SBC Vendors List

I was there...

2010-10-31T23:07:00.004Z

I was there when you accessed your computer from a dumb terminal. It was an IBM 360/370. The printer room could have been a garage for a Volkswagen Beetle. Needed a full time printer operator 24/7 just to feed it processed trees called green bar. And all terminals lead back to the fifth floor in another building with a raised floor and glass walls. That is where IT legions serviced the Emperor IBM.

I was there in 1977 when Poly Morphic Systems's Poly 88 came on line. It was a kit and you had to assemble it yourself. Or, since I was working in the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, I could afford to have an engineer in the US build one and ship it to me in Saudi as an electronic typewriter. Had 16k of ram on two boards. Basic took up 11k leaving 5k for working memory. WOW, but it was Freedom from the IBM Romans that controlled all the WAYS to the mainframe in Rome.

I was there in 1983 when Gavilan Mobile Computer came on line. Had a battery and floppy disk, unlike the Grid also available at the time. Your applications were now able to go where they were needed. Untethered and free to roam. Well, at 11 pounds, short battery life and a list price of 4,000 USD (in 1983 dollars), a few of us were allowed to roam. No one then could imagine where this would go. But indeed, go somewhere it has.

I was there when a small group of developers from Sausalito, CA brought Web NOS to market about 20 years ago. Josh, Delfin, Kim, Luc, Steph, and others were on to something. Trade marked WEB before anyone else realized that networking could become a web. It was a Peer to Peer networking system so there was no need for Rome. But if you wanted to build an empire, you could use it as a PC SBC platform.

The beauty of the WEB NOS was the simplicity. The brilliance was it allowed ARC-net based IPX/SPX to share the same network with TCP/IP on Ethernet. Old an new coexisted in harmony.

Everyone knows what happened next. The technologies were acquired by Microsoft. Became the foundation for Windows for Work groups. Asked Delfin what he was going to do next. He told me he was off to Hawaii and that Josh was going to Redmond.

Citrix popularized SBC computing with its ICA protocol. A desktop experience over a dial up connection. And it worked well for the niche it was designed to reach. I was slow to convert. Reminded me of Rome and Romans.

Some of us also remember the dark days back in the 90's when it was thought that Microsoft was going to introduce its own protocol RDP and cast Citrix out to sea. Did not happen and that was the right thing to do. Then.

Early in this decade I had a “ah ha” moment. I was siting at a bar over looking a bay that flows in to the Gulf of Mexico. A few sailboats moored just off shore with a single aging shrimp boat listing to port. Wish I could say there was a steel drum band playing in the background and young beauties on every bar stool swaying to the music. Nope. Country music playing on the jukebox with five year old smoked covered NASCAR posters on the walls. If a tourist walked in, they were very, very lost.

But there I was using my Microsoft based mobile phone accessing a web based management service for a cluster of MS 2003 servers. On my mobile phone screen was the log in screen for a server. Closest thing to an IT Corona moment I have ever had. Microsoft was on to something.

But Microsoft let it go. Was told by a Microsoft representative that this did not fit into the their “Ecosystem”. Sad because that log in screen contained some residual from the original Web NOS that had been carried over for those many years.

Very early one morning I was calling in the results of my previous few days testing of a new release of Web NOS to Sausalito expecting to get the answering machine. Josh answered the phone. After the briefing I remember asking Josh what was the purpose of that log in code. He told me and thought to myself that he made complexity visually simple. Not many people know what it did. But I still remember that morning talking with Josh and the Corona moment 15 years later. Bittersweet. It was the beginning of the end for Microsoft.

I think just about every one that follows IT has seen Mr. Ballmer on stage accusing everyone else of being a one trick pony. Often at the same time admitting maybe Microsoft does not get it right the first time, but by the second or third time they do get it. The era of three chances getting it right is over, for everyone. If everything you sell is PC centric, then your are a one trick pony. The shoe fits, wear it.

