Off the Wire, 7-31-06

Many men who have left the workforce over the past few years -- whether by choice or circumstance -- are not rushing back, choosing to live off of savings and home equity rather than take a lower-wage and lower-status job. Approximately 13% of US men aged 30 to 55 are not working, nealy three times the number in the 1960s. Meanwhile, more women are entering the workforce. [New York Times]

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The FDA is considering a move to reverse its policies about the so-called "morning after" or "Plan B" birth control pill to allow its sale without a prescription, but only to women over 18. The pill's manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals, must re-file its application with the FDA for reconsideration. [CNN]

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Arimasa Naitoh, Lenovo's worldwide VP of Development and the "father of the ThinkPad," made some predictions about the future of laptops... Lenovo laptops, at least. Naitoh believes that battery life, wireless capability, security and the ability to run Windows Vista will be critical features in future models. He said that within two years, Lenovo ThinkPads will be able to run all day on a single charge, and (shades of Henry Ford) will be available in colors other than black. [ZDNet]

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You may soon be able to control your computer with a wave of your hand. The University of Buffalo's Virtual Reality Lab has developed a "Fingertip Digitizer" that, when worn on the tip of the index finger, allows a user to operate a computer with hand gestures. [U of B news release]

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For those following the current conflict in Lebanon, The Truth Laid Bear provides a mashup plotting regional blogs and news feeds on a Google Map.

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The heat wave currently blanketing much of the US is creating an all-time record demand for electricity in the Midwest, putting enormous strain on the power grid there. [ABC News]

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According to the website traffic monitoring firm Alexa, YouTube has overtaken MySpace as the world's most popular community website, commanding nearly 4% of all Internet traffic. [Huffington Post]

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Addressing the Issues of Small Businesses and Networks

Many times when you sell computer networks or other IT products and services, your small business clients will have issues with the sales process.

WHERE DOES THE PROBLEM START?

Usually the problem with sales to small businesses begins when you tell them about network upgrades. Many will focus on cost and not think about the investment opportunities presented by small business networks. Clients, customers and prospects forget to think about potential downtime and loss of productivity that results from taking shortcuts. While dead-end solutions may carry a low price tag, they show no thought for the future and can actually lead to more costly problems than service contracts and on-going support for small business networks.

Even if you provide incredibly detailed initial consultations, IT audits, site surveys and network design reports, clients may still take issue with some aspect of the process right before you get the contract signed.

OVERCOING SALES ISSUES IS CRITICAL

Even a minor concern can completely ruin a sale, so you need to develop the right business skills to overcome client objections. If you have a plan of action, you will be less likely to get defensive or annoyed with prospects or clients, and you can keep focused on the task at hand and continue to find the best solution for the small business client. Most importantly, you need to finish the sale, because your client is only in the business of solving the problems of paying clients.

APATHY

Apathy on the part of small business clients takes a strong counterattack. Small business decision-makers with a case of apathy cannot look forward to implementing a network and might take weeks, months or years before the implementation becomes urgent. Finding the root of the apathy by asking direct questions can help you figure out the way to deal with it appropriately and get past it to the sale. Tell cautionary tales to get your point across as well.

THE NETWORK RELIABILITY TOOL

PC/LAN network reliability can become unstable when the user of a P2P server accidentally performs a shutdown and restart because a software program asked for a reboot sequence. Protecting data with P2P networks can typically only be an afterthought, so if the server isn’t protected with the right hard drives, a tape backup drive, antivirus software and other elements, anything can happen. Sometimes you may get lucky and a disaster will step in to prove your point while you are trying to close a sale.

FEAR OF CATASTRPHIC DATA LOSS

Disasters are fantastic motivators for small business clients, and can make them extremely interested in your network solution that probably involves centralized security and advanced data protection.

Similarly, discontinued technical support can motivate a client to overcome objections, especially when it comes to niche applications and software, such as those designed for accountants, attorneys, physicians and other professionals. After a while, your client will find that the vendor of the software stops providing support, updates and patches, causing them to need and upgrade to the software and also his network. This is where you step in to save the day.

You can also overcome apathetic client objections by talking about your prospects’, clients’ or customers’ competition and how other small businesses in the industry are upgrading. You can note that you are seeing a trend in technology or software that will alter the landscape and make their outdated solutions inefficient and ultimately be bad for business.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

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Networking or Direct Mail Postcards?

Direct mail postcards are used often to market a computer consulting business, but networking is one of the most effective ways. The following list provides a comparison of direct mail postcards and marketing and can help you decide what method works best for your specific business:

1. Leads obtained through direct mail postcards are less high quality than those obtained through networking. Postcards give no opportunity for a personal connection.

2. Networking can be challenging time-wise because often you may have to make several calls and many contacts to build trust and credibility. Direct mail postcards take much less time.

3. Direct mail postcards present the opportunity to make a focused offer with a deadline. Networking can be less focused because you have to just put yourself on the line and see if your contacts respond.

4. Direct mail postcards can eventually be automated, whereas networking is a constant effort over time.

5. Networking can take a big chunk of time out of your schedule. You may spend 35-40 hours per year going to networking functions for every organization you join. That coupled with maintaining relationships you build can take a lot of time. Direct mail postcards are done once you have designed the copy and printed them.

6. The response rate of direct mail postcards is entirely based on how targeted you make the mailing. You may only get a 1% response rate, even if you send out 10,000 direct mail postcards, and it is more likely to be closer to ½ of a percent. Networking yields better results.

7. The cost per lead with direct mail postcards can be high -- $2,000 to $5,000. Networking might cost $1,000 per organization annually.

There are trade-offs whether you choose direct mail postcards or networking as your marketing technique. You can only find the technique that works best for you by trying both and tracking results over time.

Blogged by: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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(Heat) Waves of the Future

Get used to brutal heat waves that cause power outages and take lives, say scientists and weather experts. Not just for this summer -- above normal temperatures are forecast for August across the US -- but for the long term.

Global warming may be the culprit, scientists say, causing more frequent heat waves with higher temperatures. If current trends stay on track, temperatures may continue to rise over the next several years to rival the record-setting heat of the 1930s Dust Bowl era.

Experts believe that residents of older Northern cities, where homes often lack air conditioning, may be at greater risk than their counterparts in the South and Southwest, where air conditioning has always been a necessity. Many cities have prevented heat deaths by establishing emergency cooling centers where residents can stay and cool down.

Source: AP

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Instant Evolution: People Bigger, Healthier than their Ancestors

It's no secret that people live longer than did their ancestors. In 1850 the average life expectancy was about 60; today it's close to 80. But new research also finds that we are also taller and heavier than our great-great-grandparents, by about two inches and 30 pounds since 1900.

We also have fewer chronic illnesses that take people out in the prime of life, according to research conducted by the National Institutes of Health that compared the heath of Americans in their 40s and 50 to heath surveys of Union Army veterans taken during the 1860s. Whereas it wasn't uncommon for those in the Civil War era to suffer from arthritis or to die from lung or heart failure in their 40s, their counterparts today have few health problems at that age. Even IQ has seemed to go up, and dementia appears to be falling.

The NIH researchers were particularly surprised at the number of chronic conditions showing up in young people 140 years ago, noting that one in six Union Army enlistees aged 16 to 19 was rejected for a disability (interesting, bearing in mind that the army often accepted recruits who were blind in one eye or who had other serious ailments).

Each generation has experienced better health than its parents -- a phenomenon that's reflected in both developed and developing countries all over the world. The reasons are many, from better nutrition from in-utero through childhood; to more sophisticated surgical treatments, vaccines and medicines; to decrease in workplace hazards; to greater awareness of health issues overall. Researchers also believe that those who survived serious illnesses such as tuberculosis lessened one's resistance to chronic conditions later on, and also theorize that health and nutrition in children before birth and in the first two years is critical to determining one's long-term health prospects. Other studies have found that those born during famines and epidemics (such as the 1918 flu pandemic) are overall less healthy than those born during healthier, more prosperous times.

So, how much longer can the upward trend continue? Transhumanists argue that the sky's the limit, that people should be able to live indefinitely given proper healthcare, body part replacements and nanotechnology. But other healthcare researchers worry that countertrends such as obesity, unintended consequences of medications or environmental phenomena could reverse the upward trend.

Source: The New York Times

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Networking Events - Use Your Time Wisely

There’s a big difference between networking and networking efficiently. When you attend an event, you want to quickly determine whether the person you’re speaking with falls into the “sweet spot” category. To make it easier, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is this person part of your small business target market?
2. Is he or she a decision maker or influencer?
3. Does this business have the potential to become a regular, long-term client?

