ….. then you have your personal answer. If they both have it then check out the online reviews.

For a strictly business use, BlackBerry is still a better choice over both iPhone an Android. Key reasons ….. security & central device management.

In terms of apps, being the major business mobile platform in the US for several years already, BlackBerry is supported by all major business apps. And when it comes to mobile business apps, the number of apps in app stores is less important than the long-term support of major ERP/CRM/UC/etc vendors.

Both iPhone and Android currently lag business features like …..

1) Exchange integration
2) VPN
3) Desktop syncing.
4) Enterprise Applications
5) Conferencing
6) Device Networking

My recommendation would be to get a Blackberry as it supports all these above features. Hence, for your requirement if these features are important then you would have to think about the Blackberry phones first.

To get yourself a Blackberry .... usually free with a service sign-up ... and including unadvertised special deals .... look over what is listed here:

Smart Phone Deals

Use the tools they have there to search and compare what kinds of deals you can get from the various providers. You should be pleasantly surprised.

Hospitals Replacing Pagers With A Smart Phone …. Good Or Bad Idea?

Use of smart phones in the healthcare environment …. in place of the traditional pager … is simply smart. The pun is intended too. The old pager approach is just too limiting given today’s robust communication options. Medical professionals need more than a “beep” and a number to call. Smart phones offer so much more capability and flexibility which in the long run enhances communication and ultimately patient care quality.

SigmaPage offers a solution that facilitates electronic healthcare communications, which includes On-Call Scheduling as well as On-Call Paging for hospitals as well as private practices. Here are some of the key learnings for potential users:

Pros …..

1. The SigmaPage device ….. Most physicians carry smart phones (iPhones, Blackberry, etc.) anyway. They are happy to consolidate all their communications into one device. Besides, smart phones do so much more than pagers can. They support applications that facilitate easy sharing of information and schedules. Text messages and emails facilitate fast communications.

2. Privacy ….. One concern physicians have is privacy. They do not like to share their smart phone numbers since they fear it will get abused and they will receive calls at the wrong time (at night), esp. when they are not on call. The SigmaPage product takes care of this privacy concern. At no point in time do they display physician contact info (phone number, email address, etc.) to the end user. Lack of privacy can be a negative of smart phones, which happens to be a pro because of the uniqueness of this product.

3. Technology ….. SigmaPage also has a technology called Clik2Talk, where nurses and hospital based personnel can talk to physicians directly with the click of a button without knowing their phone numbers. These calls can be received on smart phones or any landline at times physicians choose to be called instead of paged. Obviously, pagers do not facilitate such technology.

Cons …..

1. Adoption ….. As with any new technology or habit, you’ll find that some physicians are so used to their pagers, they do not want to give them up. To facilitate this, SigmaPage product works with existing pagers and paging system seamlessly.

2. Separation ….. Physicians like to keep their personal life separate from their professional lives. When a pager goes off, it’s all about work, so it facilitates that separation.

3. Urgency ….. Pagers signal urgency of response. This can be replicated on smart phones by special/distinct ringtones that also signify the same urgency.

Financial Impact …..

Hospitals can save a ton of money by converting to smart phones. These savings come from getting rid of pagers as well as from more streamlined workflow and integration of communications.

Resistance …..

I believe the benefits of EMR/EHR systems has opened eyes to benefits of leveraging technology in the healthcare environment, so resistance has decreased over the years.

Advice …..

Since we are not a hospital, any advice may not be pertinent. However, paging is a small part of the overall communications in the hospital or private practice. Current paging systems do not integrate scheduling seamlessly and do not facilitate other forms of communication. If you look at communication as a whole, there are many benefits to be availed of when using smart phones based technology. Those benefits cannot be delivered by smart phones alone. They have to be part of an integrated communications solution.

For more information on this unique product go to: SigmaPage

Real Time Rate Quotes For T1 And DS3 Bandwidth

The DS3-Bandwidth.com site consists of leading-edge technology that allows T1 lines, bonded T1 lines and DS3 circuits to be priced in real time.

