News Flash: Technology Giant Makes New Compatible with Old
That really isn't a "News Flash" for Toshiba. It's just "business as usual".
Telecom technology companies, including Toshiba, keep coming out with new hardware
and software to deliver the latest capabilities. But once a new version is introduced,
you can usually forget about getting updates for the old.
That's not the way Toshiba operates. It's called protecting your investment.
By adding a new IPedge Application Server to an existing Strata CIX system,
you can add the latest applications including using your Smartphone as a Strata
CIX Extension.
Read more on Toshiba's Blog...
Is your Cellular Carrier using you?
Your smartphone is full of juicy information about you... who you know, what you
shop
for, what apps you use, where you live, where you've been and where you are right
now.
Cell phone carriers are looking for ways to turn your information into profits.
Dan
Hays, principal in Pricewaterhouse Cooper's communications and technology practice,
states, "An interesting transformation is happening in wireless, in which consumers
are no longer customers — they're the product."
The four major national carriers bundle your personal information with everyone
else's
and share that with third parties. So, at this point, the information shared is
fairly generic, but it is of great interest to brands competing for your business.
IBM, Cisco and other companies have developed solutions which let the carriers know
what is going on in their networks "real-time". That makes hyper-local, super-targeted
advertising possible. Kelly Ahuja, general manager of Cisco's service provider mobility
group said, "Network operators sit on a goldmine of data. We're going to help them
capture and apply it." According to Ahuja, by 2016, targeted mobile advertising
could be an $8 billion market.
If you're not into being "used as a product", the Better Business Bureau offers
tips to limit the information shared with third party vendors.
BBB offers the following tips to help you limit what information is shared
to third party vendors:
- Opt-Out: All service providers have links and phone numbers for
consumers to stop their information from being shared. Look for "Opt-Out
and Opt-In" features to have your information removed from
the "sellers" list. Inquire about their agreement with independent partners
and contractors. Don't forget to research what the cell service provider
does to protect your privacy.
- Beware of Third Party Applications: Be aware that installing third-party
applications, you may be giving consent for the third-party
to access certain information stored in the cell phone. How that
information is used is not the cell phone carrier's responsibility. It
is based on the terms and conditions of the third party vendor.
- Be Smart: Keep contact information simple. Don't include addresses
or other details in the event you phone is lost or stolen. Erase sensitive
text messages such as text service from Paypal or your bank. Delete
the history of both sent and received messages. Disable GPS feature.
It can be a battery drain but also tracks your whereabouts at all
times.
Sources: http://wtvr.com/2013/02/26/cell-phone-companies-could-profit-from-your-personal-info/,
http://www.bbb.org/blog/2011/11/cell-phone-providers-sell-customers-information/
Study Names Most Reputable Companies
Take a look at the phone on your desk. If the manufacturer is Toshiba or Samsung,
you'll want to read this...
Forbes has published the results of the world's largest study of corporate reputation.
Again in 2013, both Toshiba and Samsung are among the top 100 on the list. Those
names caught our eyes since COMMWORLD has been an authorized dealer
for Toshiba for all of our 32 years in business and for Samsung for almost half
of that time.
The study was conducted by New York based, Reputation Institute, which is recognized
as the world's leading research and consultancy firm for reputation management.
Founded by Dr. Charles Fombrun and Dr. Cees van Rie in 1997, the firm conducts the
study annually to determine which companies have earned the most favorable reputations.
55,000 consumers participated in the 2013 study. Scores were based on "trust, esteem,
admiration, and good feeling".
Congratulations to Toshiba and to Samsung. We're proud to represent these distinguished
corporations.
Source: http://www.forbes.com
Special Promo - IP Telephones up to 40% Off *
Toshiba IP5000 series telephones are built to withstand the rigors of any busy workplace.
Since they're IP (Internet Protocol), that workplace could be the office, your home,
the Lake or any location with a broadband connection. These phones work with all
of Toshiba's IPedge and Strata CIX communication systems.
If you're using an old, out-dated phone system from the 1990's, we know you can
still make calls. But it can't offer the newer capabilities that really help you
grow your business and increase profitability.
Isn't it time to see what technology can do for you? Call us to schedule a "test
drive".
* Discount offered with the purchase of a new IPedge or Strata CIX communications
system.
HEMP is Taking Applications
No, we're not smoking anything. Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program (affectionately
known as HEMP) is taking applications. Accepted Mentees are matched with a seasoned
Mentor for the 3 year program. You'll attend valuable educational programs and be
part of a supportive group of Kansas City's top entrepreneurs.
COMMWORLD of Kansas City is proud to a member of this prestigious
group. If you're interested, please contact Linda Bennett at COMMWORLD
(816-763-1100) for more information.