While at an event, don’t waste your time talking to big banks, Fortune 1000 companies, organizations with large in-house IT departments, and government or non-profits. None of these companies will provide real opportunities for you so bypass them.

Instead, look for small business owners and managers - the decision makers. You should ask certain questions so that you can effectively determine whether this person or company is a real prospect. Try these questions:

* What kind of systems do you have?
* Do folks use a lot of computers at your office?
* Do you have a network?
* What kind of network do you have?
* How many people are on the network?

If the company does seem to be a real prospect, then you need to determine whether you’re talking to the right person. A simple question like “What systems do you use?” can help you quickly determine whether you’re talking to the right person.

Learn more about networking efficiently in the full article (link above).

Blogged by Joshua Feinberg

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A China Bubble Burst by 2009?

MSN Money financial editor Jim Jubak believes that China's economy is way overheated -- fueled by low interest rates, lots of high-risk borrowing and the government's inability to manage production -- and may crash as early as 2009. Naturally, because China has grown to become such a major player in the world economy, even a moderate recession would affect the global economy.

Some of the effects of an economic crash in China might be:

• Massive unrest if widespread unemployment were the result, threatening the stability of the communist government, which is already struggling to maintain control.


• If China were no longer perceived as a safe place to do business, short-term higher prices for goods could result... and could open up opportunities for China's global competitors. Long term, prices could fall once unrest settled down and if China were aggressive in getting back in the game.


• A drop in China's consumption of oil, leading to lower prices on the world oil market -- perhaps even a crash. Good news for Western consumers; bad news for oil-producing countries (especially those in the volatile Mideast), which are currently enjoying the revenues generated by high oil prices.

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IT Marketing: What's the Time Frame for Business Success?

Although success won’t happen overnight, there are some things you can do to help it along. You may have joined the Chamber and handed out hundreds of business cards, but you simply have to give it some time. Payoffs from these types of activities usually come after 3 to 6 months. Keep on doing what you’re doing, and be patient

What’s the real key to success in IT consulting? Personal relationships. You’re not going to go into a couple of meetings and land a $25,000 account, because people need to know and trust you. That takes time. You want to create personal relationships in all your dealings so that when they do need help they’ll think first of you.

Also remember that first impressions do count. Dress neatly. Remain positive and friendly when you meet people, and they’ll remember you. Also remember that you are a knowledge provider, so give your background, not your prices. To learn more about being successful in IT consulting, read the entire article (link above).

Posted by Computer Consulting Kit

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New Verizon Discount Program Might Hurt Solution Providers

Verizon Business recently started offering a new discount program for network data and voice solutions. Sold directly to customers, this program may cut out some business for solution providers.

This program, the Verizon Client Advantage Program (VCAP) presents customer with unbeatable prices on total network solutions, and solution providers and others have stated they have been unable to compete and have been losing bids to VCAP. The solutions offer the carrier’s services plus products from other major vendors, including Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Nortel Networks, 3Com and many others. Customers can also include outsourced IT solutions, managed network services and even call center and help desk services as part of the plan.

While VCAP was not announced publicly by Verizon Business and information about the pogram isn’t even listed on the website, solution providers have experienced first-hand the competition and have noted vague mentions of the program by Verizon spokespeople. Some solution providers heard about VCAP earlier in the year when involved with some of the companies working with the VCAP program, like Juniper Networks. Many solution providers have noted that on the surface they have seemed to be on the verge of winning many deals, but then at the last minute have found themselves losing to Verizon. VCAP is reportedly the first formally crafted deep discount program offered by a service provider in the solution provider market.

VCAP has offered discounts to over 40 New Jersey schools, including Rutgers, Seton Hall, Rider and Mercer, and relationships with these schools has allowed the company to position itself ahead of solution providers in the channel. While deep discounts are not new phenomena for equipment in solutions, this new offering has allowed the bids to go way lower than solution providers can afford. Because of huge amounts of resources, carriers like this can bid so low that they can take an initial loss and gain it back in service payments. The deals are re-crafted until Verizon and other major companies like it win.

Networking vendors such as Cisco and Juniper have struggled with conflicts with solution providers and service providers for years, but recently the struggle has grown worse.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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Computer Business Microsoft Revamps PCs

Recently computer business Microsoft announced plans to focus more on the design aspects of its PCs. Spokespeople for the company, possibly in response to the stress on design of rival computer business Apple, Inc. state that they will be offering enhanced color options, a sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing look and other features in order to get people to change their perspective on the typically business-oriented PC.

The computer business has hired a team of 20 designers to work on the new computers for the past 18 months to create a new image for the machines running Microsoft’s next operating system, Windows Vista. Microsoft hopes that the slick new design will help users overlook some of the problems Vista has experienced prior to its release. The operating system will finally reach consumers in January of 2007, many years behind schedule and without a lot of the features it was supposed to sport. The launch of the new product will be a major event in the computer business.

While Microsoft has been redesigning its hardware for many years and has created such innovative and popular designs as the Xbox game console and others, the transformation of the PC is a new level. This redesign marks a change in the computer business and the world of PCs that was once divided into companies that make important software and the other companies that run the low-end machines that ran the software.

In recent years, computer business Apple has led the industry with innovative design concepts, building a unified system for all its products, with the Mac and then the iPod. Though Apple still only sells one computer per 20 PCs, the iPod has revealed that consumers prefer a system that is uncomplicated.

The goal of the new Vista software and the new PCs is to bring together hardware design and aesthetics, which many are saying copies Apple’s motto. The computer business even plans to create a music system called Zune that will only work with its own Microsoft planned music services, much like the iPod works with the iTunes Music Store.

Microsoft is so far just using a soft sell with PC makers, but soon the computer business hopes to start selling on a larger scale, as soon as the designs are more complete and tested.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

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Networking Groups and Moonlighting

Many times networking groups meet during daytime hours, meaning that if you are a computer consultant with a regular job that is moonlighting as you try to start your business, you can run into problems with attendance of important networking events. Because going to networking groups is absolutely imperative in order to succeed, you need to figure out how to work attendance into your schedule.

TIPS FOR ATTENTING NETWORKING GROUPS WHILE MOONLIGHTING

1. Seek out networking groups with events in the early evenings. Many networking groups have this schedule and finding these groups can help you take less time off work.

2. When you have to leave work before the end of the day in order to go to a networking group event, be as non-disruptive as possible. Give plenty of advance notice and work ahead when possible.

3. Think about how you can use personal days for attending the really critical networking events that arise.

4. If there are some networking groups that meet for breakfast, you can make arrangements to come to work late.

5. Long lunches can help you squeeze in important networking events. Midday meetings are also the least interruptive of your regular work and consulting gigs.

6. You need to be selective about the networking groups you join and what events you attend. Make a list of the important events and put off those that have less potential. When you are moonlighting you have to compromise to get the most out of your valuable time.

The most important thing about networking events is that they are essential to your success as a computer consultant, even when you are just moonlighting. Networking groups provide you with the contacts you will need to protect the future of your business.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

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What Do I Need to Be a Computer Consultant?

Maybe you have always wanted to be a computer consultant, but you are not sure if you could do it. If you have a basic knowledge of computer systems, great problem-solving skills and a love of working with people, you already have the main traits you need to be a good computer consultant.

HELP YOUR INCOME

In a regular IT job, your earnings potential and career advancement opportunities are, in the end, beyond your control. You can’t control incompetence around you, bad management or a skewed seniority system. Becoming a computer consultant eliminates many of these issues. You get control over your future. You will never have to work with incompetent people if you don’t want to, and you can find new clients to replace ones that don’t work well with you. You can be guaranteed that the people paying you $100 per hour for your expertise value you too; if they didn’t, they wouldn’t pay you.

COMPUTER CONSULTANT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Those working as computer consultants are part of a steadily growing market that thrives on diverse services. Every company today needs some form of IT assistance, and as a computer consultant you have the potential of an unlimited pool of clients and a long-lasting career.

You may wonder why you would want to become a computer consultant when so many people are doing it. Competition is actually one of the best things for computer consultant; it signifies that the industry is healthy and growing. You wouldn’t want to be part of an industry where no one else was succeeding. As with in any other viable business, many computer consultant companies are badly run and have a problem satisfying their customers. This is your opportunity to provide a cost-effective solution that focuses on your clients and make yourself stand out from the crowd.

