July 26, 2012
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Today's Top Stories
1. VMware buys Nicira, aims for software-defined datacenter
2. Google unveils new partner program
3. BMC intros new platform for gauging customer performance
4. Akamai Q2 earnings rise on cloud revenue
5. Report: 2012 VoIP revenue to hit $65B

Editor's Corner: The social side of IT

Also Noted: Spotlight On... Security and cloud selection
How to get the best cloud SLA; Are foreign cloud providers playing fair? and much more...

Streaming the Olympics: A game-changer for online video
The numbers are in: The 2012 Olympic Games were not only the most watched television event in U.S. history, with 219.4 million total viewers and an average of 31 million viewers each day; they also set records for online viewing, recording nearly 2 billion pageviews and 159 million video streams of events during the Games. If reports from independent research firms such as Pew Research hold weight, it's possible that eight out of ten Americans (about 78 percent) "watched or followed Olympic coverage either on television, online or on social networks." Special Report


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News From the Fierce Network:
1. BT reports 6% revenue dip; profits climb
2. Level 3 reports $1.59B in Q2 revenues, but slow UK government sales drive losses



Editor's Corner

The social side of IT

By Jason Meyers Comment | Forward | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Jason Meyers

For every person in the online world who pledges their allegiance to one or more social media platforms, there is likely someone in the enterprise IT world talking about how social media has no place in the business environment.

That's understandable, considering the perception (and, in many cases, the reality) that social media is nothing more than a time-waster for businesses.

Sure, maybe there are ways Twitter and Facebook and other social platforms can be used by marketing departments to promote products and services and events for different types of businesses--but beyond that, isn't social media mostly a distraction for workforces who tweet and check Facebook on company time? Read More.

Read more about: Twitter, it
back to top




Events

> COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2012 Convention and EXPO - October 7-10, 2012 - Gaylord Texan, Dallas, Texas

Marketplace

> Whitepaper: Telco-OTT dynamics & use cases
> Research: LTE: a real disruptive technology and business opportunity?
> Whitepaper: Online Video Publishing Buying Tips
> Whitepaper: How to Master the Art of Content Marketing
> Whitepaper: Connected: Your Complete Guide to Home Networking
> Whitepaper: Leveraging Website Marketing: Top 10 Website Solution Capabilities
> EBook: Unified Communications, Where it is, Where it's Going
> Whitepaper: Improving Content Publishing Workflow Efficiency for Multi-Device Delivery
> Case Study: 4G Operator Maximizes Revenue with Flexibile, and Discovery-driven Audit Capabilities
> EBook: The New Data Center

Jobs

> Mobile and Online Client Experience Designer - H&R Block in Kansas City, MO
> LTE Project Manager II Job - Bellevue, WA, USA – Yoh
> Telecom Project Administrator Job - Plano, TX, USA – Yoh
> Telecom Site Acquisition Manager Job - Plano, TX, USA – Yoh
> Project Coordinator Job - Overland Park, KS, USA – Yoh
> Business Solution Representative - Chinle, Arizona - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
> Sales Engineer - Chinle, Arizona - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
> Telecom Supervisor - Ft. Defiance, Arizona - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
> Senior Wireless System Technician - Shiprock, New Mexico - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
> Wireless System Technician - Shiprock, New Mexico - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
> Media Consultant I - Macon, GA – Cox Communications
> Inside Retention Rep - Cox Business - Pensacola, FL – Cox Communications
> FT (Bi-lingual) Solutions Specialist - Garden City, KS - Cox Communications
> FT Solutions Specialist - Topeka, KS - Cox Communications
> Universal Home Tech-In Train - Macon, GA -Cox Communications
> Media Consultant-Generalist - Gainesville, FL -Cox Communications
> Customer Service Representative - Technical Support - Omaha, NE-Cox Communications
> Media Consultant-Generalist - Fort Walton Beach, FL- Cox Communications
> Media Sales Services Coord - Pensacola, FL - Cox Communications
> Solution Educator - Fairview Park, OH, OK - Cox Communications
> Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs

* Post a classified ad: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here

Today's Top News

1. VMware buys Nicira, aims for software-defined datacenter

By Jason Meyers Comment | Forward | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Virtualization and cloud-infrastructure developer VMware (NYSE: VMW) has acquired Nicira, a developer of software-defined networking (SDN) technology, for $1.05 billion in cash plus approximately $210 million of assumed unvested equity awards.

