Working Anywhere

Sharing Broadband and More

While tethering on the iPhone in the USA remains a bit of a challenge (especially if your updated to the latest version of firmware on the Apple iPhone) there are other options emerging.

For years Apple Macintosh users have been able to turn a Mac that is hard wired to an Ethernet connection into a hotspot, but now the new Windows 7 OS from Microsoft has been turned into both a hotspot and a wireless bridge via Connectify.

Connectify.me is where you can find it.

Another way to share wireless broadband is Joikuspot, and now their new Boost (Beta) allows users to combine wireless broadband signals into one, giving the user really fast bandwidth.

Of course, Sprint doesn't want you to tether.

How To Work @ Home

James Kendrick of JK On The Run has a very complete and breezy read on what it takes to work at home.

As someone who has been working at home since 1989 (and even worked from home part time as far back as 1976) I have to compliment the friendly Texan on telling it like it is.

My keys to being able to work at home are:

1) Braodband and WiFi-Get as much and as fast as you can

2) Solid connectivity via Ethernet and Fiber-don't just think WiFi

3) Lighting-you need to be able to control mood and brightness

4) Comfortable chairs, couches and yes, even your bed

5) Cordless phones using DECT-no interfering with WiFi

6) A door--keep the family out when you're working

7) Stay Current- Newer devices end to keep you working, but have a recycling plan

8) Multipurpose furniture-for example my conference table is also very good for wine tasting in format

Bottom line-we're all likely to be working more at home in the future as it's not only convenient, its also very good for the environment.

Boingo Goes Blackberry-A Huge Boon For Voice

My agency has represented Boingo for 18 months or so now, and long before that I was a Boingo customer, a happy customer, who found that using it on my Nokia N & E Series devices and my laptops was always something that allowed for easy connectivity.

One of the missing pieces, more due to RIM's SDK, was Boingo on the Blackberry. As a Blackberry user with T-Mobile I've always enjoyed logging on to WiFi at home (via Hotspot @ HOME) or at a T-Mobile Hotspot, and having my mobile number from the USA anywhere in the world accessible to me.

That worked great in the past at places like Starbucks, some airport lounges like those from American Airlines and at some airports. But as T-Mobile has been exiting the WiFi world in dribs and drabs, the most reliable and broadest reaching aggregator has been Boingo. Now, with Boingo on the Blackberry, UMA Voice will work as well on the Blackberry as client Truphone does on my iPhone, iPod Touch and Nokia E71 virtually anywhere Boingo connects.

This is a huge step forward as the business market end user which needs connectivity now can get connectivity in more places, where T-Mobile's footprint doesn't go. With Boingo, as with WiFi of your own or within the enterprise or campus, means you can get connectivity for voice coverage higher up or farther away. Currently, AT&T in the USA doesn't have a VoIP client for their users, nor is there one with Verizon or Sprint on the Blackberry's that has any traction, as access to the SIP and WiFi stacks on the RIM devices has never been really offered.

Blackberry users though should not just take my word for it, or the insight above that I've linked to. They should also read some of the insider's viewpoints as well.

BerryReview

BlackBerry Insight

CrackBerry

Blackberry Sites

PocketBerry

BerryReporter

T-Mobile UK Opens Up Mobile Broadband To Skype Calling-Sort Of

It will mean being on a contract (for now) but if you sign up in the UK to a monthly contract for what T-Mobile UK is calling it's Mobile Broadband Extra package for 30 Pounds a month, about 45 dollars, you'll be able to take advantage of speeds up to 7.6 megs a second and make Skype calls.

Event Reminder Time-eComm Europe

It' October 1st and that means it's time to look at the calendar. It's hard to believe it's been for me a month since I've flown more than up and down the State of California (from LAX to SFO train to SMF, plane to SAN, back to SMF-Sacramento) and home again to SAN.

While last month got off to a flying start with IT EXPO in LA, and included other events like DEMO and VON, this month has me flying tonight to SFO via Virgin Atlantic and then a train to SMF on Friday and back to SFO, then a flight to SNA-Orange County, a car ride home to SAN and then the first event of the month starting Tuesday of next week, CTIA as Wireless Week hits San Diego.

I then head up to SFO for more Wireless activity around a few events, back to SAN, before heading from SAN to LAX and over to LHR (London Heathrow) before making my way to AMS for eCOMM Europe.

If you've been to busy (flying around) to recall, this month bring the Emerging Communications Conference & Awards event in Amsterdam, (eComm Fall, 28-30

October) and as organizer Lee Dryburgh likes to say, "is the world's leading-edge event, spanning Telecom, mobile and Internet based communications. It’s designed to showcase and accelerate both technology and business model innovation. There is not a migratory way for telecom operators and media outlets to the future; emergent social practice is increasingly clashing with their very structure and desires. This means unprecedented opportunity for those ahead-of-the-curve."

Lots of key players will be there. Who? You are who. So don't miss out on what is the falls most important VoIP, Mobile, Collaboration and Thought Leadership conference about communications in Europe.

For more information please visit http://eComm.ec or register here

to receive 10% discount.

Cisco Buys Tandberg-What it Means

A long time ago, I suggested to a very close friend who works for Cisco that they should buy SightSpeed, as it would have fit into their long term vision of using video, instead of voice in the work place, just at the time when Telepresence was getting going, and before Cisco had bought Pure Digital for the FLIP camera.

