Private Cloud Computing: Free vs. Paid

I have been known to say that "you get what you pay for". After years of working with multiple manufacturers, I have gained much insight into the 'real world', a world that consists of pay too little and too much for the products and services your business is run on.

In the included article, point three really stands out to me, mainly because I deal with this each and every day. What's being discussed here is freeware versus paidware (OK that's not a real word, but you get where I'm going with this). Specific to this article, you have a ton of freeware that you can use to run your business, but really?

Freeware comes with the free version of support, yes, the user groups that will cost you twice as much money (versus paid support) in lost salary finding the answer to your problems. That's time that you should have been using improving processes or finding new clients. Not to mention, by the time the new shiny toy has been released, your free support team has moved on - leaving you hanging while your business suffers.

Anyway, enough about the issue of free support - there are many other good points raised in this article, and I encourage you to read more.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/sungardas/2015/05/27/6-things-youve-always-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask-about-private-cloud-computing/

Growing the Value of Video Conferencing

Have you ever wondered why some companies have jumped all over video and some others have not? I have been speaking to video solutions for 15 years and it never ceases to amaze me how many of the conversations go.

In the past, eliminating travel has been a great driver to initiate the conversation, however; are you really going to stop the CEO from travelling to San Diego for a three day trip? Funny enough, I find myself speaking to the elimination of travel more so crossing a city, not a country. No one wants to drive to the remote office when you have to spend 2 hours on the 401!

Thankfully, systems and technology have evolved to become unbelievably affordable. Free…well that is a topic for another post because you do get what you pay for. However, going back to the why - take a read from this article done by Polycom and Quocirca sent to over 800 businesses. You'll find great insight and information.

http://www.itmanagement.com/research/survey-report-growing-the-value-of-video-conferencing-by-fostering-a-culture-of-adoption-30968?mid=3491549&tfso=15057&r=B2BRegMailingCS&mailing=WPLite&mailing_id=1269388

RAD Makes WAN Management and Monitoring a Breeze

High Tech Communications has deployed and managed a significant number of data and voice enabled networks throughout Ontario. Our client's systems range from simple point-to-point designs to complete mesh-type networks with many locations unified by using multiple connectivity types (Fibre, Wireless, DSL, etc.).

Once the system is set up and running is when the real fun begins. It's at this point when our clients look to us to manage the extremely important next step - managing the system. We currently use a number of different technologies to manage, diagnose, troubleshoot and repair countless issues - yet, to this day, our clients still ask what we recommend.

Since we pride ourselves on tried, tested and true solutions, our opinions derive from real success - and real pain at times. As a network systems integrator, our solution is this: For every cause to a network issue, there is a solution. The trick is to identify what you need to manage, find a solution you are comfortable with, then narrow it down to one that best works for you.

Our experience has allowed us to provide best practise solutions when clients engage us in such discussions. The most recent application we have explored is provided by RAD - their MiNID devices make WAN management and monitoring easy to utilise.

Read the business case below, and if you are interested in knowing how this is better, or different, than the solutions you currently use today, call High Tech - we can help you.

https://mail.hightechcommunications.ca/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.rad.com/21/MiNID-Business-Case-Solution-Paper/32942/

Are Businesses Too Slow to Seize Digital Tools?

I have always somewhat suspected that businesses are leery when it comes to implementing newer technologies based on how customers have reacted during previous conversations, and this article by CTV News solidifies that. It also points out something I've mentioned to my customers before - as a society, we seem to be at ease upgrading our technology systems at home, but when it comes to the work space that mentality is significantly lacking.

I've shared it with you here:
https://mail.hightechcommunications.ca/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/google-canada-boss-says-businesses-too-slow-in-seizing-digital-tools-1.2403467

Google's Managing Director, Sam Sebastian, says only half of small and medium businesses in Canada have their own website, while fewer than one in three use cloud computing.

Extending Your Business Over Cellular

I found the article very interesting, I myself have spoken to hundreds of customers about the flexibility and functionality you could get by extending your business over Cellular.  The true mobility, the enhanced redundancy, the ability to have really small offices communicating seamlessly over a cellular device…the possibilities are endless. 

I can’t think of how often I have looked at extending service through the Internet for the offices with one and two employees, here we have a developing technology that will (again) truly revolutionize how businesses expand and roll out into new territories.

Imagine a sales person starting up in a new town, someone who requires voice and data applications that seamlessly integrate into the corporate infrastructure… all from their Smartphone. If their voice communications (IM, Video, and Voice) is on ShoreTel, then let the sales team grow!

https://www.shoretel.com/blog/difference-between-voip-and-volte