Nicira's Network Virtualization Platform allows companies to create virtual datacenters that can grow and shrink as necessary based on demand and are completely decoupled and independent from the physical network hardware--one of the core components of cloud computing. 

"VMware has led the server virtualization revolution, and we have the opportunity to do the same in datacenter and cloud networking," said Paul Maritz, chief executive officer of VMware, in a statement. 

Nicira also is one of the driving forces behind OpenStack, the open source platform that competes with VMware's vCloud Director. As coverage of the acquisition at Wired.com points out, "the politics of the situation are as complicated as the technology … VMware is realizing it must play nicely with open source software if it's to succeed in the all-important realm of cloud computing, where the likes of Amazon offer the world instant access to virtual computing resources over the net."

For more:
 - see the release
 - read the Wired.com story

Related articles:
VMware buys DynamicOps for cloud management
Masergy acquires Broadcore for cloud strength
Open-source cloud platforms go to war

Read more about: virtualization, Vmware
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2. Google unveils new partner program

By Jason Meyers Comment | Forward | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has introduced a partner program, designed to help businesses move more efficiently to the cloud--with the aim, of course, to make them Google Cloud customers.

The program is designed to give partners the tools, training and resources they need to successfully move to the cloud, Eric Morse, head of sales and business development for the Google Cloud Platform, wrote in a blog post.

"Cloud is core to everything we do here at Google," Morse said. "In the last decade, we've invested in building an infrastructure that can serve 4 billion hours of video every month, support 425 million Gmail users and store 100 petabytes of web index, and it's growing every day. We've taken this technology and extended it via Google Cloud Platform so that you can benefit from the same infrastructure that powers Google's applications."

An article in eWeek quotes analysts saying that the partner program will be a good way for businesses to ease into cloud computing with Google holding their hand.

"Clearly there's a huge horse race underway for many of the large cloud and enterprise vendors who have been staking out their market shares in this huge cloud opportunity for the enterprise," said Dana Gardner, principal analyst with Interarbor Solutions. "So here we have Google recognizing that the cloud is not just a self-service application over the Internet to get the job done, but that customers do need to have good service and support …"This is just another indication that Google is moving from the consumer space and into the enterprise."

The Google Cloud Platform partner program has two types of partners: service partners that provide consulting and implementation services on various Google Cloud Platform products, and technology partners that provide tools that integrate with Google's platform or use one of our services as a foundation for their products.

For more:
 - see Google's post
 - read the eWeek article

Related articles:
Google launches cloud engine
Microsoft takes Office to the cloud
Shopping for cloud services

Read more about: Google
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3. BMC intros new platform for gauging customer performance

By Jason Meyers Comment | Forward | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

BMC Software (Nasdaq: BMC) has introduced a new platform designed to help IT organizations pinpoint and fix the performance problems plaguing their organizations, particularly when it comes to the cloud.

BMC's new End User Experience Management software platform is designed to help IT pros diagnose and improve customer satisfaction rates. The latest release includes applications running in the cloud, providing visibility from the end user all the way back to the code.

According to BMC, the new software is designed to start with the end user rather than the application back end when looking for solutions to performance issues.

"Delivering mission critical services across cloud based offerings brings unique management challenges," said Kia Behnia, BMC's chief technology officer, in a statement. "Providing visibility into how cloud services are being experienced by end users provides the map to delivering reliable and differentiated services for customers."

For more:
 - see the release

Related articles:
Banking regulators issue warnings on cloud computing
Verizon tapped by Hydro for managed services
Survey: Move to cloud tough on IT staff

Read more about: it
back to top



4. Akamai Q2 earnings rise on cloud revenue

By Jason Meyers Comment | Forward | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Cloud-based content delivery provider Akamai Technologies (Nasdaq: AKAM) announced second-quarter 2012 earnings of $331 million, a 20 percent increase over second-quarter 2011 revenue of $277 million.

"Akamai's very strong second quarter results were driven on the top line by increased adoption of our cloud infrastructure solutions as well as continued growth of content delivery solutions," Sagan President and CEO Paul Sagan said. "Our bottom line performance was the result of significant benefits we have begun to realize from improvements we are making to scale our network operations."

Sagan, who plans to step down by the end of 2013, is making the company less dependent on its content-delivery business and adding more cloud-computing services, which help businesses handle tasks such as security and commerce, Bloombeg reported.

The company's adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2012 was $143 million, up 13 percent from $126 million in the second quarter of 2011, and flat with the prior quarter. Cash from operations was $150 million in the second quarter of 2012, or 45 percent of revenue. At the end of the second quarter of 2012, the Company had just over $1 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

Sales through resellers and sales outside the United States accounted for 21 percent and 27 percent, respectively, of revenue for the second quarter of 2012.