As technology grows, more opportunities are created. While some technologies will become obsolete in the future, new ones will emerge.

REQUISITE SKILLS

If you are the one everyone looks to in your office or among your friends and family for help with computer problems, you already have a good start as a potential computer consultant. You don’t have to be an expert in every type of technology to be a good computer consultant. Many of your skills gaps can be filled in by finding good partners with strengths that compliment your weaknesses.

MOVING FROM EMPLOYEE TO COMPUTER CONSULTANT

If you are an employee of the computer industry, the transition to computer consultant is a good one. It will increase your income and give you many other benefits. You can start by moonlighting to find out if you like being a computer consultant without giving up your day job. You can also start to build a list of clients and references to give yourself a head start.

NON-TECHNICAL SKILLS

Being a computer consultant goes beyond technical knowledge. You need to be self-motivated, have the ability to work even without someone looking over your shoulder and be able to multi-task and fulfill many different functions, from accounting and marketing to sales and operations.

Maybe these items sound overwhelming. However, while all the above skills are important to being successful as a computer consultant, there are ways you can manage them through delegation and other techniques without completely killing yourself.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

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Off the Wire, 7-27-06

Infamous computer hacker Kevin Mitnick has reportedly taken ill in the Colombian Andes, and was hospitalized for a severe flu that he attributed in part to the high altitude there. [CNN.com]

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The trend toward "consumer producers" continues with the offer of a customizable version of Jessica Simpson's new video "A Public Affair" through her website. Fans can customize the lyrics, inserting their own name in the video. [Trendcentral.com]

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GlaxoSmithKline has developed a vaccine for the H5N1 "bird flu" virus that could be ready for distribution as early as next year. Testing has proven successful so far, though infectious disease specialists warn that the virus could mutate before the vaccine reaches production. [AP]

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The latest drug for teens and young adults -- and possibly the newest drug hysteria -- is sniffing bags of mothballs, or "bagging." Mothballs contain paradichlorobenzene, a substance that produces a high, along with possible liver and kidney failure. And, of course, mothballs are legal. The trend mirrors a move among drug-using teens toward legal yet supposedly controlled substances such as OxyContin and Vicodin, which are often available for purchase over the Internet. Look for moves to reformulate mothballs and control their sale to minors. [CNN.com]

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Who's up for a swim? Scientists reviewing data from the Cassini probe orbiting Saturn believe that the planet's largest moon, Titan, sports a cluster of lakes containing a mix of liquid methane and ethane. [CNN.com]

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Americans have become deeply pessimistic about the future, according to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. While worrying about current events such as the Iraq war and the fighting in Lebanon, 65% of Americans surveyed feel less confident that life will be better for their children. Seventy-three percent felt that America is "on the wrong track," and of those, 81% believed it's part of a long-term decline. [MSNBC]

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India Says No, Nigeria Says Yes to Negroponte's $100 Laptop

Good news and bad news for the One Laptop Per Child initiative spearheaded by MIT's Nicholas Negroponte, which seeks to build and distribute laptops costing a mere $100.

First the good news: The government of Nigeria has placed an order for $1 million worth of the OLPC laptops. Said Ernest Ndukwe, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), "This is in consonance with our vision which aims to create an information rich environment in the country. The Commission believes that preparing the future of Nigeria is to educate the young generation... [T]herein lies the richness of our country."

Now the bad news: The Indian government gave OLPC a major smackdown, revealing an entirely different set of educational concerns. The Indian Ministry of Education called the laptop immature and "pedagogically suspect." Education Secretary Sudeep Banerjee summed up the government's concerns by saying, "We need classrooms and teachers more urgently than fancy tools."

In the scheme of things, OLPC probably lost more by losing India than it gained through Nigeria, considering India's technological sophistication and its growing role in producing computer engineers. For India, it may also be the growing realization that laptops are proving themselves to be less than productive in classrooms, and that computer-literate Indians might be more likely to buy regular laptops anyhow. Plus, as Banerjee said, the correct priority among educators in the developing world is securing the basics -- functioning classrooms, supplies like pencils and paper, and skilled teachers -- even though initiatives like OLPC offer students an edge in an ever more technology-driven world.

Sources: All Africa, The Register

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Teen Mags, Dow Jones Lead the Migration from Print to Digital

Teens and business executives: two groups that don't have much in common. Except that both are tech-savvy, and are driving the move of the publications they read from print to the Internet.

Time Inc. announced yesterday that it will cease publication of its magazine Teen People... making it the second major teen magazine to shut down after ElleGirl folded earlier this year. However, in both cases the online versions remain, suggesting that the magazines' readership is still engaged, but just prefers to get content online rather than in print. Plus, the online versions are free...

Also, last week, Dow Jones announced that it will "reassess its news delivery" to provide more content online and less in traditional print formats. Perhaps the end result will be to convert its venerable Wall Street Journal to a wholly online format.

The Journal is an interesting case because it's one of the few publications whose online edition has been successful at attracting paid subscribers (768,000). The Internet offers Journal readers particular advantages, such as delivery of breaking news that's essential for traders who rely on up-to-the-minute information. If an all-online move were to occur, it would be precedent-setting to say the least, and could indicate the final step in legitimizing online publications.

By then, its younger readers -- who grew up reading Teen People online -- might go to the online Journal first, and consider the print version an oddity.

More specifics about Dow Jones' future will likely emerge as current Journal managing editor Paul Steiger nears his announced retirement at the end of 2007.

Sources: Huffington Post, Advertising Age

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The First Things Sweet Spot Clients are Looking for in a Computer Consulting Business

When you are offering business-to-business or B2B service, your ideal computer consulting business clients, otherwise known as “sweet spot” clients are companies that have 10-50 PCs and $1-10 million annual revenue. Sweet spot clients look for the following four qualities in their computer consulting businesses: response time; business and technical knowledge; customer service and price and value. This entry focuses on the first two items -- response time and knowledge


THE VALUE OF SPEED

When a small business really needs IT, response time will be a huge factor in its selection of the right computer consulting firm. Since any downtime means lost funds, how quickly a computer consulting business can handle an emergency IT need is critical.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

Your business and industry knowledge as a group of computer consulting business professionals is really important. How well do your employees understand a particular client’s niche and field? Sweet spot clients want tech providers that can solve business problems and technical problems simultaneously. The computer consulting business becomes the outsourced IT department for sweet spot customers. While you will definitely be offering hardware support, software support, LAN and WAN support you need to give clients complete solutions that include more than just technical fixes.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

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Terms of Payment and Your Computer Consulting Business

Terms of payment will be abused by even your best clients if you allow them to take advantage. When setting payment terms, your first thought should be of yourself. Never become accustomed to extending credit or giving discounts when they are not deserved. The following tips can help you create the best terms of payment for your computer consulting business.

TIPS FOR SETTING PAYMENT TERMS

1. Don’t use net 30 to set your terms of payment, otherwise known as stolen discounts. Instead use net seven or net ten so you don’t appear to be giving discounts.

2. Don’t use the term “payment on receipt,” since you don’t know when they will receive it.

3. Set a specific payment due date on your invoice.

DEALING WITH PAST DUE PAYMENTS

When payments go past due, you have to find a way to collect your money:

1. Delay the non-paying clients’ appointments for a week to try to get the point across that you need payment before continuing work.

2. Pick up the phone rather than faxing or sending a letter or emails. You will often get what you want when your clients are forced to talk to you.

3. Make a personal visit.

Regardless of how you collect, don’t let late payments extend beyond two terms. Move quickly to get money owed if the payment goes beyond 28 days late.

The best way to set terms of payment is defensively. Make decisions in your best interest and collect money up-front whenever possible to keep relationships strong and get the money you are owed as efficiently as possible.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

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Microsoft Fighting Piracy

Sick and tired of piracy, Microsoft is now fighting back, particularly in the U.K. With Office 2007 being released early next year, Microsoft is getting its ducks in a row. They currently believe that as much as 63% of the software used in Britain is counterfeit.

In order to put an end to all the piracy, Microsoft has begun doing research on the amount of piracy occurring. Thanks to all the piracy in the country, the starting numbers for the company’s loss runs around $250 million. The company is currently suing at least one reseller for piracy.

According to Michala Alexander, head of anti-piracy for Microsoft UK: "The problem is phenomenal. In April, we set up a website, Office Genuine Advantage, to allow users to go online to validate their Office software. So far, 4,000 people have attempted to validate their software with 63 percent discovering they were running an illegal copy."