Like all LARGE companies, CISCO started to study the potential of a SIP based video company with a network core in the middle, and before anything could get to discussion stage along came an offer from Logitech, which pal Peter Csathy masterfully dealt with and sold off SightSpeed.

There remains not doubt that what SightSpeed had would have played longer term into where CISCO is going, but that's all water under the bridge, but the proof points remain there, especially after the acquisition today of Tandberg, by Cisco, which further moves Telepresence into another and smaller size business and budget arena. It also makes sense to see this purchase as Tandberg is a very high end design company, something that has been lacking with the "look" of Cisco products, that have always been more industrial, and missed the "curb" appeal or "eye friendly" designer look in the executive suite. Tandberg solves that and more, and is also something Cisco is familiar with--hardware. This contrasts with a company like Vidyo, whose software and cloud based server technology for video is more portable and Skype or ooVoo.

Where do I see all this going? Given Cisco owns Linksys, and Linksys owns the consumer space, I fully expect to see one of two things to happen:

Interoperability with Skype video for those on the go

or

Cisco to buy up a compatible video conferencing solution that will be able to network/cloud connect to their ever expanding solution that starts at the top with Telepresence and weaves it way down to a FLIP like device that's two way, WiFi/WiMax and 4G ready.

Who goes on the video conferencing death watch? In my book it's PolyCom, whose older h.323 and locked in proprietary solution pretty much has them painted into a corner now.

My bet to be bought? CounterPath as their SIP softclient are just the right thing for Cisco.

Cisco Buys Tandberg-What it Means

A long time ago, I suggested to a very close friend who works for Cisco that they should buy SightSpeed, as it would have fit into their long term vision of using video, instead of voice in the work place, just at the time when Telepresence was getting going, and before Cisco had bought Pure Digital for the FLIP camera.

Like all LARGE companies, CISCO started to study the potential of a SIP based video company with a network core in the middle, and before anything could get to discussion stage along came an offer from Logitech, which pal Peter Csathy masterfully dealt with and sold off SightSpeed.

There remains not doubt that what SightSpeed had would have played longer term into where CISCO is going, but that's all water under the bridge, but the proof points remain there, especially after the acquisition today of Tandberg, by Cisco, which further moves Telepresence into another and smaller size business and budget arena. It also makes sense to see this purchase as Tandberg is a very high end design company, something that has been lacking with the "look" of Cisco products, that have always been more industrial, and missed the "curb" appeal or "eye friendly" designer look in the executive suite. Tandberg solves that and more, and is also something Cisco is familiar with--hardware. This contrasts with a company like Vidyo, whose software and cloud based server technology for video is more portable and Skype or ooVoo.

Where do I see all this going? Given Cisco owns Linksys, and Linksys owns the consumer space, I fully expect to see one of two things to happen:

Interoperability with Skype video for those on the go

or

Cisco to buy up a compatible video conferencing solution that will be able to network/cloud connect to their ever expanding solution that starts at the top with Telepresence and weaves it way down to a FLIP like device that's two way, WiFi/WiMax and 4G ready.

Who goes on the video conferencing death watch? In my book it's PolyCom, whose older h.323 and locked in proprietary solution.

My bet to be bought? CounterPath as their SIP softclient are just the right thing for Cisco.

Event Reminder Time

It' October 1st and that means it's time to look at the calendar. It's hard to believe it's been for me a month since I've flown more than up and down the State of California (from LAX to SFO train to SMF, plane to SAN, back to SMF-Sacramento) and home again to SAN.

While last month got off to a flying start with IT EXPO in LA, and included other events like DEMO and VON, this month has me flying tonight to SFO via Virgin Atlantic and then a train to SMF on Friday and back to SFO, then a flight to SNA-Orange County, a car ride home to SAN and then the first event of the month starting Tuesday of next week, CTIA as Wireless Week hits San Diego.

I then head up to SFO for more Wireless activity around a few events, back to SAN, before heading from SAN to LAX and over to LHR (London Heathrow) before making my way to AMS for eCOMM Europe.

If you've been to busy (flying around) to recall, this month bring the Emerging Communications Conference & Awards event in Amsterdam, (eComm Fall, 28-30

October) and as organizer Lee Dryburgh likes to say, "is the world's leading-edge event, spanning Telecom, mobile and Internet based communications. It’s designed to showcase and accelerate both technology and business model innovation. There is not a migratory way for telecom operators and media outlets to the future; emergent social practice is increasingly clashing with their very structure and desires. This means unprecedented opportunity for those ahead-of-the-curve."

Lots of key players will be there. Who? You are who. So don't miss out on what is the falls most important VoIP, Mobile, Collaboration and Thought Leadership conference about communications in Europe.

For more information please visit http://eComm.ec or register here

to receive 10% discount.

Amazon's Nokia N900 Will Be T-Mobile Friendly, But Not Exactly AT&T Capable

I received an update notification from Amazon about a pending delivery of a new Nokia N900, that is unlocked. It's a USA version, and will work on T-Mobile, not AT&T.

Amazon corrected the order and gave me the option of canceling and I wondered why should I.

Given the newer 3G network from TMO is working fine for me with an Android, and how they keep expanding it, plus how the device is unlocked and will work in Europe, I really can care less about losing AT&T. I mean, with all the issues around the iPhone and mobile data, and the N900 is a mobile data device that will run pretty much all the apps I have on my N810 from WiFi,

Unless something has changed can't wait to be making SIP calls using that over WiFi and seeing if that works over 3G as well, as I already know there is a SIP stack in the device and a built in VoIP client from what I heard was in the original spec from outsiders.