Archive for the ‘Teleworking’ Category

Are we witnessing the demise of the desktop and laptop?

John Herlihy, Google’s VP of online sales, believes that the desktop has about three years before phones replace it. And he first made that prediction a year ago.

Previously, only those with BlackBerrys used phones for everything, including simple tasks such as email. Now, according to a new Nielsen smartphone report, 43% of mobile phone users have smartphones. People use phones to do things that used to be reserved for desktop PCs, such as surf the web, play games, and watch video.

It’s all very well having a virtual office, or staff working remotely. In fact many say productivity actually increases as a result. But how do you know?

That was the question posed by Rodolfo Torrallardona from Ericsson in Argentina, a question that sparked a torrent of comment. Clearly it’s a subject that is hot across the forum right now.

Lower costs and simpler IT support requirements are just two of the reasons for businesses to implement hosted VOIP solutions said telecoms expert Gail Holt.

Purchasing expensive infrastructure is no longer required for communication systems, she stated, as providers take care of that side of things, leading to substantial cost reductions. Also, hosted VOIP systems can be administered easily via a web-based interface, meaning lower IT support costs, she added.
“Hosted VOIP is an operating expense rather than a capital expense, so all businesses need to pay is an affordable monthly service fee to have access to a range of capabilities that can improve productivity and connect the business to advanced telephony,” she said (http://www.telappliant.com/voip-news/800404717/cut-costs-and-it-complexity-with-voip-expert-says)

By Sharif Sakr Technology of Business reporter, BBC News

With eery, childlike eyes staring out of a blank plastic face, the Telenoid R1 does not look like a serious tool for business.

Its movements are jerky. Limbs are conspicuously absent. And in terms of function, it is essentially just a $3000 video conferencing system, doing what Skype does for free.

But Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University believes his invention meets a real business demand, for hyper-realistic, face-to-face communication over long distances.

“Text communication is very limited, and so is normal video conferencing. But with the telenoid, you can actually feel the presence of another person.”

Virgin Media is mulling the idea of creating a nationwide wi-fi network to compete with rival BT.

It said it had been inspired by cable operators who have launched wi-fi in other countries.

The cable broadband firm admitted it would be a “massive undertaking” and that no firm plans have yet been drawn up.

But it said it could offer a better alternative to 3G networks for those who crave data on the move.

“We are looking at way to converge data services. 3G networks are reaching a capacity crunch and wi-fi could offload traffic and offer a vastly superior overall throughput,” said a Virgin Media spokesman.