This depends on your entry of the correct street address and corresponding phone number of the location where the line would be installed. If that information is accurate, the pricing given will reflect accurate quotes.

Although not priced in real time, we also provide very competitive quotes on frame relay, point to point, MPLS/PNT, VOIP, colo, wireless RF, Ethernet, VPN, GigE, and OC-3 through OC-192 circuits.

Please note that DS3-Bandwidth.com is an agent for over 30 of the top and first tier carriers in the telecom industry; carriers who are in this business for the long term, instead of 2nd or 3rd tier carriers who may be gone tomorrow.

With our top agency status, we have a close relationship with these carriers so we can determine in real time which of them can provide service to your location and the pricing that they can provide.

Based on the volume of business that DS3-Bandwidth.com generates for these carriers every month, these carriers guarantee that DS3-Bandwidth.com customers get the lowest price that they are able to offer, which is backed up by our written Low Price Guarantee.

Ordering via DS3-Bandwidth.com as a Master Agent also provides you yet another benefit, which is ME and my partner.

Based on the volume of business that we do with these carriers, we have a direct line into senior management and vice presidents at each of the carriers ..... and if you are ever having a problem with your circuit that the carrier is not resolving in a timely manner, we want you to get us involved. We will use those carrier contacts and can make heads roll on your behalf, which Iwe are happy to do through the term of your contract for the circuit.

To get yourself a free quote simple go here:

Real Time Rate Quote For T1 And DS3 Bandwidth

Resources For Deciding And Designing Video Conference System Bandwidth Requirements

Following is a list of information packed articles to help you solve your bandwidth issues with video conferencing network design and installation. You'll get tips on what to look for, what to ensure is part of any design package, how to compare providers for any solution you decide upon, and where to find the best deals so you have the best chance at the most cost effective solution.

* Plan Ahead - Determine Your Bandwidth Requirements For Video Conferencing Early

With the decision to implement enterprise-level videoconferencing comes a requirement for bandwidth solutions which are reliable and cost effective. Businesses need to plan ahead for this critical need.

* Is DSL The Right Choice For Your Video Conferencing Backbone?

When implementing video conferencing capabilty many businesses are more focused on the make-up of the video suite itself.....and assume that DSL bandwidth is sufficient for their network backbone. Whether this be an existing network or intended new install.....assuming that DSL is sufficient to support your requirements may be shortsighted. Beware, there's more out there to consider.

* What's The Best Bandwidth Platform For Video Conferencing And Multi-Media Functions?

Designing the "perfect" delivery infrastucture for video conferencing and multi-media functions can seem complicated, labor intensive, time consuming, and costly. But what's most important is the evaluation process you would use....what you would likely choose (e.g. T1, DS3, OC3, Ethernet)...and why. Have a plan for that....and all will fall into place.

* A Cheap Solution For Small Business Video Conferencing

For a small business trying to decide on a network solution which will be required to support video conferencing and multi-media applications ... the journey can be aggravating. Basically ... give me an open check and I will spend every dime on bandwidth pipes. Give me a fixed budget and I will squeeze every dime of bandwidth with compression techniques and accept the quality trade off.

* Can SIP Solve Your Business Requirements For Video Conferencing And Multi-Media?

Something few mention as an option to meet video conferencing and multi-media needs, which I find quite odd, is SIP!!! However, to address incorporating SIP as a component of your video conferencing suite and multi-media solution ... there's a few considerations.

* What Are The Bandwidth Requirements For Business Video Conferencing And Multi-Media Applications?

A commonly asked question ..... and one that often causes confusion and headaches .... concerns just how much bandwidth does a business require for video conferencing and multi-media applications. Here's how to find the right answer for YOUR business.

* How to Determine the Best Bandwidth Solution For Video Conferencing & Multi-Media Applications

Your business intends to make extensive use of video conferencing and multi-media applications. How do you determine what bandwidth solution (T1, DS3, OCx/Sonet, etc.) would best meet your needs and incorporate that decision into your network cover these applications?

