ChannelTrends: Unified Communications Moves Past Fear Of The ...

How many times have you seen toddlers shake their head ?no? or simply lock their jaws closed in bitter defiance when offered a new type of food? Of course, it?s a common occurrence in child-rearing, likely attributable to a fear of the unknown or lack of valuable life experience that most of us eventually overcome.

Other than those early adopters who give the bell curve its shape, reluctance to try something new is an innate trait that most of us possess. The same principle can be applied to businesses, especially the SMB segment, where investment dollars are often hard to come by. That?s why new technologies are often adopted from the enterprise-level down; with IT teams from large organizations, their solution provider partners and the vendor community helping to develop applications and systems that will give them an edge over their competition.

In the business world, mystery can be a gamble, especially for up-and-coming entrepreneurs, who tend to be cautious with new investments and other major decisions. Until the business case for a new technology or more advanced tool has been properly vetted, many organizations will sit on the sidelines and wait for others to experiment with their resources. The rise of unified communications (UC) is a perfect example of that delay and study approach, as many businesses and solution providers sat on the sidelines waiting for a real value proposition to appear. According to a number of IT industry professionals and a cross-section of respected business experts, that time is here.

As detailed in a recent Wall Street Journal article by Joel Schectman titled ?Unified Communications Is Gaining Traction,? the availability of multiple messaging platforms is finally driving the value and adoption levels of UC in the small business space. The lack of interoperability has been a major stumbling block for all but the most advanced integrators, but technology advances and competition have opened up a number of new options for the IT channel.

As Schectman notes in his article, recent developments even allow providers to connect formerly siloed products from Cisco (WebEx) and Microsoft (Office Communicator, since replaced by Lync). When those applications are integrated, an end-user has access to IP-based phone service, video conferencing and instant messaging ? all from a simple control panel. That helps increase business efficiency and productivity while allowing organizations to communicate more effectively with their employees, current and prospective customers and other associates.

Of course, technological advances rarely drive demand; they merely fulfill a specific personal or business operation need. The growing interest in and spending on UC applications are more likely the result of the continued progress of its value proposition, as more companies implement the systems and tell their story. The best thing that can happen for any technology is promotion of its benefits, especially when business owners and executives are willing to share their results with their peers.

A recent survey conducted by UC provider BroadSoft suggests that many end-users remain unsatisfied with their communication technologies. Approximately 78 percent are displeased with information delays, 69 percent get frustrated trying to locate and contact someone and 76 percent believe email is an ineffective communications tool. More than three out of four respondents said they would be willing to adopt UC solutions.

While the BroadSoft survey was conducted with end-users, that?s exactly where business demand for the latest technologies originates these days. Bring your own device (BYOD) solutions serve as a great example, gaining traction in many organizations based on employee interest. The demand originated from workers who wanted to use their own smart phones, tablets and other mobile technologies at work. The market for UC solutions is developing in a similar manner, as companies are encouraged to implement integrated communications platforms that can improve the speed and ease of information delivery. After a few years of experience with a variety of consumer-grade solutions (Skype, WebEx, iOS), end-users have a lot more communication knowledge now than at any time before and are also more likely to discuss ideas and requests with their company?s IT team.

What does that mean for solution providers? Opportunity! If you want to learn more about the UC market drivers to see if the technologies make sense for your customers, check out some of the resources developed by members of the CompTIA Unified Communications Community. If you?re interested in joining the industry discussion or learning more about the group, contact Katherine Hunt, CompTIA?s director of member communities, at katherine.hunt@comptia.org.

Brian Sherman is founder of Tech Success Communications, specializing in editorial content and consulting for the IT channel. His?previous roles include?chief editor at Business Solutions magazine and senior director of industry alliances with Autotask. Contact Brian at Bsherman@techsuccesscommunications.com.