Learn more about Microsoft’s crackdown when you read the full article (link above).

Submitted by Computer Consulting Kit

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Fortinet Named One of the Ten Most Influential Security Companies

Fortinet has been the leader in creating and providing multi-threat security solutions, and they are now being recognized for their impact on the industry. The Computer Business Review, a popular publication in both the United States and the United Kingdom, has named Fortinet one of the “Ten Most Influential Security Companies.”

The publication considers a company's market influence, revenue, and profitability as well as the likelihood that other companies will follow their lead. In 2002, Fortinet led the market by introducing the first multi-threat security systems.

According to the Unified Threat Management (UTM) market: "Fortinet is a rare beast, a private security company barely into its sixth year that is already the category leader in a rapidly growing market, where it competes against companies much better known than itself [sic]...Virtually every company that sells a firewall now also sells a UTM device, a testament to Fortinet's ability to very early identify a market where there is real demand."

Learn more about Fortinet and their impact on the industry in the complete article (link above).

Posted by Joshua Feinberg

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[NEW FEATURE] Off the Wire, 7-25-06

"Off the Wire" is a new FutureWire segment, a roundup of links to various stories that FutureWire readers may find interesting. I will post "Off the Wire" segments as frequently as possible. Naturally, suggestions for stories are always appreciated...

At a recent Brainstorm Conference hosted by Fortune magazine, an age gap became apparent when discussing the benefits of the Internet. Hmmm... how do you suppose that played out? [CNN/Money]

Though President Bush recently vetoed a bill that would have increased federal support for embryonic stem cell research, he is clearly going against the tide of public opinion. A survey by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press found that Americans strongly support using embryos for such research (57% to 30%) -- support that cuts across nearly all religious categories. White evangelical Christians were the only group found to strongly oppose embryonic stem cell research.

Back in June, members of Congress -- with input from environmentalists, industry and even the "big three" Detroit automakers -- kicked off a "25x25" campaign to convert 25% of US energy consumption to renewable sources by 2025. Despite its broad support (politicians from Newt Gingrich to Bill Clinton have signed on), and the fact that 98% of Americans favor developing renewable energy, the fate of the effort is uncertain. Plus, with the news being dominated by events in the Mideast these past few weeks, you can be forgiven for not having heard much about "25x25." [Christian Science Monitor]

Go see a glacier now, while there's still time. The melting of glaciers in the European Alps has accelerated greatly since the 1970s; they now cover only half the area they covered in 1850. Scientists at the University of Zurich estimate that if summer temperatures rise by 5°C by 2100, virtually all of Europe's Alpine glaciers will vanish. The situation mirrors that of North America; in Montana's Glacier National Park, the number of named glaciers has shrunk from 150 in 1850 to 26 today. [LiveScience.com]

The Pew Internet & American Life project has released a survey of bloggers. Not surprisingly, the survey found that most bloggers are novice writers under age 30 who blog primarily to share their personal experiences. [UPDATE: Jeff Jarvis explores the implication of this survey, especially the suggestion that bloggers "don't consider themselves journalists."]

Venture capital investments in startup firms have reached the highest level since the first quarter of 2001, totalling $6.73 billion. Biotech, pharmaceuticals, alternative energy and IT were among the winners. [Red Herring]

Tech-savvy book lovers in Sweden can now download and listen to audiobooks through their cell phones, through a new service by Bokilur (literally, "book on phone" in Swedish). [Springwise]

Marketing firms that have had success in online ad campaigns see social networking sites as fertile ground. A survey by Forrester Research in December 2005 found that 51% of marketers surveyed planned to leverage social networks substantially over the next 12 months. A slightly smaller percentage planned aggressive campaigns around RSS and mobile devices. [eMarketer]

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Solution Providers Get New Monitoring Tool from AdventNet

AdventNet recently announced a new product for solution providers searching for the right MSP monitoring platform and are offering a free test of AdventNet’s OpManager MSP version 6002. This platform has new features and gives solution providers the option of using free 30-day trial versions of the full product with as many customers in as many locations as they want.

OpManager MSP 6002 is downloadable and is a good foundation for MSP businesses, allowing solution providers to remotely control many aspects including monitoring, troubleshooting and the generation of very detailed reports regarding customer networks and machine performance. This version improves upon the report scheduling function along with CPU, memory and disc utilization reading. OpManager MSP 6002 also offers better active directory integration.

The trial versions of this program can be used by solution providers to sell MSP services and gauge the customer’s network, leading to future hardware and software sales. Solution providers just have to pay for customer licenses if clients use the product beyond 30 days. New trial versions are unlimited and can be downloaded 24 hours a day.

According to AdventNet, this new product can help gather new customers for solution providers that are MSPs and help cut licensing fees while still introducing the product. Solution providers can avoid the expensive process of keeping a seat license inventory from many different vendors and allows for much more streamlined purchase of licenses.

Companies like Kaseya that sell their licenses in blocks, causing solution providers to often have more than they need also sell free 30-day trials of products, but not in bulk like AdventNet’s new offering. Kaseya does sometimes extend this 30-day period, but only if the company perceives that the sale will be closed.

For further specifications on the new OpManager MSP product, solution providers can visit the link above. AdventNet has solution provider partners globally and developers but does most of its business in the United States.

Added By: Computer Consulting

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Computer Services Firm ACS Re-signs with Solano

Computer services firm Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) recently stated it would be re-signing a deal with Solano County in California. The computer services deal will be worth $15.2 million and last for three years. ACS is to provide computer services in the form of technology services that will help with the County’s infrastructure. The computer services firm will support desktop, applications and helpdesk settings. On top of this deal comes the option of two years worth of continued IT services for approximately $35 million.

ACS announced that this renewed contract also includes many projects that will improve infrastructure in the County. Similarly, helpdesk services will move to the computer services firm’s large service center in Portland, OR, as will the new IT project management firm in charge of controlling best practices and many other initiatives.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

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Jeff Bezos Bankrolling Private Spaceport

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly funding a spaceport to be developed in west Texas, servicing spacecraft that both take off and land vertically.

Bezos has bought a 165,000-acre ranch in sparsely populated Culberson County, and has filed an environmental review with the Federal Aviation Administration. The spacecraft company, Blue Origin, could begin suborbital space tourism flights as early as 2010 if everything goes as planned.

Source: CNN.com

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Why You Need Paying Customers During the Start-Up Phase of Computer Consulting

No matter what the level of your computer consulting services during start-up, your firm should get paying clients that are in line with your technical skills. Start with home offices or small businesses and companies with simple P2P networks just to get some paying clients and some decent references.

USE ONE-SHOTS AS A LAUNCHING PAD

You need to move beyond simple clients and one-shot deals eventually because you want your small business computer consulting company to be dependent upon recurring revenue retainer agreements and more complicated solutions. Still, during the start-up phase of a computer consulting business smaller accounts can be helpful. Still, you should move steadily towards the more sophisticated long-term accounts.

NEVER STOP LEARNING

If you suspect that your low level of technical training is keeping you from getting clients with more complicated solutions, make time each week, even just two or three hours for training. You can use tutorials and resource kits and install your not-for-resale software for practice and break the installation to look more closely at the setup.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

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Ten Tools for Time Management

Your ability for successful time management will put you above the crowd and help you be more efficient, effective and make a larger profit. If you are not good with time management, you will lose a lot of hours, and time is much more important than money. The following ten tools can help you with your time management skills.

1. Set a clear billing time minimum. You need to plan out this very carefully, as it’s the most important technique for time management. Consider travel time and the average number of clients you see daily.

2. Set up client appointments religiously four to eight weeks ahead of time. If you also schedule thinking about geographical location and avoid areas with traffic jams you can improve time management.

3. Add networking events to your schedule a month ahead of time so you can efficiently work your schedule into your clients’ schedules.

4. Log every moment you work, including billable hours, administrative, training, marketing and selling time. Think of yourself as an internal client.

5. You should make a daily schedule task list. Use Outlook to track your duties on a daily calendar to help with time management.

6. You can use your driving time to listen to audio books or CDs on technical or business items to help increase your knowledge while you are just in between jobs.

7. You need to have copies of any reading material you need with you at all times so you can be prepared for any downtime.

8. Set aside time for operational requirements internally. Time management is a great deal about checking to make sure important items get done, so you need to make time for billing, accounts payable, banking, marketing plan updates and any other duties.

9. One day per quarter should be reserved for developing professional skills. Often individuals may not think about this time management technique, but it is critical to business.