* Shopping For a Video Conferencing System - Where to Start

You're looking to implement a video conferencing system to support your company's communication needs. You're starting from scratch and it appears to be a daunting task. Where do you start?

* Getting the Right Bandwidth For Your Video Conferencing Applications

Video conferencing actually encompasses a range of technologies used in a wide range of situations, often it is not just video and audio that is transmitted, but also data, allowing collaborative working though shared applications. All of this means having sufficient bandwidth supporting your network is the critical performance factor.

Business VoIP.... A Solution For What Ails You

Many businesses of all sizes are routinely searching for cost savings in their telecommunication uses. One huge area is voice .... or phone use. A particular direction many businesses consider is VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) .... also called broadband phone and IP Telephony. Simply put .... using high speed internet networks to transmit voice vice the standard old land line phone networks.

A smart suggestion for the small business is to apply a VoIP hosted PBX phone system solution such as the virtual office package from Packet8. This is an excellent choice for VoIP Telephony which is well proven by the numerous industry awards for this specific system earned by Packet8. You can learn more right here: Packet8 Virtual Office

For the mid to large business the best approach is to utilize the expertise available at no cost from Business VoIP Solution. This free service will research the best possible solution (cost, performance, capabilty) from amongst multiple providers available specificly for your intended use location(s). They'll also negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the most cost effective answer to meet your requirements. See what they can offer you here: Business VoIP

Whatever size your business ..... the aforementioned solutions will defintely find you the cost savings you're looking for with business VoIP.

Benefits Of Business Ethernet

Business Ethernet has fast become the solution of choice for many company voice and data network installations. The benefits gained by the owning business are substantial and have created an ardent following of satisfied users.

If you and your company are in the process of designing a new network, expanding an existing network, wish to upgrade current capabilities and performance …. Business Ethernet is definitely an option that should be at the top of your list.

Traditional implementations of Ethernet support data transfers at the rate of 10 Mbps (Megabits Per Second). Over time, the increasing demand for higher performance and faster data transfer techniques has catalyzed the introduction of better technologies such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. Where Fast Ethernet helps you implement networks with data transfer speed up to 100 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet, as the names suggests, are even faster allowing speeds up to 1000 Mbps or 1 Gbps.

Key Benefits of Ethernet to a Business …..

Popularity of Ethernet in today’s business environment is triggered by several benefits, out of which simplicity, granularity, and flexibility that it offers top the list. These benefits enable enterprises to implement solutions that enable them to integrate several useful features, such as Private Networks (VPN), Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), audio and video teleconferencing, Virtual remote storage, multimedia content sharing, and many more other useful features that helps them take their business to new heights.

Some of the many benefits that Ethernet offers an enterprise are:

* Simplicity ……

Ethernet can be easily extended to WAN which makes it quite simple for IT managers to incorporate high-end features in the organization’s LAN. In other words, a well-implemented Ethernet serves as a building-block to add new services to the network and to interconnect new facilities.

* High Bandwidth ……

According to a recent study the bandwidth requirements of medium to large size companies increases by 25-50% per annum. The various bandwidth options offered by Ethernet in the ranges of 10 (Traditional Ethernet), 100 (Fast Ethernet), and 1000 (Gigabit Ethernet) Mbps makes it easy for enterprises to scale their Ethernet implementations as the bandwidth needs grow.

* Scalability …..

With the continuously increasing need for better bandwidth, enterprises today are asking for scalable bandwidth solutions that they can control dynamically and increment bandwidth in small segments. For instance, they may want to increase the bandwidth in increments of 10 Mbps—10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Mbps or in the increments of 100 Mbps—100, 200, 300, 400 Mbps, and so on.

* Easy Provisioning ….

Ethernet is quite easy to provision as it minimizes the need for hardware replacement each time the bandwidth is increased. For instance, a bandwidth change from 10 Mbps to 20 Mbps can be easily provisioned just by making a few changes in the software of the network equipment used. Moreover, just making a few modifications you can upgrade to Gigabit Ethernet over the same Ethernet cable infrastructure that you would have laid for traditional and Fast Ethernets.