Source: http://blog.comptia.org/2013/02/13/channeltrends-unified-communications-moves-past-fear-of-the-unknown/

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Mozilla releases Firefox with new Windows 8 UI into Nightly channel

Mozilla has been promising a version of Firefox designed for the new Windows 8 UI for a year now, and has trickled out a few details and previews since then. It's made a considerably bigger step this week though by releasing the browser into its Nightly channel, which lets anyone who's willing to venture beyond stable releases take it for a spin. As Mozilla's Asa Dotzler puts it, "there's plenty of work still to do, but it's stable enough that we're ready for more and more regular testing." It seems folks are indeed having some problems with it in its current state, but you can try it out for yourself at the source link.

Filed under: Internet, Software

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Via: The Verge, The Next Web

Source: Firefox Nightly, Asa Dotzler

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/14/mozilla-releases-firefox-with-new-windows-8-ui-into-nightly-chan/

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Does anyone know of a real legitimate home based business on the ...

i have been looking for something to earn money from home. There seems to be thousands that claime tobe the best. Who Knows?

There are a lot of scams out there and you must be careful before starting one. While most have minimal start-up cost, you don?t want to loose any money on one of them. There are also, many legit companies to choose from. Many of them get bad names because people join thinking that they are going to get rich quick without doing any work and that just isn?t how home-based businesses function. They are just like any other business out their. They take hard-work and determination. The only difference is that they can provide everyday people with an opportunity to make the kind of money most only dream of.

What?s most important (after you?ve found a legitimate business) is that the product or service is something that you can believe in and think that you can sell.

That being said, my wife, mom, brother, and business associate are currently involved with YTB and we love it. We all took between 2 and 5 months of research before we decided to get involved. I invite you to watch the presentations at http://www.flybymetravel.com and contact me with any questions.

Since you are concerned about legitimacy, here are some articles about YTB:

http://www.traveltrade.com/news_article.htm?id=498

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS13946+28-Nov-2007+PRN20071128

http://www.npros.com/2007%5C7%5C6%5Cytb-named-in-travel-weekly-power-list/

http://www.dsa.org/press/press_releases/index.cfm?fuseaction=show_release&Document_id=1222

http://seekingalpha.com/article/70853-ytb-international-wall-street-s-next-online-travel-darling

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080417/nyth077.html?.v=101

Source: http://newsp.com/home-based-business-news/does-anyone-know-of-a-real-legitimate-home-based-business-on-the-internet

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Cokie Roberts Recalls Bush Visit With Pope Benedict

When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in 2008, President Bush invited me to ride in his limousine as he drove to Andrews Air Force Base to greet the pontiff. The president wanted to explain why he was breaking precedent, going to meet the visiting head of state on his arrival, rather than waiting to receive him at the White House, as is customary.

It was because of Benedict's great moral force, the president told me, that he wanted to pay this honor. I was chosen as the lucky hitchhiker because my mother, Lindy Boggs, had served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See under President Clinton and Bush had visited her in Rome before his own election.

During my mother's time at the Vatican I was privileged to tag along, draped in a long black mantilla, when she presented her credentials to Pope John Paul II. My Jewish husband and I also attended a private Mass said by the pontiff at his country palace at Castel Gandolfo. It was a sun splashed morning that filled us both with a sense of intense spirituality.

I had covered John Paul's first trip to the U.S. in 1979 when he was a young, vigorous new face of the church and I had reported from Rome in 1985 when he convened an extraordinary synod of bishops. At that point there was still resistance to the pope's attempts to rein in some of the reforms brought about by the Second Vatican Council. But over the next 20 years even as John Paul grew frail and feeble, his staying power allowed him to appoint many more bishops and elevate them as cardinals - the men who would determine the next pope.

When I arrived in Rome with the much beloved pope lingering on his deathbed, Cardinal Josef Ratzinger was not the man odds makers bet on to succeed John Paul. Called by a variety of unflattering nicknames, such as "the pope's Rottweiler," the German head of the Vatican office enforcing orthodoxy was considered too controversial for the post. But by the time the conclave of cardinals came together, it took only 24 hours for the bells to ring out announcing the election of Benedict XVI. It was the triumph of conservative forces determined to stamp out dissent. To many Catholics, Benedict represented the past, not the future.

So I was curious to hear what President Bush had to say. And of course I was thrilled that my opportunity to listen would come in the executive limousine. How cool is that?

