May 2007 - Posts

• 5 Conversations Innovators

  Kameran Ahari posted a very interesting list that I'll call '5 Conversations Innovators' on his Innovation Blog titled: My Favorite List of Start-ups To Watch In his summary, Kameran notes that "...a number of start-ups I have listed are working on web communication, collaboration, and IPTV / video applications." What's amazing is that the face of innovation on the web continues to be around how folks are using it to communicate.  One that particularly fascinates me is VaporStream, which provides recordless and confidential email and IM.  One of the things we've talked about in this 5 Conversations blog is the desperate need for context in web communications, and for businesses to be able to control that context for their own legal and IP protection.  We've noted that the objective 'end state' for a Conversational Web for a business is an environment where all the tools of communication, even when web delivered, are at least somewhat managed and maintained by the business itself. Of course we also recognize this is a truly difficult challenge, when more and more port 80 web applications look like full desktop software.  VaporStream is a good example of another loss of context and control for the business owner.  Per the VaporStream website "With VaporStream an employee can communicate openly and freely without putting the company or themselves at risk."  Not sure that will make the average IT manager feel better.  :) So the question is does an IT-less or IT-constrained or even IT-draconian organization push like heck to create their own Conversational Web with all the possible tools their employees might need to try and get some control of the communications context, or do they just watch and learn what tools employees are using and try to slowly manage those? Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2007 11:33 AM from Andrew Brooks | 0 Comments

• Comcast launches new UM app service -- Are you paying attention?

  Make no mistake.  Broaband is a pure commodity.  Application services are now king. This is true for telcos and cablecos alike -- evidenced  by yesterday's news where Comcast Corp anounced plans for an unified messaging software service that will allow customers to recieve e-mail and voice messaging services in a single place on the web. SmartZone is a FREE add-on service designed to boost customer loyalty.  This classic "broadband evolved" becuase the theory is that customers will be less likely to leave the Comcast "triple play" for Verizon becuase now they can access their voice mail and e-mail from the same place online, with instant messaging and an interactive address book also inlcuded. A Comcast representative said that "Customers can use that functionality to simplify their lives, helping us maintain that relationship and loyalty with them."  Brilliant! It's interesting to note that Comcast created SmartZone in partnership with Zimbra -- a very cool company with lots of grat technology.  The deal is yet another example of how broadband service provdiers are increasingly partnering with smaller compaies to rapdily innovate. Overall, this is definitely worth paying attention to as it is an excellent example of how carriers and cable companies are developing software services on top of their core broadband platforms to increase customer loyalty and mimize churn. Posted Tuesday, May 08, 2007 7:31 AM from Matt Howard | 0 Comments

• BT Keeps Up the 'Cooking'

  On the back of the announcement that BT is launching a new commercial series featuring foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay (Hell's Kitchen) to promote their SMB services (previous blog post here), BT has kept up this 'SMB as Consumer' marketing push with a first ever BT Business Experience PR Event.  Instead of wooing the technology crowd with speeds and feeds, this event (complete with mochas-a-plenty Internet Cafe....thanks to the barista for making mine with a heart of chocolate on it!), was definitely focused on the consumer-like behavior of SMBs. A Press Release on services launched at the event is here:  BT cooks up the perfect recipe for UK businesses  As an example of the focus, here is a quote from that BT press release:  One of the first entrepreneurs promoting herself online with Tradespace is Sarah Beeny, best known for presenting the Channel 4 property shows Property Ladder, Streets Ahead and Britain’s Best Homes. Sarah is the founder of dating web site Mysinglefriend and writes a monthly column for The Sunday Times. Sarah said: “Being able to link complementary services will help traders work together to extend the scope of the offerings they provide". For those who don't know who Sarah is, she carries a bit of the old 'sex appeal' to a certain demographic...and hopefully that demographic represents some of the folks that start businesses and need IT services! Some blog coverge of the event focused on one of the launched products (BT Tradespace). http://philmuncaster.itweek.co.uk/2007/04/bt_in_web_20_sh.html http://simondickson.wordpress.com/2007/04/27/bt-gordon-ramsay-and-digital-diy/ http://www.vecosys.com/2007/04/27/smblive-power-bt-workspace-and-tradespace/ One other interesting service launched is the BT Applications Marketplace.  More to come on that later.   Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2007 12:20 AM from Andrew Brooks | 0 Comments