10. You should use one weekend per year to revamp your business plan. You should keep your business plan alive and relevant because you will refer to it often.


Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

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Computer Business News: Music Makes Up 50% of Apple’s Business

Computer business Apple enjoyed the second most profitable quarter in its 30 years of business when its music business expanded to comprise almost 50% of the company’s total revenues. iPod, iPod accessories and downloaded tracks sales from iTunes now make up 45% of the computer business’ sales, and have helped Apple increase its profits 46% to $470 million.

From April to July of this year, Apple sold 8.1 million iPods globally, which is a 32% year growth in digital music and video player sales. These figures are an astounding year’s increase, but the overall numbers were actually down from 8.5 million the quarter before. This is only the second time that the computer business has not increased its sales in the past four years.

Because music products are so much of Apple’s business, the Beatles’ Apple Corps record label, recently losing a lawsuit with the computer business over it had broken an agreement to stay out will experience disappointment.

A lot of the computer business’ profit came from its sole computer business, which also did very well, selling over 1.3 million Mac computers last quarter. This growth can be attributed to a change to Intel-based systems that allow Apple to run Microsoft’s operating system.

CEO Steve Jobs said he is very excited about Apple’s growth and that over 75% of the Macs sold this past quarter were those with Intel processors, meaning a very smooth transition to new products. While the earnings were congruent with expectations, the markets were pushed further upwards at the news in New York, increasing Apple shares by 12.5%.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

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IT Consulting News: Wi-Fi Market on the Rise

Experts from Infonetics Research state that the Wi-Fi phone industry is set to double annually until 2009, reaching $3.7 billion. This prediction gives IT consulting professionals something to think about. The report gauged that the Wi-Fi phone market increased 116% in 2004-2005, topping off at $125.5 million. This growth was spurred by enterprises and consumers that switched over to wireless networks.

Analysts also noted that voice over wireless networks are being used mostly by enterprises instead of consumers, but eventually these networks will be in demand among consumers as IT consulting specialists start to offer service bundled with broadband connections.

The following findings were also published in this report:

1. SpectraLink is the leader in WiFi phones, followed by Cisco and Motorola.
2. The number of Wi-Fi phones increased 151% in 2004-2005 and will this year likely grow 182%.
3. 58% of Wi-Fi revenue in 2005 came from single-mode VoIP handsets and 42% from dual-mode handsets. Dual-mode handsets are supposed to dominate by 2009.
4. 49% of dual-mode Wi-Fi cellular handset revenue was from the Asia Pacific region, while 27% came from North America, 22% from EMEA and 2% from CALA last year.

Many companies, including D-Link, Linksys and NETGEAR are releasing new products in coming months, thus increasing the availability of more advanced products for consumers. The real growth, however is set to be surrounding dual-mode Wi-Fi and cellular handsets, and increased service and support opportunities will arise in the IT consulting field as a result.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

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Computer Consulting and Time Management

As a busy computer consulting expert, sometimes you might wonder how you are going to complete all necessary tasks. You need to find long-term business-to-business computer consulting clients, but you are most likely already working upwards of 60 hours per week. There are strategies you can use to best manage your time in the computer consulting field.

THE TIME STUDY

Look at what tasks and obligations take up most of your time and figure out if you can delegate, automate or eliminate entirely some aspects. If you are building PCs and putting in motherboards and power supplies for ten hours or more per week, you can probably afford to have someone else do it. Similarly, tasks like minding a computer store can be given to another able-bodied person.

DELEGATION IS A LIFE SAVER

You should be able to look at your staff and figure out what tasks can be delegated to members. Delegation can sometimes free up a day to a day and a half per week to start looking for viable business-to-business computer consulting clients.

EXTRA TIME MANAGEMENT

When you find yourself with this valuable extra time after delegating responsibilities, go to networking events, plan marketing campaigns, go on sales calls and make follow-up phone calls in order to find potential long-term clients that can truly help grow your computer consulting business.

Even if you are working many hours, you have to find some way to free up time and manage efficiently and effectively. Planning how to develop contacts and clients for your computer consulting business is critical to its future.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

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The Best Business Contacts are Those That are Both influencers and Users

Anyone in your network qualifies as a business contacts. Business contacts are incredibly important to the growth of your business, so developing relationships with them is critical. Business contacts come in two separate categories: influencers/users and users. You need to be able to tell the difference between these categories of business contacts and foster the correct relationships.

The people that are both influencers and users make the best business contacts because they can use the services themselves and also encourage others to use these services. Every client you have can be a good referral, but influencers and users are most deeply entrenched in the referral market.

TRUSTED BUSINESS ADVISORS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

This sub-category of influencers/users includes accountants, bookkeepers, attorneys, business managers and consultants. You call these people to help solve your small business problems, so other small businesses are calling them too. If you are maintaining a network for your accountant, you want to make sure he/she will recommend you to others within his/her business contacts network.

NICHE TECH PROVIDERS

Niche technology providers for small businesses are very influential and can make excellent business contacts in the influencers/users category. These people are in the IT field, but do not directly compete with you and include accounting software specialists, phone systems dealers, industry niche software applications, software developers, system builders and website designers. Typically these businesses deal with companies that will fall in your sweet spot, and they can easily recommend your IT services to their clients if you develop them as business contacts.

All business contacts are critical to your success, but some, such as those in the influencer/user category are more powerful than others and should receive more attention.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

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That New-Time Religion

How could the national discussion about religion evolve in the coming years? The future of faith could hold some surprises.

A survey conducted by the City University of New York in 2001 found that the third most popular "religion" in the US was, in fact, no religion at all. After Catholic (24.5%) and Baptist (16%), the third largest religious category was "no religion" (atheist, agnostic or secular). Even in "Bible Belt" states and Mormon-dominated Utah, "non-theists" represent a significant portion of the population. Currently, many of these people don't think of themselves as part of a religious group. But what if they were to discover their commonality, or identify with a leader who could offer them a political alternative? Would any of today's leaders consider taking up the challenge?

On a different note, the new blog The Digital Sanctuary speculates on how new media might change the nature of religious worship. The blogger, Cynthia Ware, notes that, in her experience, Internet technology has already become critical to keeping her congregation informed about events and activities. How else could the faithful leverage technology... and how might the use of technology influence the development of religious faith?

Technological change has had an enormous impact on religion, from the first printed copies of the Bible that helped trigger the Reformation, to television that led to a new form of worship in televangelism. Rituals and doctrine have been created in response to the needs of the populace; the stationary, land-bound serfs of medieval Europe built grand cathedrals, while the nomadic tribes of the Islamic world memorized the Koran and prayed wherever they happened to be. How else will future trends and technologies shape and redefine our religious faith?

UPDATE: Flying in the face of assumptions that religion would decline in the modern world, researchers at the Pew Forum for Religion & Public Life believe that religious observance is growing worldwide. Freed from oppression of communism and other regimes that saw faith as a threat, religion is manifesting itself in forms ranging from evangelical Christianity to radical Islam to "neo-orthodoxies" that adapt religious observance to politics and other aspects of the modern world.

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"E-Mail Has Become the New Snail Mail"

If you're e-mailing instead of IM'ing or text messaging... well, sorry, you're behind the times.  Increasingly, tech savvy people are relying on texting and instant messages rather than e-mail to communicate, citing immediacy and convenience, as well as relief from spam overload.  "In this world of instant gratification, e-mail has become the new snail mail," says 25-year-old Rachel Quizon from Norwalk, Calif.

Even though texting and IM'ing are making their way into the workplace, the obvious generational divide persists.  While young people embrace the new communications media wholeheartedly (they prefer IM over e-mail by a 5-to-1 margin), their older colleagues still prefer e-mail.  "Adults who learn to use IM later have major difficulty talking to more than two people at one time — whereas the teens who grew up on it have no problem talking to a bazillion people at once," says social media expert Danah Boyd. "They understand how to negotiate the interruptions a lot better."

Source:  AP (via MSNBC)

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Finding the Right Computer Service Provider

You can save money by choosing the right computer support firm. Many small businesses make the mistake of hiring a computer consulting service firm that is unreliable and stops showing up all of a sudden when times get tough. Because technology is so important to so many different types of businesses in today’s world, having a dependable computer support service is essential. One computer crash or technology meltdown can cause operations to slow or stop completely.

The following tips will help you hire the right computer support firm to suit your specific needs:

1. Make sure the company is legitimate. You should look at the company’s website and see how professional it is and how deeply it goes. If it is just a calling card without references, you should be wary. Check existing references to make sure the firm has current customers that enjoy doing business there.

