Working Anywhere

Why Google Can Enter Video Conferencing

TechCrunch is reporting that Google plans to go into the video conferencing space in a big way. Here's why they can do it.

1. Google purchased Marratech back in 2007. This gave them a platform that enabled multi-party video calling and presentation

2. Google purchased my former client GIPS this year. GIPS gives the incredible understanding of video codec and video conferencing. It also helps makes them independent of Vidyo at some point in the future. Google previously acquired On2, a video compression technology company.

3. Google acquired Gizmo5 this year too. Everyone forgot that Gizmo had SIP based h.264 video built in. But Google got more than a softclient, they also got a network that could handle video call routing.

So, for far less than Skype has ever been bought and sold for, Google has all the makings of a standards based IP video calling business, which can also handle having video (IPTV) run over with some very pristine looking video that can be HD from the get go.

What's All The Ruckus About?

Wired.com' s Ryan Singel in Epicenter has a very detailed account of Silicon Valley Wi-Fi hardware provider Ruckus, and how their equipment is changing the wireless landscape.

In a nutshell, Singel reports on how the new Ruckus technology makes public space Wi-Fi work and also sheds light on why earlier efforts never did. As someone who has used Wi-Fi on three continents in the last 14 months, and who spends a lot of time on airplanes, in airports and public workspaces, I can see how, as the global mobile workforce expands, that Ruckus' better radiating Wi-Fi radio systems will only make for a better end user experience. At the end of the day, the better the experience, the happier the customer is, and the lower level of customer service issues that arise.

While LTE is one of the hot buttons for 2011, especially as we will see come this coming January from Verizon Wireless here in the USA, good old 802.11 is not rolling over and play dead.

As a matter of fact, with technology like what Ruckus is putting out it only bolsters what companies like client Boingo, iPass, Aircell with GoGo Inflight, Row 44 and NomadDigital are all doing to keep us all better connected. In the world of eco-system competency, this is only good news for each of them, as the better the experience, the more likely road warriors and the leisure user will have that better experience, resulting in more users and longer sessions wherever the access may be. For the companies that make the connection, it also means more revenues, and likely, lower costs with these new access points.

Rise of the Human Hotspot

A survey in the UK shows that a lot of Brits will be looking to connect to the net with a mobile device. That's giving rise to the sale of pocketspots, also known as the MiFi.

As someone who uses both data dongles and 3G/4G Pocketspots from Novatel Wireless and the Sprint Overdrive made by Sierra Wireless, I can attest to their allure and attractiveness for those on the go, especially those of us who carry multiple devices and have urge, need and desire to be connected all the time, even in places some would never wish to be connected.

More HD Video Conferencing Portability

Samsung and Polycom are linking up to bring HD video conferencing to the Galaxy tablet. This brings a whole new level of face to face communications.

Collaboration Event Is Key

If you are into collaboration, then the December 9th Network Conference staged by GigaOm is right up your alley. Pal Surj Patel, who I have known since his eTel days, has once again pulled together a killer line up of speakers and demonstrators, surrounding it all with witty interviewers and panel members. When you see companies like Cisco sending multiple speakers, you know this is a serious conference, and when there's others from the likes on LivePerson, CitrixOnline, Deloitte, Intuit, we're well past the garage and coffee shop crowd that's working in a networked manner, but not in the same place.

As someone who runs a distributed workforce based communications company, the knowledge and potential for learning at Network is massive, so if the speakers hit the mark, as they have at past GigaOm events this will be a can't miss event.

Mac Book Air 2010's And Skype Are Not Friends

Well, the best laid plans have been short stopped. It seems that Skype 2.8 for the Mac and the newest, and smallest, Mac Book Airs are not getting along.

Beyond the online Skype Developer report, I've experienced it first hand. Apple's support was very receptive, and even while Skype is third party software, the apple Senior Support person was extremely interested, spending almost an hour with me as we gathered all kinds of information from the new Air and an older Air where Skype is working fine, under the exact same version of both the Mac OS and the Skype version.