For more:
 - see the Akamai release
 - read the Bloomberg article

Special Report: Enterprise Communications in the second quarter of 2012

Related articles:
Akamai: 75% of mobile service providers deliver speeds above 1 Mbps
Enterprise software giant SAP reports best-ever Q2 earnings

 

Read more about: cloud
back to top



5. Report: 2012 VoIP revenue to hit $65B

By Jason Meyers Comment | Forward | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

A new study from the research firm Visiongain indicates that global revenues from voice over IP services will reach $65 billion this year, posing a substantial threat to providers of traditional voice services. 

The report, The Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Market 2012-2017: Prospects for Skype and Other Players, also analyzes the impact mobile LTE deployment will have on VoIP services over the next five years, noting that the proliferation of smartphones and tablets will drive mobile VoIP growth.

"VoIP simultaneously represents a huge threat to mobile operators as well as a significant opportunity for growth the only barrier to success lies with strategy," the report reads. "VoIP can no longer be throttled by operators, instead it must be adopted and the telecoms landscape must change in accordance."

Visiongain forecasts the global VoIP sector for the next five years and analyzes five regional VoIP markets, profiling several leading companies and where they are positioned in the competitive landscape.

For more:
 - see the Visiongain release

Special Report: Embracing VoIP amid a regulatory minefield

Related articles:
Global VoIP services to grow 7.1 percent by 2015
CLECs blast petition to open number resources to VoIP providers
Verizon, Zipit pursue healthcare VoIP

Read more about: Skype
back to top



Also Noted

SPOTLIGHT ON... Security and cloud selection

How do IT professionals differentiate one cloud services provider from the next? A new study conducted by Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and the Ponemon Institute reveals that 59 percent of small and mid-sized business owners look at security issues and privacy policy when it comes to making cloud purchasing decisions. A recent piece on ZDnet outlines the reasons why, along with some ideas from Microsoft about how small businesses can protect themselves as they make the complex decisions required of cloud migration. See the ZDnet article for more.  

More enterprise communications, VoIP news from the across the web:

> How to get the best service-level agreement in the cloud. Article

> HP intros new IT configuration software tools. Article

> IDC reports that cloud deployment will cut IT costs substantially. Article

> U.S. groups say foreign cloud providers are exploiting privacy concerns. Article

> New Symantec CEO will focus on cloud security, storage. Article

And finally …Tech worker moves to woods after developing IT allergy. Article


Events


* Post listing: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here.

> COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2012 Convention and EXPO - October 7-10, 2012 - Gaylord Texan, Dallas, Texas

COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2012 Convention and EXPO, October 7-10, 2012, Gaylord Texan, Dallas, Texas



Marketplace


* Post listing: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here.

> Whitepaper: Telco-OTT dynamics & use cases

The objective of this white paper is to present "OTT is a viable alternative" for telecom operators. It will demonstrate that network providers threatened by competition, from both peers and Internet companies, can themselves exploit the ubiquity of broadband connections, smartphones or laptops, and downloadable apps. Download Today.

> Research: LTE: a real disruptive technology and business opportunity?

WiTech's latest Report "LTE: a disruptive technology and business opportunity" presents an in-depth analysis about the promising technology LTE by taking into account not only technology aspects but also business aspects. It points out the key drivers that are continuously changing the Telecom Market. Download this report today!

> Whitepaper: Online Video Publishing Buying Tips

Technology in the online video publishing industry is changing quickly and figuring out which features you need and don't need can be challenging. Help your solution grow by reading this checklist of the top 10 things you must consider before buying an online video platform. Download now.

> Whitepaper: How to Master the Art of Content Marketing

"How to Master the Art of Content Marketing" discusses how to create a sustainable content marketing program with the flexibility to adjust to changing market dynamics. Gain the keys to excite audiences and drive business results. Download Now.

> Whitepaper: Connected: Your Complete Guide to Home Networking

Network is a broad topic, but this 20 page guide will focus specifically on home networking... Request Now!

> Whitepaper: Leveraging Website Marketing: Top 10 Website Solution Capabilities

In this report you will learn how today's WCM platforms are fusing the best marketing automation practices with content management, allowing marketers to leverage content in new and innovative ways. Discover 10 of the top capabilities you should be considering for your website. Download Now.