In a publicly held company, it is thought the responsibility of the Board of Directors is to represent the shareholders. That is the way it was. Changes in the way business must operate in the future, suggest that Boards must also represent stake holders, consumers and society. Ask Union Carbide after Bhopal. Ask just about anyone and everyone after Bhopal. The era of Directors cashing checks four times a year and nodding their heads in concurrence is over. Maybe not at Microsoft.

Good financial news today does not mean good business news for the future. Sometimes figures lie and liars figure. But it is the responsibility of the Boards to look over the horizon on behalf of management and provide them with safe harbor to weather the short term financial pundits, nay sayers and ~~agents of the enemy~~, sorry, anyone that does not agree with management. But these same Boards have a fiduciary responsibility to warn management when there are tides, storms, reefs, shoals and darn big rocks out there. When the Boards are not capable of fulfilling their responsibility, then it is time for shareholders, stakeholders, customers and society to stand up and vote with their feet, voices, and all other available actions.

I believe Microsoft's' Board of Directors is letting Microsoft drift fatally on to the rocks. But I am just one voice. But this I also know. When 800 pound gorillas die, they get really big headlines. For one day.

This too shall pass.

Until the next post,

Steve

Best Buy(R) and Clearwire(R) Unveil Strategic Wholesale Relationship and Plans to Offer Newly Branded 4G Mobile Broadband Service in the U.S.

2010-07-30T22:30:00.000Z

This is a press release from Clearwire. Please keep in mind that Sprint Nextel Corporation owns a majority of Clearwire's shares. When you read Clearwire, you may or may not substitute the name Sprint Nextel. Read on.

Plans to Offer Newly Branded 4G Mobile Broadband Service in the U.S.

Best Buy Becomes First Major Wholesaler, Outside of Clearwire's Strategic Investors, to Join Clearwire's 4G "Network of Networks" and Offer Service Under the Best Buy Name Best Buy ConnectSM

Broadband Service to Offer New 4G Option

Customers to Have Choice of Device and Plan That Best Fits Their Mobile Broadband Needs

MINNEAPOLIS & KIRKLAND, Wash., Jul 29, 2010

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Clearwire Corporation ASDAQ:CLWR), a leading provider of wireless broadband services and operator of the fastest 4G network in the country, and Best Buy Connect, LLC, a subsidiary of Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) today announced the formation of a strategic wholesale relationship in which Best Buy will use Clearwire's 4G network to offer mobile internet service to customers under the Best Buy Connect service. Beginning in 2011, Best Buy will offer a new 4G tier for its recently introduced Best Buy Connect service. Best Buy Connect was conceived to help accelerate mobile broadband adoption by providing consumers the convenience of one-stop shopping for devices, service activation, billing and customer support from Best Buy.

"Our strategic wholesale agreement with Clearwire will enable Best Buy Connect to leverage the Clearwire 4G network's speed and bandwidth to deliver compelling new mobile broadband experiences for our customers," said Jed Stillman, vice president of Best Buy Connect. "This agreement paves the way to providing one-stop shopping and support for mobile broadband as more people become more connected across all kinds of devices. We believe consumers will appreciate the added advantage of relying on Best Buy Connect for both 3G and 4G mobile broadband services beginning next year."

"Best Buy is at the forefront of providing consumers with the best in consumer electronics products and services, and we are very proud to provide the mobile broadband network that will enable them to offer their own branded 4G service to their broad customer base," said Teresa Elder, president of strategic partnerships and wholesale at Clearwire. "This new agreement is particularly strategic for our 'network of networks' business model. Not only is this one of the first major wholesale agreements beyond our group of strategic investors, but it also demonstrates the interest in our network from companies outside of traditional service providers. We look forward to supporting Best Buy in the months and years ahead."

4G Coming to Best Buy Connect

Best Buy Connect will offer its customers 4G service options that use the Clearwire network currently available in dozens of cities across the United States, with network coverage expected to continue to expand.