2. Choose a service firm that is a good fit. Joshua Feinberg, co-founder of Computer Consulting 101 states that one-person firms might be a good option for those with just a few computers, but larger small businesses should look beyond to larger service firms. Still, the larger the service firm, the higher the overhead and thus the bigger the pay. You might sacrifice more personalized service as well because you may not see the same technician every time. The most important thing to remember is you should be comfortable with whatever firm you choose since these representatives will have access to sensitive information.

3. Choose the right billing plan. The best service firm for you should offer a billing plan that fits well with your business. Unless a small business is really small or the network is very simple, a monthly billing plan with pre-set hours will usually give a better hourly rate than buying services by the project. Support firms give monthly paying customers priority over those that just pay by the project or emergency.

4. You want to work with a company that provides an online monitoring system. Online monitoring can help small businesses better manage the costs of computer support. It also will give computer service firms automatic alarms if something goes wrong with their clients. These monitoring options can save expensive service calls by moving most things online.

5. Start out the relationship slowly. You shouldn’t jump right into using a specific vendor. Test out the service firm you choose by presenting a small project and then move on to more expensive projects. That way you can ensure you get the right firm for on-going service and reduce costs.


Created By: Computer Consulting Kit

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When You Follow Up, Perseverance is Important

Follow up can help you increase the number of leads you get and should be common practice whenever you meet anyone. Send a follow up letter, postcard, phone call or use any other technique that will keep your name in their thoughts.

Meetings and business networking events are made for meeting contacts. While the contacts you find at these events might not initially be interested in your services and expertise, if you follow up with them effectively they will be more liable to call you when they are ready for your services. Efficient follow up activities include the following actions: postcards; emails; phone calls; letters; flyers and invitations to seminars.

While follow up should be diligent, you don’t want it to be overly-aggressive. Sending contacts something every few months is a perfect follow up level. Follow up should happen four or five times per year.

Good follow up procedures will lead to increased business, which is why you have to make it a practice of following up with everyone. You might lose out to a competitor despite your best efforts, but a number of other things could happen as well, and you’ll never know unless you try. If you continue to follow up you will be ready if an opportunity presents itself.

The cost of follow up to you is small, but the benefits can be huge for your business.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

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China Tech Trends

Silicon.com interviews Sage Brennan of Pacific Epoch about emerging business and technology trends in China. Brennan, a China expert based in Shanghai, says that despite bureaucracy and the trappings of communism, the Chinese economy is surprisingly similar to those of the West in terms of being consumer-driven. The Chinese, he says, are also heavy Internet users, blogging, chatting and posting to online forums, even in the face of government attempts at censorship. The Chinese workforce is also very mobile; in a seller's market, a skilled worker who speaks English has his or her pick of jobs.

Brennan believes the biggest weakness in the Chinese economy is a general lack of innovation, stemming from a centuries-old culture that values tradition instead of change. But Brennan believes that the Chinese will become more innovative over time as they are exposed to different ideas and see the value of innovation in their own economy.

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Tech Data Gives Solution Providers a New Apple Support Program

Tech Data, a leading distributor recently introduced a new program for Apple solution providers to help them more efficiently develop, sell and support Apple-based business products. The AppleAdvantage SBU (Specilized Business Unit) began in June and is meant to be a resource for Apple VARs with technical assistance needs, sales support and product management resources.

Tech Data insists that solution providers specializing in Apple products need to have easy access to experts that know what technologies will work well with different types of businesses. Customers and solution providers contacting AppleAdvantage SBU know they are getting professionals that really know about solutions that are specific to Apple technologies.

Many solution providers and consultants have already been using the new Tech Data program, and many that have worked with Apple products for 10 years or more, including network design, integration services and all the standard Apple software products. Those that have used SBU state that they have been able to use a large amount of resources, including infrastructure support and people that specialize in Apple products. The program can easily work as an extension of a sales department.

Tech Data can also host Apple-based solution providers in its large TDSolutions Center in Clarwater, Florida that showcases many IT solutions including networking, VOIP, security, basic document management and many other solutions.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

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Where Might We Be Living in 2025?

Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR) has created a map of projected population shifts between now and 2025. The map takes into account population migration trends, growth of certain populations, and possible evacuation of coastal areas threatened by rising sea levels.

Predictably, much of the world's future population growth will come from areas that are already densely populated, such as India and China. But some highly populated regions -- Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Japan, and Central and South America -- are projected to experience population declines within the next two decades.

"By bridging these two areas of demography — mapping and long-range, aggregate projections — we're getting a better idea of where people are likely to live in the future and why," said Stuart Gaffin, associate research scientist at CCSR and lead scientist on the project. "Hopefully, work like ours will play a central role in improving environmental policies around the world and in reducing natural hazard risks faced by the most vulnerable parts of society."

The map is expected to help climatologists, conservationists and others determine which populations are most susceptible to natural disasters and resource shortages in the coming years, as well as anyone else needing to understand how regional populations will change.

Source: ScienceDaily

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IT Consulting News: CRN Backs OrgPlus Enterprise Solution

Leading solution provider and global producer of workforce modeling and IT consulting tools HumanConcepts stated yesterday that its OrgPlus Enterprise solution garnered the “Recommended” rating from CRN. CRN is the foremost provider of information to VARs and resellers. OrgPlus gained recognition by earning a perfect five, out of a possible five in the IT consulting publication’s Channel Rating.

The CRN review of OrgPlus focused on its benefits for companies and organizations going through mergers and acquisitions and needing a better look at different workforces. The publication stated that OrgPlus simply bridges two organizational charts allowing companies to speed up the process of figuring out the functions of various systems and employees. Administrators can create scenarios and let users collaborate on a variety of projects.

OrgPlus Enterprise was also praised for its advanced analytical features that center on interoperability with other Enterprise Resource Planning processes. OrgPlus can help companies create bridges between ERP and desktop tools or intranet portals because HumanConcepts is a partner of almost all ERP’s available.

OrgPlus Enterprise is server-baed and a real-time workforce planning solution that can combine with all leading HR systems. This suite offers IT managers, IT consulting firms and other IT professionals secure access to employee information, organization structures and directories through a standard web browser.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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The Downside of the Long Tail

The "long tail" phenomenon has received renewed interest in part because Chris Anderson, who coined the term, has recently published a book on the topic, arguing that the long tail helps niche markets. However, Jonathan Rowe offers a contrarian view, suggesting that the long tail is not the free-market panacea that Anderson claims:

Anderson contends that this means the gradual demise of the blockbuster. There will be more niches, and less mass on top. But as John Cassady points out in the current New Yorker, it more likely means the demise of the middle -- that is, the items that sold pretty well but not extraordinarily so. “A long-tail world doesn’t threaten the whales o\r the minnows,” he writes. “It threatens those who cater to the neglected middle.”

I wonder if it’s a total coincidence that what’s happening to merchandising on the Web is happening to peoples’ fortunes in the society at large. Is there a connection between a world in which the mechanisms of selling tend to drive out the middle, and one in which the very rich get richer while the middle morphs into a long tail at the bottom?...

[W]hat happens to a community when every member has his or her head up their own little niche? One of the advantages of the old model – or paradigm, or whatever -- was that we sometimes had to listen to things we didn’t entirely agree with, or like. We had to moderate our annoyance and leave room in our psyches for someone else’s views.

Now people can crawl into their cocoons and spend their lives nursing their outrage at people who don’t think exactly as they do. Cf the political arena today. Isn’t "polarized" just another word for "niche-ized"? There’s something to be said for not always having exactly what we want...

Is the long tail also a long maw that reaches into this non-market realm and cannibalizes it? You could make a case. A story in the New York Times a few days ago dipped into the world of male college students who spend 4-6 hours a day playing video games, with a corresponding deficit in social skills. The long tail, Anderson writes, reflects new technology that can “tap the distributed intelligence of millions of consumers to match people with the stuff that suits them best.”

Intelligence? That’s market orthodoxy with a techno-futurist spin. Everything we do as consumers is a "market choice", and therefore by definition intelligent and good. There’s another possibility, which is that the market can be as dumb as we humans who comprise it; and therefore technology that provides greater range for market selections also provides greater range for this dumbness as well.

Source: OnTheCommons.org

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Shopping by Text Messaging

Spawned by the ability to link a PayPal or credit card account to an SMS-capable cell phone, several US startups are helping to promote text-to-buy shopping.