> EBook: Unified Communications, Where it is, Where it's Going

This eBook from FierceEnterpriseCommunications will provide an update on the various facets of Unified Communications, look at how premise-based versus hosted solutions measure up, and include a look at what's expected to come down the road. Download for free today!

> Whitepaper: Improving Content Publishing Workflow Efficiency for Multi-Device Delivery

Discover how choosing a solution to provide multi-screen delivery of your content can have a major impact on the efficiency of your publishing workflow and bottom line. Download Now.

> Case Study: 4G Operator Maximizes Revenue with Flexibile, and Discovery-driven Audit Capabilities

A US 4G operator was perfectly suited to handle the predicted annual doubling of global mobile data traffic. But as the company faced exponential subscriber and network usage growth, they realized they needed to better monitor that usage. Learn how this US 4G operator realized 13x ROI for its retail business in the first six months. Download Today!

> EBook: The New Data Center

In this FierceTelecom eBook we'll discuss the strategies service providers are taking to build a sustainable and profitable data center business. To read more click here to download.



Jobs


* Post listing: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here.

> Mobile and Online Client Experience Designer - H&R Block in Kansas City, MO

By utilizing an enterprise "client centric" approach you will be responsible for identifying high impact points of engagement where mobile and/or online solutions can increase client retention and acquisition. You will partner with several lines of business through multiple contact points to evaluate existing solutions, business strategies, processes, and procedures to identify, prioritize and determine critical areas of impact. Learn More!

> LTE Project Manager II Job - Bellevue, WA, USA – Yoh

Yoh has a contract opportunity for an LTE Project Manager II to join our client in Bellevue, WA. Responsibilities include executing the move within budget stated in TPR/BCR for site engineering of sites, writing of scripts needed to move eNBs to the new switch. Three to five years minimal of LTE experience required...Learn more.

> Telecom Project Administrator Job - Plano, TX, USA – Yoh

Yoh has a contract opportunity for a Telecom Project Administrator to join our client in Plano, TX. This position will provide general project support for one or more managers, to include assistance with project tracking, cost analysis, project reporting, contract deliverables, and other project related tasks. Must be organized, creative, independent and self-motivated, enthusiastic, dependable, detail oriented, as well as flexible in scheduling and prioritization...Learn more.

> Telecom Site Acquisition Manager Job - Plano, TX, USA – Yoh

Yoh has a contract opportunity for a Telecom Site Acquisition Manager to join our client in Plano, TX. Responsibilities include to assess and control charges to the agreed site design and ensure only customer's approved materials are installed on the project. Minimum seven years of practical field experience working with 700+ site builds and/or site acquisition, with demonstrated capabilities in both areas of civil work...Learn more.

> Project Coordinator Job - Overland Park, KS, USA – Yoh

Yoh has a contract opportunity for a Project Coordinator to join our client in Overland Park, KS. This position will be responsible for creating and maintaining program / project reports as well as supporting ad-hoc reporting requests of multiple organizations. Ability to analyze data trends Wireless network experience desired...Learn more.

> Business Solution Representative - Chinle, Arizona - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

This position will report to the General Manager and will be responsible for selling advanced fiber optic, microwave, data center and other wireless network solutions. 1+ years of direct sales experience in telecommunications or other related industry...Learn more.

> Sales Engineer - Chinle, Arizona - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

NTUA-Wireless is seeking talented, motivated & visionary individuals to fill the Sales Engineer position. This position Reports to Director of Network Operation and must possess strong presentation skills. Minimum 2 years of experience in Education/Health care IT, or Sales Engineering...Learn more.

> Telecom Supervisor - Ft. Defiance, Arizona - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

This position works closely with division and customers to identify needs, align strategies, develop plans and execute to meet these needs and expectations. 4 - 6 years' experience in fiber telecommunications, construction and engineering required...Learn more.

> Senior Wireless System Technician - Shiprock, New Mexico - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

This position works with field technicians in maintaining ZTE LTE, CDMA 1X, EvDO, GSM, UMTS sites and must have advanced knowledge of ZTE Core products, MME, P/S-GW, IMS, MSCe, MGW. 4 years' work experience in telecommunications or data networking required...Learn more.

> Wireless System Technician - Shiprock, New Mexico - Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

This position must have knowledge of ZTE Core products, MME, P/S-GW, IMS, MSCe, MGW and signaling interface knowledge of Diameter, SIP, RTP, S1-MME, Gx. Bachelors, Technical Degree or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience required...Learn more.