* Flexibility ….

Ethernet uses a common interface which is independent of the bandwidth. This makes internetworking between different devices on your network quite simple. Flexibility of Ethernet technology assures rapid provisioning characteristics, offers easy migration from lower to higher speeds, and enables you to easily integrate new technologies. This is the reason why Ethernet is an ideal choice for enterprises with growing bandwidth and technology requirements.

Today, Ethernet has evolved from the LAN technology to a cost-effective, scalable, and flexible solution for enterprises of all sizes. This overall development has gained momentum due to wide acceptance of the technology by enterprises, service providers, and vendors. The many useful features such as Fast and Gigabit Ethernet, functions, and management capabilities of Ethernet make it the first choice for delivering new services over a common converged network infrastructure.

For free assistance in designing the right ethernet based solution for your network ….. including free rate quotes and pricing research … I strongly recommend taking advantage of the no cost help offered here:

Business Ethernet Solutions

Tip: How To Determine Network/Bandwidth Requirements For Supply Chain Management Systems

Following is a list of information packed articles to help you solve your bandwidth issues with a supply chain management system network design and installation. You'll get tips on what to look for, what to ensure is part of any design package, how to compare providers for any solution you decide upon, and where to find the best deals so you have the best chance at the most cost effective solution.

* What Bandwidth Solution (T1, DS3, OC3) Makes Sense For A Supply Chain Network?

“A company's supply chain network can be a complicated animal. To service this network of constant data sharing and storage requires a high performing reliable network backbone. An important part of the design is the right level of bandwidth support .... T1, DS3, or OC3 bandwidth circuits to be exact. Making the right decision on what circuit to choose means navigating a number of issues.”

* Meeting Your Bandwidth Requirements For Supply Chain Management Applications

"Deploying an Supply Chain Management (SCM) solution that provides the intended return on investment requires that the applications, servers, and enterprise network infrastructure work together seamlessly. This is easier said than done and will necessitate a thorough evaluation of your bandwidth needs to meet the demand."

* More On Meeting Your Bandwidth Requirements For Supply Chain Management Applications

"The key to a successful SCM implementation is a clear understanding of the business objectives and business requirements of the company the SCM primarily supports. This often includes a number of legacy systems which need to be integrated into the solution. From this will come the technical objectives to be met and the technical requirements that frame the solution. Only then will the communication requirements for bandwidth capacity, reliability, resiliency, latency, security, and expandability be meaningful."

Resources To Help With Medical Imaging Bandwidth Solutions

Following is a list of information packed articles to help you solve your issues with medical imaging bandwidth network design and installation. You'll get tips on what to look for, what to ensure is part of any design package, how to compare providers for any solution you decide upon, and where to find the best deals so you have the best chance at the most cost effective solution.

* How Can You Be Sure You're Choosing the Right Medical Imagery Bandwidth Solution?

The answer is going to depend largely on the type of image. Each image type has different characteristics. Generally speaking .... the best method for medical imagery applications depends on volumes of information and timescales for transmission, storage, processing. The best solution for any company has to be specific to their needs. This article walks you through what to "ask" and includes case study scenarios.

* Challenges And Solutions For Medical Imaging Bandwidth Requirements

A Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) is integral to the smooth, timely, and quality delivery of health care in every medical setting today. However, PACS have long faced challenges in delivering this digital imaging support. The main issue has always been the availability of sufficient bandwidth (load and speed).....at a reasonable cost.....to support the growing demand for quick easy web-based access by medical providers. Enter the digital solution.

MPLS …. What’s In The Future?

MPLS is a convergence of various implementations of "IP switching" that use ATM-like Label Swapping to speed up IP packet forwarding without changes to existing IP routing protocols operating at Layer 2.5. The major motivations behind MPLS are higher scalability, faster packet forwarding performance, IP + ATM integration, Traffic Engineering, MPLS Virtual Private Networks, fast rerouting, and hard Quality of Service.