New Yorkers can use Mobo to order food from take-out chains across the city simply by sending a text message containing a "fave" (saved order from a favorite restaurant via your phone or the Mobo website); Mobo texts you back when your order is ready, and automatically bills your credit card.

LiveBuyIt is a similar concept, though many other types of products are available. Produced in partnership with Lucky magazine, LiveBuyIt makes available everything from clothes to jewelry to cars (!), though as of this writing only a few items are available.

Both systems require a fair amount of technical savvy, so they're not for everyone. Both appear to target young, affluent buyers who may be most comfortable making purchases (large ones in particular) via text messaging. Of the two, Mobo would seem to hold the most promise, helping make a task that all of us do everyday (get a meal) as quick, easy and inexpensive as possible.

RELATED: A somewhat different use of shopping via cell phone is being forged by Quickpons and Cellfire, two services that allow shoppers to download store coupons to their cell phones. Quickpons is SMS-based, whereas Cellfire requires a software download that is only compatible with Cingular phones.

UPDATE (8/3/06): The production version of LiveBuyIt is now live.

Source: Trendcentral

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Tokyo Becomes a "Heat Island"

While much of the US broils with abnormally high temperatures this week (99°F in my little corner of New Jersey yesterday), other parts of the world are coping with uncomfortable summer heat as well. Tokyo, for instance, experienced very high temperatures last week (96.8°F on Saturday), due in part to the "summertime heat island" phenomenon.

A local condition, the "heat island" effect occurs in cities lacking trees and grass cover that promote natural cooling. Buildings, meanwhile, retain and reflect heat, keeping cities uncomfortably warm even at night. The Japanese government is studying ways to relieve heat islands such as Tokyo, which experienced record heat last summer and appears on course to remain hot this year. Among the proposed solutions are to develop new structures that dissipate heat more efficiently, enforce traffic control, promote more use of low-emission vehicles, energy conservation, increased planting of vegetation, and recreational activities outside the city center in the summer.

Source: Kurashi News from Japan

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Life as a Clone

What would life as a clone be like? How deeply would they empathize with their other clones? Would they be true individuals?

Scientists are beginning to ask such questions, despite the fact that no true human clones exist, and despite strong scientific and ethical opposition to human cloning. To better understand the mindsets of genetically identical individuals, UK and Austrian researchers have been studying identical twins.

The studies show that, while identical twins value their relationship with one another, they do see themselves as individuals. Factors such as environment and proximity have formed their personalities much more so than genetics, the studies have found.

Even though, like clones, identical twins share identical sets of genes, identical twins are the exact same age and typically grow up together, whereas clones could be born years or even decades apart. A clone that's very elderly or deceased could have a co-clone who's an infant; based on the UK and Austrian studies, these clones would have very different life experiences that would shape their personalities much more so than their shared genes.

This kind of study, the researchers say, is critical to understanding the functioning of clones and how they could impact society, even though human cloning is years away, if it happens at all. It also shows that clones would be, indeed, true humans, and not mere automatons.

Source: BBC

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Movie Rentals via iTunes?

The blog Think Secret has scoop about a possible pending announcement from Apple CEO Steve Jobs that the iTunes Music Store will soon feature downloadable movie rentals -- presumably for playback on computers and video iPods, a la Vongo. The deal, between Apple and several major movie studios, represents a departure from Apple's previous strategy of endorsing movie sales. The service will supposedly place date-stamp coding in movie files that prohibits play after either a certain date or a set number of viewings. No word yet on the price per movie, or when the service will be fully available.

The reported announcement is scheduled for August 7.

RELATED: Ars Technica reports that movie download service Movielink is partnering with Sonic Solutions (makers of the Roxio CD/DVD recording software) to allow its customers to burn downloaded (and copy protected) movies onto DVDs for more convenient viewing.

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Eggs as Billboards

With the effectiveness of TV advertising and overall viewership on the decline, how else can a TV network promote its fall lineup? The solution is obvious -- put advertisements on eggs!

Egg-centric? Egg-xotic? Perhaps. But how better to catch the eye of fickle viewers than when they're preparing their sunny-side-up? The marketing eggheads at CBS plan to brand 35 million eggs this September with tag lines promoting the network's new and returning shows. Phrases include "CSI: Crack the Case on CBS" and "The Class, New Grade-A CBS Comedy." (rimshots, please!)

To produce the eggs, CBS is partnering with EggFusion, which has developed laser technology to produce "OnEgg Messaging." Originally created to emboss expiration dates on individual eggs, the technology can print virtually any kind of marketing message. Considering that Americans consume 50 billion eggs a year, that's an egg-tremely high number of potential impressions.

One must wonder if CBS will see a spike in viewership this fall among short-order cooks... of if they'll just end up with egg on their face. But even if egg-vertising doesn't crack you up, remember that not that long ago, people thought placing ads on websites was a pretty weird idea, too.

Source: AP (via Yahoo)

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Social Networking Sites Serve Niche Audiences

Now that MySpace has become the dominant general-purpose social networking website -- as well as the most popular destination on the web -- new entrants are focusing on specialized audiences. Witness Dogster and Catster, sites where dog lovers and cat lovers can create their own web pages, post pictures of their furry friends, join forums, look at dogs and cats up for adoption, and even chat.

For people looking for a clever way to share their life story with others, dandelife is a beta "social biography network" that allows members to create biographies along a timeline, integrating links, YouTube videos and Flickr photos to document people, places and activities. Not everyone wants to document their life this way, but for those who do, dandelife offers an innovative and intuitive means of doing so.

In addition to serving niche audiences, specialized sites cater to users who may be overwhelmed by a general site like MySpace, or turned off because of the controversy it has generated lately.

RELATED: Dating sites have similarly become more specialized. Prescription4Love.com is an online dating service for people with chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, obesity and even STDs. STD dating sites have been around for some time, but those with other chronic conditions have not been as well served. As TechCrunch says, "One consequence of the falling cost of computers will undoubtedly be an increase in the number of people who have chronic medical conditions but are now able to afford to be online. Im sure in the future we will see many, many more services targeting the life styles and needs of demographic groups previously unable to use the web at all."

Source: Smart Mobs

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The Next Step With IT Audits

Once you’ve completed IT audits, it’s time to plan. You should make a spreadsheet that lists next steps and due-dates to help push business along.

Once you’ve started a strong relationship with clients and have finished IT audits, you should be able to move into the mode of planning and setting up a spreadsheet, organizing it by the month. You may find some things that have to be completed this month, some that will be able to wait a month and others that will get put on a wish list for farther into the future.

WHAT IS A WISH LIST?

A wish list contains items that will have to be done because of vendor or regulatory agency rules or because a product the clients are using is being phased out and won’t be able to be used anymore. Regardless of the reason, wish list projects will have very specific due dates. Keep track of wish list items the same way a full-time IT manager would. Organize them by the month and look at them as part of your up-coming revenue.

TASK ORGANIZATION

Your first job after IT audits is organizing your task list. You can set up an Excel spreadsheet with some columns, including Month, Task, Labor Cost Estimate, Product Cost Estimate for software, hardware and a column in case you need to hire an outside contractor.

If you are organized, you will be able to plan ahead while still following clients’ ideas.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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Using Service Contracts as a Business Model

Service contracts are a critical part of any busy computer consulting practice. They can help consultants with time management when there are what seems to be too many clients, and setting them up efficiently will help you maximize time while also having some leftover for unexpected client emergencies.

Sometimes you may have many clients with simultaneous emergencies. Obviously during these times you can’t be there for all of them at the same time. Making a short list of clients you are obligated to in an emergency can be accomplished by setting up computer service contracts.

Using a service contract business model is crucial because it makes clients make decisions about how they want to use your services. It filters out those that aren’t committed to a long-term plan and helps you be in control of when you need to handle emergencies.

Computer service contracts also help clients know when they are a priority. Those that don’t have service contracts will be aware that your clients that do come first and will not expect you to jump on their command.

Service contracts will manage client expectations by setting clear parameters for your service. They will help you focus on providing the best services to committed clients and eliminate any guilt you might feel about putting off those that are not as committed during times of crisis.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

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First Half of 2006 Was Warmest Period Ever in US

Hot enough for ya? As much of the nation literally sweats it out with triple-digit temperatures, we learn that the first half of this year was the warmest period on record.

The average temperature for the continental US, measured by the National Climatic Data Center, was 51.8°F, or 3.4°F above average for the 20th century. Five midwestern states experienced record warmth -- warmth that likely contributed to drought and subsequent wildfires.