As the president made the case that the pope preached peace and justice for the poor, I had to agree. But with the priest abuse scandal rocking the American church and continued disagreements over official church positions, it struck me that Benedict's moral force might have been stronger among non-Catholics in the U.S. than with the faithful. Yes, Catholics flocked to see a papal Mass, to participate in the regal rituals. But, if public opinion polls are any indication, they saw Benedict more as a celebrity than a preacher/teacher whose dictates must be followed. The pronouncements of the Vatican on matters like birth control, gay marriage and divorce are widely ignored by American Catholics even as they go regularly to Mass and Communion.

The pope might be popular-74 percent of American Catholics said they were satisfied with Benedict's leadership in a Pew Research survey last year-but he's not heeded. And, by the way, in that same survey 83 percent said they were satisfied with the leadership of Catholic nuns, the group the pope landed on last year, giving further evidence that his views are irrelevant to many.

So, though all of the heated speculation about Benedict's successor will be interesting, the choice of the next pope will probably mean little if anything to the daily lives of lay Catholics, who will go on believing what they want to believe, further eroding the moral authority of the pope.

Unless of course the Holy Spirit surprises us and guides the cardinals to choose someone who is once again ready to open the windows of the church to let in the fresh air, as John XXIII did when he called the Second Vatican Council. That seems highly unlikely, but who knows-sometimes prayers are answered.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cokie-roberts-recalls-bush-visit-pope-benedict-221922888--abc-news-politics.html

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Thai marines kills 19 militants who attacked base

PATTANI, Thailand (AP) ? Marines fending off a major militant assault on their base in Thailand's violent south killed 19 insurgents in an overnight shootout, authorities said Wednesday. It was believed to be the deadliest toll the Muslim guerrillas suffered since more than 100 died in a single day nearly a decade ago.

About 50 militants wearing military-like uniforms raided the marine corps base in Bacho district in Narathiwat province late Tuesday night, Col. Pramote Promin said.

The shootout ended with at least 19 militants killed and the rest fleeing, Pramote said, adding that soldiers who fended off the attack suffered no casualties. He said the marines had been tipped-off by the locals and were alerted for the assault.

Regional army commander Lt. Gen. Udomchai Thammasaroraj said in an interview on ThaiPBS channel that the army has declared a curfew for the area within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the base for Wednesday night into Thursday.

An Islamic insurgency erupted in 2004 in Thailand's three southernmost provinces, a Muslim-majority region in the Buddhist-dominated country. In April of that year, guerrillas launched simultaneous attacks on police stations and checkpoints in the three provinces, triggering clashes in which more than 100 militants died; 32 of them were killed at the Kreu-Sae mosque in Pattani where they were holed up.

Sunai Phasuk, a Bangkok-based researcher for Human Rights Watch, said the overnight toll was the worst since then.

"The insurgents were uplifted because of a surge in their successful attacks in recent weeks, so this is a significant loss on their side." Sunai said. "From now, authorities will certainly have to be very concerned about their retaliation."

He said Narathiwat province has been a contested area between security forces and militants.

Muslims in the south have long complained of discrimination by the central government in the capital, Bangkok, and the insurgents are thought to be fighting for autonomy. But the insurgency itself remains murky, with militants making no public pronouncements on their goals.

Fighting in the area is reported on a near daily basis, and more than 5,000 people have been killed. Security forces, as well as teachers, have been targeted by insurgents because they are seen as representatives of the government.

On Sunday, suspected militants killed five soldiers and wounded five others in two attacks that included a car bomb blast in Yala province that was detonated as a truck carrying six soldiers passed. The militants then opened fire on the soldiers, killing five of them, and took away the dead soldiers' rifles, he said.

Officials from security agencies are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss safety measures for the southernmost provinces.

___

Associated Press writer Thanyarat Doksone contributed to this report from Bangkok.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/thai-marines-kills-19-militants-attacked-034529289.html

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Pope Benedict surprises world, steps down citing frailty

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict surprised the world on Monday by saying he no longer had the mental and physical strength to cope with the demands of his ministry, becoming the first pontiff to step down since the Middle Ages and leaving his aides "incredulous".