Is Remote Working Right For You

Laptop Magazine highlights the results of a telework study that Microsoft conducted this year (2010) and revels a lot of what I have been doing with my team, and saying, for the past eight years.

1. We get more productivity out of people.

2. The concept is more green.

3. The tools out there are making it easier.

4. Rent of office space stops being an overhead cost.

Overall, working from home is not a bad idea. You usually get to pick your own office. You can decide what to wear. You can schedule things around your daily home life, and for those with kids, child care stops being an essential for most.

Bottom line, everyone makes more money.

Hilton and AT&T Hotel WiFi-About As Fast and Reliable as An iPhone in A Crowded City

I'm all for believing what is in a press release, unless it comes out on April Fools Day, but when two giants in their respective sectors, telecom and hotels, allow a joint press release to be put out, usually that means reality, not fantasy. You see, if I want to read fantasy, I can get all of that from long time author friend Raymond E. Feist, who has penned enough of them to keep any fantasy lover happy.

Back in July the two companies issued an announcement about their efforts to improve their in building WiFi and Internet access. Unfortunately my experiences in Hiltons the past few months overall has been fairly consistent. In a less than stellar way. This past week, my company stepped up as a sponsor of the Wireless Health 2010 conference at the Torrey Pines Hilton. Not only was the AT&T coverage for cellular virtually non-existent, but the WiFi and Broadband overall was to say the least, pitiful. As a matter of fact, it was worse than when DEMO used to use the venue five or six years ago. That was pre iPhone, iPad and Android, and well before pretty much everyone attending conferences needed to get online.

One would think that hotels owned in part by the brand on the marquee would be the first to jump on board with the fatter pipe and better service. But alas, that wasn't to be. What's worse though as someone who posed the question to Hilton's PR folks, both by phone and via email, where I asked to learn what properties have been "upgraded" has yielded as fast of an answer as their broadband.

Over 24 hours later, I'm still waiting.............oh, I guess Hilton's Corporate Internet is supplied by AT&T too, so maybe their PR folks just can't download things fast enough either. But seriously, emails to two different PR managers and a phone call where I was told to whom to ask the question lets me think that speed of broadband isn't all that Hilton needs a speed boost with.

P.S. I too run an agency that amongst many things we do, handles PR. So, take it from a pro of 36 years in this business. Not getting back to a reporter, blogger or analyst in that amount of time, makes the news value of any news announcement, especially one three months old, very less credible, and borders on suspect. My questions are below but the names of to whom I sent them to shall remain private:

1. How many Hilton properties have now deployed/upgraded to the new AT&T High Speed Internet offering announced this past summer?

2. How do they breakdown by Hilton Brand?

3. Which properties have been upgraded?

Sure the release says, "over time" but based on the face to face reaction I got from the property's GM about the need for speed, I doubt his property's time is coming down the pipe any faster.

Faster WiFi Coming to the Sky

As a regular user of Aircell's GoGo service on a few airlines, most notably Virgin America and AirTran, because they offer it fleet wide, I'm always happy to see greater efforts put on in-flight WiFi. The experience I've had has been "good enough" to "stay connected" and with all the work my team and I have going on a daily basis, some of which requires review in real time. Unfortunately, my choices in airlines and even flights domestically have been pretty much limited to those two because the other longer established carriers have pretty much only been deploying WiFi on their long haul routes or chosen to only deploy it on newer planes vs. retrofitting the older ones when they come in for regular maintenance. For the business traveler, WiFi in the sky is a must have. It changes the entire travel paradigm for those of us who need to be in touch more often, and for long haul flights of more than 3 hours, almost an essential. Sure, there's a point where you want to get away, but online connectivity has pretty much eliminated my need to "red eye."

The news about faster in the sky WiFi from ViaSat could not be better news as it opens up additional options for fliers and likely means that WiFi on International flights is not too far away.

Staying Professional In A Virtual Meeting

The New York Times has a collection of tips on staying professional in a virtual meeting.

My advice. Be yourself.