Globally, early 2006 was the sixth warmest period since records were first kept in 1880.

Source: AP (via Brietbart.com)

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[BREAKING NEWS] Space Shuttle Discovery Lands Safely in Florida

After the madness in the Mideast, wildfires, and record heat, a bit of good news: The space shuttle Discovery made a perfect landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida just moments ago after its 13-day mission.

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Avnet Announces New HP OpenView Support for Solution Providers

Avnet Partner Solutions recently started a mentoring program for solution providers that sell Hewlett-Packard OpenView solutions. Avnet’s solution providers program will be called the Partner Assist program and is made specifically to help increase partner OpenView technical and sales efficiency. The program offers personal training, presales and help with implementation, along with custom-made lead generation and opportunities to prequalify for sales.

Avnet developed the program to help continue its remarkable growth in OpenView in the past year and also to assist solution providers as they work through HP’s recent acquisitions in the OpenView suite area, which have proved to be incredibly complicated. Many solution providers have been complaining about the amount of work that has been involved in sorting through new options and Avnet together with HP is using this program to respond to increased needs and also help gain additional partners.

As new technologies develop surrounding the HP OpenView management software package, Avnet will reshape the Partner Assist program. Avnet is already helping partners learn about new web applications and identity management.

This program is innovative because it uses mentoring partners to teach new skills. Avnet provides technical people to work with people inside fields. These technical professionals call customers directly to help figure out solutions to specific business problems they face.

HP has been trying to get solution providers to sell more of their products, particularly software, services and storage and have been responding by creating programs to help accomplish these goals. Partner Assist is not an extension of HP’s programs, but acts as an excellent accompaniment.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

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IT Consulting News: IT Employment Continues to Rise

The National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses (NACCB) conducted a study that showed that the employment of IT consulting professionals continued an upward trend in June in spite of the considerably low overall unemployment rate. For the past 12 months, IT workers have enjoyed an increase of 152,000 and last month, the number of workers grew 2,400 more than in May, which brings the annual increase to 4.4%.

CEO of NACCB, Mark Roberts states that this increase reflects a high demand for IT consulting professionals, including those that work within the IT services field. Professionals in every field are seeking IT workers in order to help them stay competitive in their fields. Many are turning to IT services firms and IT consulting firms to find support for their own staff or to help them complete entire projects.

NACCB is the national trade organization for IT staffing and solutions firms and publishes the IT employment index, which is revised monthly.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

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Have you seen Slide yet?

This is too much fun. Make a slideshow with your photos from flickr or a number of places, or upload them directly. Then, choose your slideshow style, and get the code to add wherever you like. Ya gotta luv it!

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IT Sales: What Do Your Clients Need?

In order to be successful at IT sales, you need to ask specific questions of your customers to determine their needs. You need to know pretty quickly whether the customer wants a tech assessment, IT audit or site survey and then get them to sign.

Your first meeting with IT sales prospective customers should involve a discussion of their three main issues. You might discover these prospects have problems that do not fall within your area of expertise, in which case you can move on. If not, getting prospects to discuss IT sales is incredibly important.

WHAT DO THEY PREFER?

You want prospects to talk about what they have liked and not liked about previous IT support methods. Their comments can help you better know what they will need from you.

This first meeting is also when you will determine whether their problem is an emergency or if it’s a chance for a longer term service, such as an IT audit, site survey or tech assessment. Sometimes prospects will want entirely different services than what you expect. They may not have an emergency or need a tech assessment, though most of the time these are the two main categories.

THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP

Moving from free to fee during the IT sales call is a critical step, and one that is dependent upon you knowing prospects’ specific needs. You should be ready to offer prospects something concrete, complete with proposals that will take care of their deepest needs. Bring blank forms with you so you are ready for the best case scenario of IT sales.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

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Using Media Publicity

As a computer consultant you can help enhance your professional standing and credibility by using media publicity. You should encourage interviews, features, quotes or any other involvement with your local newspaper or business publication. You can use media publicity at many different times and will be able to benefit more if you bring it to others’ attention than if you just count on other people seeing it for themselves.

GETTING MEDIA PUBLICITY

1. Talk to hosts or producers of local TV or radio shows and give them the run-down of your expert opinion.

2. Create media publicity by getting testimonials that focus on benefits from local celebrities, important community business leaders and politicians. You can use photos with these people to help generate marketing materials.

3. Host seminars and create your own media publicity by showing others publicly that you are an expert within your local community.

4. Speak at local organization meetings and other business seminars and point to yourself as a computer expert to get coverage and media publicity.

5. Teach an IT course at a local community college and gain media publicity through college brochures and catalogues.

6. Write a column for a newspaper offering computer tips so you can increase awareness of your business profile.

In order to create media publicity, you need to be willing to make yourself known and take measures to increase credibility. Once you get media publicity, you will find yourself immediately considered an expert, which can help the endeavors of your computer consulting business.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

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Maryland Gov. Proposes Renewable Energy Mandate

When it comes to government promotion of alternative energy sources -- action rather than just rhetoric -- individual states may lead the way. Earlier this week, Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich proposed that the state government buy at least 10% of its energy from renewable resources to power its buildings and other properties. Ehrlich has specifically cited wind and solar energy, as well as "forest residue" left behind from logging, as potential fuels.

"We need to get with it," the Republican governor said. "We want to be No. 1 when it comes to alternative energy in the United States of America."

If Ehrlich's proposal is enacted, it would put Maryland on the forefront of alternative energy use. Environmentalists and other observers are cautiously optimistic, noting similar pledges dating back to 2001 that have received no funding and produced no results. Says Brad Heavner of Environment Maryland, "My feeling is, show me the contracts. We've been hearing promises like this for six years."

Source: WTOP 103.5 FM

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Fabled Bell Labs Facility Sold, Faces Wrecking Ball

The Holmdel, New Jersey headquarters of Bell Labs, the legendary R&D organization that gave the world the laser, the transistor, LED lights, the Unix operating system, fiber optics, microwave communication and cell phone technology, has been sold. The real estate investor who bought the site wants to use it as an office park and plans to retain its pastoral charm, but says that the unique building is outdated and cannot be renovated, and therefore needs to be demolished.

The massive facility has been a part of the Holmdel community (approximately 30 miles south of New York City) for 44 years, and at its peak held 5,600 employees. In the '90s, Bell Labs was folded into Lucent Technologies, which was hit hard by the 2000 tech bust. Lucent continues to maintain two smaller labs in northern New Jersey, and remains active in emerging fields such as nanotechnology.

The demise of the Holmdel facility marks an end of an era for corporate R&D, as well as for elaborate corporate facilities in general. In an age of aggressive cost-cutting, outsourcing, globalization, mobile workforces, mergers, decentralization and rapid business change -- all practices that Bell Labs helped make possible in one way or another -- monolithic R&D organizations have lost much of their relevance. Yet without the innovations they produced, the world would be a much different, and poorer, place.

Source: New York Times

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Africa May Be Climate Change's Biggest Victim

Poverty-stricken countries in Africa will likely bear the brunt of the effects of global warming -- drought, temperature fluctuations, and flooding from heavier rainfalls. The result will be more crop failures, famine, diseases and military conflicts in already fragile regions, despite increased aid from developed countries.

Hilary Benn, the UK's Secretary of State for International Development, has suggested that developed countries reconsider the Kyoto protocol (which the US has never ratified) in light of the threat to African countries, which produce relatively little greenhouse gases. Benn also says that the impact will hit sooner than we think. "Climate change is happening faster than any of us anticipated even five years ago. It is the most pressing global challenge of all, yet does not have a global framework for solving it. Climate change knows no boundaries and neither should we."

Source: The Independent

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Computer Consulting: Should You Moonlight While Starting Up?

Moonlighting for a while is a great idea. Not only can you earn a large supplemental income, but also you can decide whether you really want to run an IT consulting firm full time. If you decide it's not for you, then you haven't lost anything.

Remember that not everything you do for your computer consulting company will be considered billable hours. You might work 10 hours a week, but you may only end up with 5 billable hours. Non-billable hours include marketing, business development, paperwork, organization, billing and collections, and accounting.

The best part about moonlighting is simply that you're not risking your family's financial future by quitting your full time job, and you have the time to make a well-educated decision on whether you really want to be a full-time computer consultant.

To learn more about making this choice, read the entire article (link above).

Blogged by Computer Consulting Kit

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