Acceptance guidelines include the following:
- $1,000,000 annual revenue
- Minimum 5 full-time employees
- Display integrity
- Desire to substantially grow the business
- Must be majority owner and ultimate decision maker in the business
UMKC Bloch School of Management Rankings and Accolades
Bob Bennett, CEO & Founder of COMMWORLD of Kansas City earned
his B.S and M.B.A
degrees
from the Bloch School. For nearly four years, he has served on the Dean's Advisory
Council. The School is nationally and globally ranked in its entrepreneurship, accounting
executive and public affairs programs.
Here are some of the reasons Kansas City can be proud of the Bloch School.
From the Bloch School website:
Undergraduate and Graduate Entrepreneurship Programs
The Bloch School's undergraduate
and graduate entrepreneurship programs each moved up two spots in the 2012 Princeton
Review rankings, ranking No. 12 and No. 19 respectively.
Nonprofit Management Emphasis
The nonprofit management emphasis in the Henry W. Bloch School of Management's Master
of Public Administration program is ranked No. 15 in the nation, jumping 10 spots
from its former ranking at No. 25 in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Graduate
Schools in 2013."
Accounting Program
The Bloch School accounting program CPA pass rate is ranked among the top 5 in the
nation in the category of medium-size programs by the National Association of State
Boards of Accountancy CPA Candidate Performance Book, surpassing both Georgetown
University and Cornell University (at No. 7 and No. 6, respectively). The average
national pass rate for the CPA exam is 45%. The average pass rate for Bloch students
is 73%.
Entrepreneurship Emphasis
The Bloch School's M.B.A. entrepreneurship emphasis area was named the national
model program by the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
(USASBE).
Innovation Management
Driven by research from Bloch's outstanding entrepreneurship faculty, UMKC is ranked
No. 1 in the world for innovation management research by a study in the Journal
of Product Innovation Management, and is home to the No. 1 and No. 4 innovation
management scholars in the world.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation earned two top awards
(out of only five total awarded) from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship
Centers (a global panel of entrepreneurship program and institute peers) for: Exceptional
Activities in Entrepreneurship across Disciplines and Outstanding Contributions
to Enterprise Creation.
Source:
http://bloch.umkc.edu/about-us/top-ranked.aspx
Technology Trivia Tidbits
Star Trek Technologies Today
The new Star Trek movie sparks comparisons of Star Trek technologies to real technologies
of today. Here are five Star Trek Technologies circa 2013.
Communicators — Captain Kirk's communicator was much like
the flip
phone and push-to-talk technology we used in the mid to late 1990's. Captain Picard's
crew members wore communicators built into a badge which they simply touched to
activate. (I have a pin that looks like one of those which I bought at the Las Vegas
Star Trek exhibit.) Today's smartphones have more capabilities built in, but they
do rely on transmission towers not available to the crews in space.
Replicators — When Captain Picard requests "Earl Grey Tea
- hot",
it only takes a second and the replicator door lifts to reveal his cup of tea. NASA
has issued an initial grant of $125,000 to Texas-based Systems and Materials Research
Corporation to develop a "universal food synthesizer". This 3-D printer will combine
starch, protein and fat with flavorings, nutrients and colorings to create edible
items in a variety of shapes. The first item on the astronaut's menu is pizza.
Phasers — Star Fleet's mission was to go where no man had
gone,
and
their intention was to do no harm. Usually their phasers were set to stun rather
hurt unfriendly aliens. Tasers have been in use since 1969. Like Star Trek's phasers,
they are designed to stun and not kill, but unlike the phasers, they must come in
contact with the opponent. A company called Applied Energetics has developed the
newer technology so a true phaser may be a reality soon.
Tricorders — The tricorder was used for medical, engineering
and
scientific measurements including measuring oxygen levels, detecting disease and
giving an analysis of a planet's environment. Today NASA astronauts use a LOCAD,
a handheld device to measure for unwanted microorganisms like E. coli, fungi and
salmonella on the International Space Station. Scientists at a university in England
use a handheld device to monitor functions of the heart. Researchers at Harvard
Medical School have developed a small device which uses MRI-like technology to inspect
the body. This technology could eliminate the hide-and-seek of exploratory surgery.
Universal Translator — Enterprise crew members met a vast
array
of beings on their travels around the universe. Each had unique characteristics
and language. Star Fleet Officers were smart, but even they didn't know all of the
various languages spoken. They relied on the Universal Translator which would translate
the words into English. Today the technology exists. You speak English phrases in
and the device speaks the same phrase back in a specified language. The big difference
is the Star Trek version could translate every language even if it had never been
encountered before.
One Star Trek technology which isn't here yet and we're all waiting for is the transporter.
I can't wait for this one. "Beam me up, Scottie."
Sources: http://www.howstuffworks.com/,
http://www.ft.com/home/uk
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