Best Buy Connect joins a growing portfolio of exclusive branded content, connections and services that deliver the advantages of what Best Buy calls the "connected world" easily and seamlessly to consumers. Additional details can be found athttp://www.bestbuy.com/bestbuyconnect. Detailed company information about Clearwire is available at http://www.clearwire.com.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Mexico and Turkey, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $49 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy; Best Buy Mobile; Audiovisions; The Carphone Warehouse; Future Shop; Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star; Magnolia Audio Video; Napster; Pacific Sales; and The Phone House. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2010, we donated a combined $25.2 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work.

For more information about Best Buy, visithttp://www.bestbuy.com.

About Clearwire

Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR), through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of wireless broadband services. Clearwire's 4G network is currently available in areas of the U.S. where approximately 51 million people live and the company plans to continue to expand its 4G coverage. Clearwire's open all-IP network, combined with significant spectrum holdings, provides an unprecedented combination of speed and mobility to deliver next generation broadband access. The company markets its 4G service through its own brand called CLEAR(R) as well as through its wholesale relationships with Sprint, Comcast and Time Warner Cable. Strategic investors include Intel Capital, Comcast, Sprint, Google, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks. Clearwire is headquartered in Kirkland, Wash. Additional information is available athttp://www.clearwire.com.

Clearwire, CLEAR, the CLEAR logo and super fast mobile internet are trademarks or registered trademarks of Clearwire Communications LLC in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release, and other written and oral statements made by Best Buy and/or Clearwire from time to time, contains forward-looking statements which are based on management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made with information that is currently available. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, management's expectations regarding future financial and operating performance and financial condition; proposed transactions; network development and market launch plans; strategic plans and objectives; industry conditions; the strength of the balance sheet; liquidity and financing needs;business prospects; new strategies; the competitive environment and other events. The words "anticipate," "believe,""intend," "plan," "outlook," "will," "would," "may," "should," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," "designed," "plan" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward- looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of either company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from such statements.

In the case of Clearwire, some factors that could cause actual results to differ are:

Clearwire is an early-stage company with a history of operating losses and it expects to continue to realize significant net losses for the foreseeable future.

Clearwire's current and future plans are subject to a number of conditions and uncertainties, including among others, its ability to manage ongoing market development activities (including the development of over 10,000 sites), its performance in launched markets and its access to additional funding.

Clearwire regularly evaluate Its plans, and the company may elect to pursue new or alternative strategies which it believes would be beneficial to the company's business, including among other things, modifying the pace at which the company builds its 4G mobile broadband networks, augmenting its network coverage in markets it launches, changing its sales and marketing strategy and or acquiring additional spectrum.

If Clearwire's business fails to perform as the company expects, or if the company elects to pursue new plans or strategies, Clearwire may be required to raise substantial additional financing, and if it is unable to raise such financing on acceptable terms it may need to modify its plans accordingly.

Clearwire may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the transactions with Sprint and the strategic investors.

Clearwire is committed to using commercially reasonable efforts to deploy wireless broadband networks based solely on mobile WiMAX technology, even if there are alternative technologies available in the future that are technologically superior or more cost effective.

Clearwire currently depends on its commercial partners to develop and deliver the equipment for its legacy and mobile WiMAX networks.

Many of Clearwire's competitors are better established and have significantly greater resources, and may subsidize their competitive offerings with other products and services.

Clearwire's substantial indebtedness and restrictive debt covenants could limit its financing options and liquidity position and may limit the company's ability to grow its business.

Sprint Nextel Corporation owns a majority of Clearwire's shares, resulting in Sprint holding a majority voting interest in the company, and Sprint may have, or may develop in the future, interests that may diverge from other stockholders.

Future sales of large blocks of Clearwire's common stock may adversely impact its stock price.

For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please refer to Clearwire's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 24, 2010 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 6, 2010.

Clearwire assumes no obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking statements.

In the case of Best Buy, among the factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements are the following: general economic conditions, changes in consumer preferences, credit market constraints, acquisitions and development of new businesses, divestitures, product availability, sales volumes, pricing actions and promotional activities of competitors, profit margins, weather, changes in law or regulations, foreign currency fluctuation, availability of suitable real estate locations, the company's ability to react to a disaster recovery situation, the impact of labor markets and new product introductions on overall profitability, failure to achieve anticipated benefits of announced transactions and integration challenges relating to new ventures. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the company's annual report and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Best Buy's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 28, 2010. Best Buy cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete and assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement that it may make.