The 85-year-old German-born Pope, hailed as a hero by conservative Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, said he had noticed that his strength had deteriorated over recent months.

A Vatican spokesman said the Pope had not resigned because of "difficulties in the papacy" and the decision had been a surprise, indicating that even his closest aides were unaware that he was about to quit. The Pope does not fear schism in the Church after his resignation, the spokesman said.

The Pope's leadership of 1.2 billion Catholics has been beset by a child sexual abuse crisis that tarnished the Church, one address in which he upset Muslims and a scandal over the leaking of his private papers by his personal butler.

In a statement, the pope said in order to govern "...both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.

"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter."

Before he was elected Pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was known by such critical epithets as "God's rottweiler" because of his stern stand on theological issues.

But after several years into his new job he showed that he not only did not bite but barely even barked.

In recent months, the Pope has looked increasingly frail in public sometimes being helped to walk by those around him.

A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff would step down from 2 p.m. ET on February 28, leaving the office vacant until a successor was chosen to Benedict who succeeded John Paul, one of history's most popular pontiffs.

MEEK DEMEANOUR, STEELY INTELLECT

A spokesman for the German government said he was "moved" by the news while Israel's chief rabbi praised Benedict's inter-faith outreach and wished him good health.

Elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005 when he was 78 -- 20 years older than John Paul was when he was elected -- he ruled over a slower-paced, more cerebral and less impulsive Vatican.

But while conservatives cheered him for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity, his critics accused him of turning back the clock on reforms by nearly half a century and hurting dialogue with Muslims, Jews and other Christians.

Under the German's meek demeanor lay a steely intellect ready to dissect theological works for their dogmatic purity and debate fiercely against dissenters.

After appearing uncomfortable in the limelight at the start, he began feeling at home with his new job and showed that he intended to be Pope in his way.

Despite great reverence for his charismatic, globe-trotting predecessor -- whom he put on the fast track to sainthood and whom he beatified in 2011 -- aides said he was determined not to change his quiet manner to imitate John Paul's style.

A quiet, professorial type who relaxed by playing the piano, he managed to show the world the gentle side of the man who was the Vatican's chief doctrinal enforcer for nearly a quarter of a century.

The first German pope for some 1,000 years and the second non-Italian in a row, he traveled regularly, making about four foreign trips a year, but never managed to draw the oceanic crowds of his predecessor.

STRING OF SCANDALS

The child abuse scandals hounded most of his papacy. He ordered an official inquiry into abuse in Ireland, which led to the resignation of several bishops.

Scandal from a source much closer to home hit in 2012 when the pontiff's butler, responsible for dressing him and bringing him meals, was found to be the source of leaked documents alleging corruption in the Vatican's business dealings, causing an international furor.

He confronted his own country's past when he visited the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

Calling himself "a son of Germany", he prayed and asked why God was silent when 1.5 million victims, most of them Jews, died there during World War Two.

Ratzinger served in the Hitler Youth during World War Two when membership was compulsory. He was never a member of the Nazi party and his family opposed Adolf Hitler's regime.

But his trip to Germany also prompted the first major crisis of his pontificate. In a university lecture he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor as saying Islam had only brought evil to the world and that it was spread by the sword.

After protests that included attacks on churches in the Middle East and the killing of a nun in Somalia, the Pope later said he regretted any misunderstanding the speech caused.

In a move that was widely seen as conciliatory, in late 2006 he made a historic trip to predominantly Muslim Turkey and prayed in Istanbul's Blue Mosque with a Turkish Mufti.

But months later, former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami met the Pope and said wounds between Christians and Muslims were still "very deep" as a result of the Regensburg speech.

(Editing by Ralph Boulton)

(Writing by Peter Millership,; editing by Janet McBride)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-resigns-saying-no-longer-strength-fulfill-ministry-112923467.html

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"Breathing Bike" Protects Riders Against Ominous Beijing Air

Beijing's smog problem isn't exactly new information, but it's been getting way worse lately. In response, local artist Matt Hope decided to integrate an air purifier into his bike so riding around the city would be less hazardous. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PTP9x2iXTdM/breathing-bike-protects-riders-against-ominous-beijing-air

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