> Media Consultant I - Macon, GA – Cox Communications

Cox Media is expanding their elite sales team to include a Media Consultant responsible for increasing revenue and Cox Media market share for existing mid-level accounts. Reporting to the Sales Manager, the Media Consultant is accountable for assessing assigned clients ongoing digital media and marketing needs and then creating Cox Media solutions to support these plans. 1 year successful business-to-business field sales experience with quotas required...Learn more.

> Inside Retention Rep - Cox Business - Pensacola, FL – Cox Communications

Cox Business is looking to grow our elite sales team responsible for selling telephony (business phone services, toll-free services), data (Internet access), wireless, and video solutions to new and existing small to medium size business customers. Reporting to the Sales Manager, Cox Business, the Inside Retention Representative (Retail) is responsible for retaining valuable small to medium business customers by minimizing controllable churn and ensuring quality customer service in a fast paced environment...Learn more.

> FT (Bi-lingual) Solutions Specialist - Garden City, KS - Cox Communications

Cox Communications is looking for a customer-focused Solutions Specialist to be the primary point of contact for both new and existing customers. As a Solutions Specialist, this individual will be working in a Cox Solutions Store guiding customers through the purchase decision and activation process of Cox product offerings (cable, data, voice, and wireless). Minimum of 1 year of retail or sales experience required...Learn more.

> FT Solutions Specialist - Topeka, KS - Cox Communications

Cox Communications is looking for a customer-focused Solutions Specialist to be the primary point of contact for both new and existing customers. As a Solutions Specialist, this individual will be working in a Cox Solutions Store guiding customers through the purchase decision and activation process of Cox product offerings (cable, data, voice, and wireless). Minimum of 1 year of retail or sales experience required...Learn more.

> Universal Home Tech-In Train - Macon, GA -Cox Communications

This role will support the growth of the system by assuring the quality performance of the installation and technical services of all Cox Communication products and ensure the quality of services provided to end users meets or exceeds established standards. 5-7years of experience in related area of responsibility required...Learn more.

> Media Consultant-Generalist - Gainesville, FL -Cox Communications

Cox Media is growing their elite sales team responsible for selling local commercial advertising on 50+ cable and/or broadcast networks and other media to new and existing clients. Reporting to the Local Sales Manager or General Sales Manager, the Media Consultant is accountable for effectively managing the entire sales cycle. This includes identifying and makes cold calls on prospective clients, meeting sales goals, servicing accounts after the sale is made, and maintaining an up-to-date client database. 1 year or more of media advertising sales experience required...Learn more.

> Customer Service Representative - Technical Support - Omaha, NE-Cox Communications

The purpose of this position is to respond to customer requests in a Technical Support call center environment. Troubleshoot problems with Telephone, Cable and Internet services, attempting to resolve problems over the phone in order to prevent unnecessary service calls. If appropriate, schedule service technician visit. Consistently mention other Cox products and services that are available for customers to purchase...Learn more.

> Media Consultant-Generalist - Fort Walton Beach, FL- Cox Communications

Cox Media is growing their elite sales team responsible for selling local commercial advertising on 50+ cable and/or broadcast networks and other media to new and existing clients. Reporting to the Local Sales Manager or General Sales Manager, the Media Consultant is accountable for effectively managing the entire sales cycle. This includes identifying and makes cold calls on prospective clients, meeting sales goals, servicing accounts after the sale is made, and maintaining an up-to-date client database. 1 year or more of successful business-to-business sales experience with quotas...Learn more.

> Media Sales Services Coord - Pensacola, FL - Cox Communications

Cox Media is looking for an efficient and detail-oriented individual to provide support to Media Sales Services. The Media Sales Services Coordinator, reporting to the Sales Services Manager, provides data entry and general sales services assistance to Cox Media sales and fulfillment processes, including order entry and revisions as well as other aspects of the fulfillment process that require minimal or no client interaction. Bachelors degree preferred...Learn more.

> Solution Educator - Fairview Park, OH, OK - Cox Communications

Cox Communications is looking for a technically knowledgeable Solutions Educator to support product sales efforts by serving as the store expert on the latest product features, services, and accessories. As part of this critical role, the Solutions Educator will be provided learning opportunities to maintain their expertise and must be able to translate how product capabilities address various customer needs. This individual will also have responsibility to sell accessories and add-on features while supplementing new customer solutions or satisfying existing customer requests....Learn more.

> Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs

Announcing FierceWirelessJobs, the new FierceMarkets careers site. Find the perfect job or post your openings at http://www.fiercewireless.com/jobs.