SOURCE: Clearwire Corporation

Clearwire Media and Industry Analyst Relations:

Susan Johnston, 425-216-7913

susan.johnston@clearwire.com

or

JLM Partners for Clearwire

Mike DiGioia or Jeremy Pemble, 206-381-3600

mike@jlmpartners.com or jeremy@jlmpartners.com

or

Best Buy Public Relations:

Paula Baldwin, 612-291-6126

paula.baldwin@bestbuy.com

Low Cost access –Cum-Computing Device Unveiled by Shri Kapil Sibal

2010-07-25T03:37:00.007Z

How about a 35 USD Tablet?

"The Union Minister for human Resource Development, Shri Kapil Sibal unveiled a low cost computing-cum-access device, here today. The price of the device exhibited today is expected to be around $35 per piece, gradually dropping down to $20 and ultimately to $10 a piece. Since this effort of continuous reduction in price and enhancement in capabilities would require a constant endeavour for R&D, IIT Rajasthan and some other IITs and technical institutions are setting up research teams to cover a wide range of issues in achieving our ultimate goal in terms of price and quality.

The three cardinal principles of the Education Policy viz., access, equity and quality could be served well by providing connectivity to all colleges and universities, providing low cost and affordable access cum computing devices to students and teachers and providing high quality e-content free of cost to all learners in the Country. National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT) encompasses all the three elements. Connectivity to Universities and Colleges has already started. Nearly 8500 Colleges in the country have already been connected, high quality e-content in various subjects is being created and under the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), nearly 500 web based and video courses are available and uploaded on “sakshat”, YouTube and NPTEL portals and another 1100 courses in various disciplines of engineering and science are getting generated in 4 quadrant approach.

The ministry started its efforts , subsequent to lukewarm response from known corporates in this sector, by holding discussions on this concept with a group of Professors / experts at IISc, Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay. B.Tech and M.Tech students were guided to produce the mother board for such low cost devices with ample flexibility to change components. One mother board design was generated under Ministry’s guidance in the B.Tech project of a student at VIT, Vellore. The cost of bill of material worked to 47 $ at that point of time. The PCB of the mother board was got fabricated at IIT Kanpur. It could be seen that by customising the device to the needs of learners across the country, and utilizing the processor capabilities of processors suitable for the purpose, it was possible to substantially reduce the prices of such access-cum-computing devices. Then started a wave of collaboration with such interested partners.

. A number of teams have been moving back and forth independently but constantly interacting with the HRD Ministry and improving upon design parameters and customization guidance for Indian students. The efforts of some of the teams working with those design philosophies were presented today. The aim is to reach such devices to the students of colleges and Universities and to provide these institutions a host of choices of low cost access devices around Rs. 1500/- ($35) or less in near future.

MV/Hb"

For additional information visit the links below.

What Could You Do With a $35 Tablet? By Tony Bradley, PC World

India Government Unveils A $35 Tablet, Rest Of The World Envies Posted on 24. Jul, 2010 by TabletMan in Tablets

Until the next post,

Steve

Ulteo and Microsoft

2010-06-10T00:07:00.002Z

Found this in my email. It is most interesting. What do you think!

MICROSOFT IS HELPING ULTEO TO DELIVER AN ENTERPRISE CLASS TIGHTLY INTEGRATED WINDOWS + LINUX BASED ULTEO VIRTUAL DESKTOP AND APPLICATIONS DELIVERY SOLUTION

Veröffentlicht am 06/08/2010

Paris June 8th, 2010: Ulteo has been selected to join Microsoft France idEES, a special Microsoft program supporting innovative high potential software startups.

Ulteo is a commercial enterprise open source software startup that develops and distributes the Open Virtual Desktop (OVD) solution. The Ulteo OVD allows organizations of all sizes to cenrally manage and remotely publish end users' Linux and/or Windows business applications instead of installing the applications on the end users' local computers.

