The connected home is closer than we think. Believe it or not, it’s not a technology issue, in my opinion. I think that the bigger issue in terms of deploying home networking and connected home-type systems is the business model for service providers. You know the story. You can go out and buy a whole bunch of home networking gear from retail stores and install it in your home. Its point-to-point type technology, does some very handy, straightforward things, and it works very well at a good priceWhen you try to connect your home network to a trusted, secure network, like the ones where you find our digital set-tops, who’s going to handle the set-up, connections and management for all these additional devices? If a service provider does it and you can’t print your daughter’s term paper because the printer in the basement doesn’t work, and the service provider has to then send a truck, well there go all the profits for a year. Read More »

There is no doubt that service providers will play a key role in reaching rural villages in India where approximately 70% of the population is located. Work has been underway for sometime to use broadband-based kiosks for farmers in conveying crop information; or establishing e-education centers to boost literacy and so on. I was in India in 2004 the day the country launched its broadband policy and I witnessed the corresponding excitement around the hope of the technology to connect a nation and beyond. There are a plethora of projects that target broadband penetration in India’s rural villages, some of which are described on Frost & Sullivan’s web site . Read More »

After a 3 month competition and a month-long rounds of judging, the announcement of the Connected Life Contest has come. We received over 600 entries that were submitted for review by panel of experts including Cisco executives, industry analysts, and Service Provider customers. The submissions were categorized around different aspects of the Connected Life, whether it be At Home, At Work and On the Move, and some common themes from many of the submissions became apparent. At home, consumers wanted to converge and consolidate control of their various home entertainment devices (e.g., TV, set top box, stereo, DVR/PVR, etc.). At work, contestants wanted better real-time communication and sharing of business-critical data. On the move, wireless aficionados expressed the desire to access, share and personalize entertainment and business services and content with their mobile devices. Okay so with further ado, the Grand Prize Winner is… Amir from Chapel Hill, North Carolina for his vision of a Personal Digital Butler. The idea is that everything in your home from computers to appliances to alarm clocks is centrally managed and accessible through your car or phone. I have a bad habit of leaving my stereo on when I leave the house -- it sure would be nice to be able to turn it off from my phone when I’m at work or to be able to preheat my oven from my car as I make the commute home- What do you think? How would you use your Personal Digital Butler? Read More »

Although IMS has been around for the last 7 or so years and may not be the panacea originally proposed, it can’t be discounted in the world of IP. Several of our customers in US SP have announced plans to deploy IMS as it will be an important platform for voice as well as other SIP-based applications. At the same time, we see increasing development of new innovative applications that don’t use SIP, but would benefit from the capabilities of an IMS control infrastructure. We need a framework that enables a feasible coexistence of both types of applications.There are the obvious market drivers driving the”IP Everywhere” mentality. These trends have caught IMS and are raising questions about the longevity of IMS:1. ubiquitous high-speed access2. handset evolution: screens and access3. interesting, relevant content and applications (2.0 applications, MySpace, YouTube)4. the prospect of a Google Phone and other disruptive innovationsJust a few years ago, we were upswept in the mantra”voice is the killer app.” After the telecom downturn and the many failed applications (e-wallet, MMS, etc.), how could we think any differently? Did anyone really want anything more from a mobile phone than voice and the occasional text message? IMS fulfilled the need of SIP-based voice services. It was the savior of an industry searching for ways to quickly and efficiently buildout networks and deploy applications. It allowed horizontal implementation rather than perpetuating dependence on a slow, vertical silo. Wow, IMS was it. Read More »

Nokia recently announced plans to acquire NAVTEQ for $8.1B. At first glance, it’s no surprise that a leading mobile device company would want such valuable map data. When you’re on the move, you often want to know where you are and what’s around you. But consider this comment of Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, president and CEO of Nokia: “Location based services are one of the cornerstones of Nokia’s Internet services strategy. The acquisition of NAVTEQ is another step toward Nokia becoming a leading player in this space.” Hold the phone…what’s this about location based services and their Internet services strategy? Aren’t mobile operators-Nokia’s customers-usually considered the service providers? Indeed, mobile service providers have long anticipated new profits from location based services, built using subscriber location information mandated for emergency services. So far, those profits have proved elusive, perhaps because of stringent privacy concerns and regulations, or perhaps because such information is currently too expensive or too difficult for creative location application companies to flourish. Read More »

Rajeev Khanolkar, president and CEO of SecurView Inc., shares his thoughts about Cisco managed security and the 2007 Cisco Powered Marketing Summit.

Kunjal notes that managed services providers need to respond to their customers’ changing needs — and drive sales -- by refreshing existing services to remain relevant and valuable.

Al Safarikas signs off from the 2007 Cisco Powered Marketing Summit.

Yes, 1400 attendees internationally converged in Orlando, Florida for the Grace Hopper Women in Computing Conference last week, from Oct 17 to October 20.A group of women actually participated in the TechLeaders for Social Innovators Workshop held on October 17 2007. Cisco participants at the workshop, included Barbara Fraser, Corporate Consulting Engineering and myself. Other participants ranged from academia to private industry; and included a journalist who has been involved in human rights issues globally. Read More »

Giorgio offers a special message to customers and associates in the Southern European region.

XO Communications differentiates itself in the managed services market with Cisco marketing support. Watch as XO Communications’ Marty Weiss describes how.

Julie and Angela talk about the greatest value of the 2007 Cisco Powered Marketing Summit — connecting names to faces and strengthening relationships.

Chuck Daniels describes how, since 2004, he’s led managed services through the Envision, Build, and Market process, achieving success in building an IP-based Next Generation Network.

Dimension Data’s Shaun Struckmann shares his impressions and experiences at the 2007 Cisco Powered Marketing Summit.

Botswana Telecom’s Pilot Yane discusses the state of in-demand managed services in Botswana plus his plans to use new-found Cisco Powered Marketing Summit knowledge upon his return to Africa.