The deployment of MPLS in service provider Internet backbones has become possible since it is transparent to the end user. consequentially, at the architectural level, it has changed the basic longest match destination-based unicast-forwarding model, which has remained essentially unchanged since the inception of the Internet. In turn, it also impacts the routing architecture, requiring that routing protocols perform new and more complex routing tasks.

As the Internet continues to develop into a medium for the convergence of voice, video, and data communications, it has been growing (and envisaged to continue to grow) in terms of bandwidth, number of hosts, geographic size, and traffic volume. It has evolved from best-effort service toward an integrated or differentiated services framework with quality of service (QoS) assurances, which are necessary for many new applications such as Managed VPNs, Voice over IP, videoconferencing, and broadband multimedia services.

Service Provider backbone infrastructures are currently used to provide multiple services such as TDM leased lines, ATM, Frame Relay, Voice, video, and Internet services. ATM backbones, that were popular in the past due to their reliability and versatility in offering multiple service types were found not to integrate very well with IP and there are serious scalability issues that need to be dealt with, when running IP over ATM.

Hence, MPLS is here to stay for quite some time still. As the Internet metamorphoses into a combo of data, voice, video, Telepresence, and who knows what else, MPLS will keep growing with newer features and more flexibility being introduced to meet ongoing versatile demands at a well maintained regularity by the IETF MPLS Work Group and related standardization bodies.

If you’d like more information on MPLS peruse the many articles on the subject at:

MPLS Articles

If you’d like assistance in finding the most cost effective MPLS solution for your network ….. at absolutely ZERO cost to you ….. simply submit a request here:

MPLS Network

OC3, OC12 & OC48 Bandwidth....Ideal Solution For High End Users

The ideal solution for high end bandwidth users where connectivity is essential for operations isn't a simple T1 or DS3 dedicated line...you need an "OC" fiber optic network. So just what is OCx, what can it do for you, and what do you need to know?

What is an OCx Circuit?

'OC' stands for Optical Carrier and is used to specify the speed of fiber optic networks conforming to the SONET standard. SONET, (Synchronous Optical Networks), includes a set of signal rate multiples for transmitting digital signals on optical fiber. The base rate (OC-1) is 51.84 Mbps. Certain multiples of the base rate are provided below with bandwidth amounts. Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) makes use of some of the Optical Carrier levels.

Optical Carrier lines provide content providers, ASP's, ISP's & large enterprises with dedicated Internet connectivity. These Optical Carrier Level circuits are an ideal solution for high end bandwidth users where connectivity is essential for operations. Some examples are large data centers, high tech research facilities, university infrastructure, airport complex, and casino video security and data systems.

What is an OC3?

An OC3 can be three DS3s (T3s) or as one 155M pipe. The benefit in using DS3s is that each can be separated back out as individual T1s (each with 24 channels). To put it into perspective, the speed of an OC3 connection is 155Mbps. This is equivalent to 3 T3 lines or 100 T1 lines. An OC12 connection is 622Mbps, equivalent to 14 T3 lines or approx. 414 T1 lines.

What is an OC12?

An OC12 is approximately equal to 4 OC3s and runs at 622 Mbps. which makes it an excellent point-to-point IP delivery connection. The greatest benefit to an OC-12 is that bandwidth can be added to a business as it grows without any major system overhauls. An OC12 can also allow a business to have unlimited IP addresses which insures that growth is never limited...

What is an OC48?

An OC48 works as a reliable fiber optic backbone for large networks which require volume extensive voice/data/video traffic. It is a long-haul backbone fibre connection capable of transmitting data at 2.45 Gbps. To put it into perspective the speed of an OC48 is the equivalent of having 48 T3's OR 1,344 T1 lines

The pricing for these type of connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the exact application for which the connection is being used. Due to this complexity it is suggested to use the services of a consultant such as DS3-Bandwidth.com to research available providers and find the best fit to meet a specific requirement.