The Ulteo OVD brings multiple key benefits to organizations: it reduces the costs of managing the end user environment (applications and data) and allows the end users access from any connected computer (work, hotel, home, customer or supplier sites, etc.). Other benefits include increased data security and increased agility for IT departments, for faster roll-out of new versions and new features of their business applications portfolio to end users.

This Microsoft - Ulteo partnership includes technological, marketing and commercial aspects and it is part of the idEES program (Initiative for the Economic Development of the Software publishers and Start-up) of Microsoft France.

“Because of its selectivity, this partnership is a great recognition for Ulteo. From the start, we have developed the Ulteo OVD on top of both the Linux and the Windows platforms. Joining the Microsoft special idEES program allows us to provide an even tighter integration between Windows Server, Active Directory and Ulteo so that any Windows enterprise customer can benefit from Windows applications delivery with the Ulteo OVDThierry Koehrlen, CEO & co-founder of Ulteo. solution” says

“We want to offer and guarantee Windows customers a joint solution that provides them with a real enterprise-ready, interoperable virtual desktop solution. By leveraging the Windows Server Terminal Services infrastructure, the Linux-based Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop solution can centrally manage and remotely publish to end users both Windows and Linux applications in a seamless manner.”

The combined product solution could be similarly used in publishing only Windows applications - either from a portal or a desktop published in a browser, securely accessible both internally or externally for any organization.

“Ulteo's offer perfectly matches the global Microsoft openness and interoperability strategy, mixing Microsoft and non-Microsoft environments" adds Alfonso Castro Director of Interoperability Microsoft France. "By joining the IdEES program, Ulteo is a great example that Open Source startups can work tightly with Microsoft's platform. They can count on us to support them in that strategy.”

Ulteo is already working on integrating its Open Virtual Desktop solution with additional Microsoft technology and products like Sharepoint, the Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol - and also Microsoft HyperV, App-V and Azure.

“At Microsoft, we are very interested in Ulteo because they are solving a big problem - but also because the combination of Ulteo and Microsoft products gives more choices to the IT departments to build an open virtual desktop and application delivery solution”, says Julien Codorniou, Director of Business Development at Microsoft France.
“Ulteo is very modular and can work with different Microsoft products and in different configurations. For example the combination of the Microsoft and Ulteo solutions can publish Windows and Linux applications remotely, either from the customers servers/data centers and/or from a cloud solution built by software vendors, telco companies or systems integrators.”

The Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop v2.0 is currently available for download in English, French and Russian at http://www.ulteo.com and the Ulteo OVD 2.5 is in beta test and will be released within the next few weeks.

About Ulteo
Ulteo is the Open Source Enterprise Virtual Desktop and Application Delivery Solution company (open source SBC & VDI solutions), co-founded by veteran open source entrepreneurs Gaël Duval (founder of Mandrake Linux, a popular Linux distribution) and Thierry Koehrlen (co-founder of Intalio, the leading Open Source BPMS & Cloud company).

More at www.ulteo.com

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

More on www.microsoft.com

Contacts: press at ulteo dot com

Until the next post,

Steve

Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs) and Citrix on a mobile phone

2010-02-14T18:16:00.001Z

CHICAGO – February 2, 2010 – Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs), the leading global provider of embedded virtualization software for mobile phones and broadband Internet devices, and Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS), today announced the “nirvana phone” reference architecture, using virtualization to enable both mobile communications and office desktop-type productivity. The nirvana phone concept goes beyond traditional smart phones by allowing users to access their corporate virtual desktop and applications from a single device, in any location. With support for docking to full-sized displays, keyboards, mice and other PC-type peripherals, nirvana phones will offer mobile workers a complete “virtual desktop in your pocket”, allowing them to take their desktop anywhere without the need to carry around a full laptop.

