Columns
July 2008 Archive

Tech On The Go: Trucker Antenna Boosts Connectivity

July 31, 2008 | After a well-timed delivery at the Grand Canyon, bMighty's "Tech On The Go" correspondent is cruising eastward sporting a spring-mounted cellular trucker antenna -- he hasn't lost signal in a thousand miles.
By Scott Koegler

Tech On The Go: How To Print On The Fly

July 29, 2008 | After a GPS adventure along Old Route 66, bMighty's "Tech On The Go" correspondent finds a way to print his tax documents and create a photo book of his cross-country escapades.
By Scott Koegler

SAN Wars: ISCSI vs. Fibre Channel

July 28, 2008 | For small and midsize businesses, storage requirements have been growing. Selecting the right solution recently became more difficult as Fibre Channel vendors made their approach more viable for smaller businesses, but that also means more choice.
By Paul Korzeniowski

The Zen of Password Cracking

July 25, 2008 | Password cracking is an integral part of a security audit -- and can be a lot of fun. Cisco's Jimmy Ray Purser has four methods to accomplish this and the tools IT administrators can use to do it on their own.
By Jimmy Ray Purser

Tech On The Go: Keeping the Video Streaming

July 25, 2008 | Perched on the south rim of the Grand Canyon, bMighty's "Tech On The Go" correspondent reviews his video kit and, thanks to shoddy connections, struggles to upload the latest images.
By Scott Koegler

WiMax Stumbling Out of the Gate

July 24, 2008 | Like many technologies ballyhooed before the first customer use, WiMax hasn't moved smoothly from the development lab to the mainstream. That's compromising Sprint's plan to use WiMax to support wireless services for small and midsize businesses.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Tech On The Go: Automating GPS and Managing Projects

July 22, 2008 | Simmering in the Las Vegas heat, bMighty's "Tech On The Go" correspondent explains how he harnesses the power of GPS and project management software to streamline his workflow.
By Scott Koegler

Telephone Solutions for Smaller Businesses: Affordability is Finally Here

July 22, 2008 | The telephone is probably among the oldest of office appliances -- and still one of the most standard ways of communicating with customers. Now a number of vendors are making systems that combine analog phone lines and Internet telephony and, most important, are affordable for smaller businesses.
By Ramon Ray, Small Biz Technology

Smartphone Battle Intensifies

July 16, 2008 | Turbulence is often a sign of an emerging opportunity, but surprisingly there's now quite a bit of turmoil in the mature mobile phone market. New high-profile contenders have startled Nokia, the top supplier, prompting a series of dramatic changes.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Strategy Matters: 6 Ways to Strategize Like Enterprises

July 15, 2008 | Effectively implementing and executing business strategy can be the difference between success and failure. By strategizing like enterprises, smaller businesses can meet their objectives and level the playing field.
By Nilofer Merchant, CEO of Rubicon Consulting

Tech On The Go: Staying Connected From Everywhere

July 15, 2008 | Lingering just outside Yellowstone National Park, bMighty's "Tech On The Go" correspondent concludes that staying connected requires some flexibility, advance planning, and multiple subscriptions. Put another way, it means spending $$ for services you may not use.
By Scott Koegler

Ask Steve: Hosted vs. On-Premises Call Center Solutions

July 14, 2008 | Customer contact centers serve the same role for smaller businesses as they do for enterprises, but many struggle to find call center solutions that scale affordably. Yankee Group's Steve Hilton takes a look at the total ownership costs of hosted and on-premises call center solutions in this month's Ask Steve
By Steve Hilton, Courtesy of Yankee Group

When Speed Just Isn't Enough: A Network Quality Check

July 11, 2008 | As your smaller business' network traffic grows, getting faster switches isn't your only option. Jimmy Ray Purser says that paying attention to a network's quality of service -- by classifying packets as they enter your network -- can be just as important
By Jimmy Ray Purser

Tech On The Go: Online Backup Keeps Data Safe and Sound

July 10, 2008 | Leaving Grand Teton, bound for Yellowstone, bMighty's "Tech On The Go" correspondent doesn't worry that his work, his data, his photos, video and more are safe from harm's way thank to online backup
By Scott Koegler

Fewer Choices for Wireless Customers

July 8, 2008 | The transformation of two of the largest wireless carriers from fierce combatants to family members strengthens Verizon and provides Alltel with a market exit, but doesn't help smaller businesses. The wireless market is consolidating around a few dominant players, and a lack of competition inevitably helps vendors, not customers.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Tech On The Go: Voice Recognition Means Hands-Free Productivity

July 8, 2008 | As he crosses Wyoming, bMighty's "Tech On The Go" correspondent considers how voice recognition keeps him productive while he's on the move and behind the wheel
By Scott Koegler

The 411 on Web 2.0 Marketing

July 7, 2008 | Using Web 2.0 technologies, small and midsize businesses can now reach large audiences directly: The emergence of social networking, blogging, and virtual worlds has enabled a single individual to reach an unprecedented number of people without depending on traditional mass media channels.
By Timothy Hickernell, Courtesy of Info-Tech Research Group

Strategy Matters: 5 Reasons Why Strategy Fails

July 2, 2008 | Following best practices can help drive a successful business strategy, but understanding what the "worst" practices are is just as important. Here are five reasons strategy fails in small businesses, in midsize businesses, and in large enterprises
By Nilofer Merchant, CEO of Rubicon Consulting

Tech on the Go: How to Carry an Arsenal of Gadgets

July 1, 2008 | After setting up camp near Mount Rushmore, bMighty's "Tech on the Go" correspondent ponders the challenge of lugging a full suite of pocket-size personal technology and broadband data limitations
By Scott Koegler