Networking & Communications

The Tech-Savvy SMB's Software Toolbox

October 30, 2009 | One small business owner shows how she uses technology to run her business -- and her life -- in the real world. What collection of technology tools and services do you use?
By Azita Arvan

Extreme Networks Teams Up With Motorola On Fixed Wireless Convergence

October 29, 2009 | As networking equipment market consolidates, network switching vendor Extreme Networks will work with WLAN leader Motorola to develop converged network devices. SMBs need to watch carefully when making buying decisions.
By Paul Korzeniowski

It's Official: Microsoft Launches Windows 7

October 22, 2009 | New operating system is designed to make PC use faster and more efficient.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Opinion: Municipal Wi-Fi Should Stay Dead

October 22, 2009 | Federal stimulus dollars are promising to revive failed attempts to build city-wide Wi-Fi networks. But this bMighty columnist believes the money would be better spent on technologies that are better suited to creating wide area networks.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Tandberg Bolsters HD Videoconferencing Line

October 20, 2009 | New teleconferencing products may help up the ante in the wake of a $3 billion acquisition bid by Cisco. The Profile 42" is targeted at the SMB market
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Point/Counterpoint: 6 Ways Microsoft Pitches Windows 7 To SMBs

October 20, 2009 | There are lots of good of reasons for small and midsize companies to jump on Windows 7 as soon as it's available. But there are good reasons to be cautious as well. From ease of use to standardizing on the Microsoft "platform," bMighty looks at both sides of Window 7.
By Fredric Paul

Brocade's Motorola Deal Obscures Its Long Term Plan

October 19, 2009 | Even as it puts itself up for sale, Brocade signs a wireless networking deal with Motorola. What does that tell us about the company's plans, and what should small and midsize Brocade customers do to protect themselves?
By Paul Korzeniowski

The Oprah Effect: How SMBs Can Gear Up To Cope With Sudden Success

October 15, 2009 | Be careful what you wish for... you might get it. Tips on how small companies can use the cloud to deal with large spikes in online demand.
By Fredric Paul

Cellular Networks Open Up, Just a Little Bit

October 12, 2009 | Verizon and AT&T are making it a bit simpler for small and midsize businesses to mix and match devices and applications on their cellular networks.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Ongoing Broadband Adoption Presents Opportunities -- And Challenges -- For SMBs

October 7, 2009 | Small and midsize businesses can increasingly expect to find high-speed connections whenever they need them, but they still need to accommodate the still-significant group of customers stuck with slower-speed lines.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Cisco Buying Tandberg, Broadening Videoconferencing Footprint

October 1, 2009 | The $3 billion acquisition could increase availability of affordable teleconferencing options for companies of all sizes.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

POINT: FCC Moving Down a Dangerous Path Toward Net Neutrality

September 30, 2009 | Opinion: The FCC's wrongheaded, bureaucratic, governmental meddling threatens to stifle networking investment and raise costs for small and midsize companies.
By Paul Korzeniowski

COUNTERPOINT: Net Neutrality Promises Level Platform For Innovation

September 30, 2009 | Opinion: The FCC's move toward network neutrality will help ensure a level playing field and keep huge ISPs and media behemoths from casually crushing innovative small and midsize Internet companies.
By Fredric Paul

Top 10 Best Technology Ideas. . . That Really Aren't

September 16, 2009 | These 10 IT products, trends, and technologies are all extremely popular -- and deeply flawed. While they all seem like good ideas at first glance - they all carry serious downsides that SMBs ignore at their own peril.
By Fredric Paul

Avaya Wins Nortel Enterprise Solutions Unit

September 14, 2009 | $900 Million bid nabs Nortel unit that provides landline phone systems to customers of all sizes all around the world.
By W. David Gardner, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Telecom Carriers Take to the Cloud

September 1, 2009 | Telecommunications carriers will play an important role in the continued evolution of the cloud services market.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Amazon Launches Private Cloud Service

August 26, 2009 | Customers will create a VPN to bridge Amazon to their existing IT infrastructures and use their existing security systems to protect data.
By Mary Hayes Weier, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Cable TV For SMBs!? Plus Landlines, Encryption, Collaboration, UC, And More

August 25, 2009 | It seems cable TV is just one sof everal surprising services that small and midsize companies are buying from their telecom and wireless carriers.
By Fredric Paul

Exchange Server 2010 RC Available

August 18, 2009 | Early-adopter SMBs can now download the release candidate of Microsoft's next e-mail server.
By Paul McDougall, Courtesy of InformationWeek

Mid-Market Heroes: Why -- And How -- One Brick-And-Mortar Business Went Virtual

August 18, 2009 | Innovations International, a 25-year-old consulting firm, traded its physical offices for doing business entirely on the Internet. Is it the right move for your business?
By Fredric Paul

Q&A With Smoothstone CMO James Whitemore: Unified Communications Rising To The Cloud

August 17, 2009 | The same reasons you've turned to cloud computing to handle your business' IT functions also apply to unified communications. So what's taking the sector so long to catch on?
By Paul Korzeniowski

Can Cable Companies Become Cellular Players?

August 10, 2009 | Cable companies have emerged as key suppliers of telecommunications services to small and midsize businesses. However, one area where they have not been able to match telcos is cellular services. That may change, as Cox Communications is poised to gamble $1 billion on its ability to become a trailblazer in this market.
By Paul Korzeniowski

The High Cost Of Network Downtime: Q&A With Charles Nault

August 5, 2009 | The difference between investing in an IT infrastructure and investing in an IT infrastructure that's redundant and reliable is incremental -- and skimping on your network infrastructure to save a few dollars can cost your business big bucks.
By Benjamin Tomkins

Risk Free Technology: The Problem

August 4, 2009 | What would happen if your company's computer and communications systems unexpectedly failed? What if these systems refused to function as you began your workday? What if they suddenly shut down during your workday? If any of these scenarios took place, immediately your world would be turned upside down, in a state of shock, and suffering breakdown. And it's even worse if you, the business owner, can't do anything to help.
By Charles L. Nault

Risk Free Technology: Build Trust Outside Your Company

August 4, 2009 | With a small, overworked IT staff, SMBs can't expect to have experts in every important area. Limited resources require business owners to work with external vendors to integrate and support particular technologies. The challenge is to find the right vendor and develop a relationship that augments and complements the efforts of your in-house staff.
By Charles L. Nault