The nirvana phone reference architecture emerges from the partnership between OK Labs and Citrix, together with key ecosystem partners ranging from semiconductor suppliers and handset OEMs to enterprise IT suppliers and mobile network operators (MNOs). The design builds on Mobile-to-Enterprise (M2E) virtualization and readily-available functionality like mobile virtualization, cloud computing and wireless connectivity (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth). The nirvana phone reference architecture also incorporates emerging capabilities in mobile chipsets and handsets like full resolution video and HD output. The jointly-developed reference architecture can be viewed at http://www.ok-labs.com/whitepapers/sample/the-nirvanaphone-concept-spec-and-reference-architeture

“The nirvana phone takes smartphones to the next level by bringing M2E from paradigm to platform and ultimately to product,” noted Chris Fleck VP of Community and Solution Development, Citrix. “As HD video and other capabilities come on line in mobile chipsets, Citrix and OK Labs are working together to give OEMs a clear path to building handsets that meet the needs of IT organizations and mobile workers alike, delivering virtual desktops and applications to virtualized mobile devices.”

“The nirvana phone will provide groundbreaking capabilities without breaking IT budgets with exotic technology,” said Steve Subar, President and CEO, OK Labs. ”The nirvana phone represents a near-term paradigm shift – OK Labs, Citrix, and our ecosystem partners envision real-world converged nirvana devices enabled for both mobility and desktop productivity entering the market within 12 to 18 months.”

Mobile-to-Enterprise (M2E) Virtualization

Citrix Systems is both a strategic investor and a key partner for OK Labs, working with the company to provide solutions for delivering enterprise applications to mobile with M2E virtualization. The companies’ combined technologies, including Citrix desktop virtualization and the OKL4 mobile virtualization solutions, promise easily-deployed and securely-managed access to enterprise and desktop applications from wireless devices. M2E virtualization enables end users to leverage a single device, bridging corporate and personal worlds without risk of compromising company data, applications, or networks.

Learn About the Nirvana Phone – February 9, 2010 Webinar

The joint event from OK Labs and Citrix will give participants insight into the details of the nirvana phone design and the benefits it provides.

To register for this informative event, visit http://bit.ly/67QG73

Open Kernel Labs

OK Labs is the global leader in virtualization software for mobile devices, consumer electronics, and embedded systems. Backed by the largest independent team of microkernel developers, OKL4 is deployed on more than 500 million mobile phones worldwide. Device OEMs, semiconductor suppliers, and mobile network operators depend on OK Labs to deliver high performance solutions that decrease BOM cost, reduce complexity, and speed time-to-market.

For information on the OK Community, please visit the Community Portal at http://www.ok-labs.com/community/community-portal. Participants can join the Developer Mailing List athttp://www.ok-labs.com/community/mailing-list-signup.

About Citrix

Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is a leading provider of virtualization, networking and software-as-a-service (SaaS) technologies for more than 230,000 organizations worldwide. Its Citrix Delivery Center™, Citrix Cloud Center™ (C3) and Citrix Online Services product families radically simplify computing for millions of users, delivering applications as an on-demand service to any user, in any location on any device. Citrix customers include the world’s largest Internet companies, 99 percent of Fortune Global 500 enterprises, and hundreds of thousands of small businesses and prosumers worldwide. Citrix partners with over 10,000 companies worldwide in more than 100 countries. Founded in 1989, annual revenue in 2008 was $1.6 billion.

For Citrix Investors

This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Those statements involve a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with revenue growth and recognition of revenue, products, their development and distribution, product demand and pipeline, economic and competitive factors, the Company’s key strategic relationships, acquisition and related integration risks as well as other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citrix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

###

Open Kernel Labs, OK Labs and Secure HyperCell™ Technology are trademarks or registered trademarks of Open Kernel Labs or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

CONTACT:

Karin Gilles

Citrix

+1 408 790 8544

karin.gilles@citrix.com

Trish Colby

LinuxPundit.com

+1 408 828 2861

trish@linuxpundit.com

Martha de Monclin

Page One Europe

+44 777 168 2434

martha@pageonepr.com

Marti Konstant

Open Kernel Labs

+1 312 933 0101

marti@ok-labs.com

November 25th, 2009 - Ulteo introduces open source virtual desktop OVD 2.0. This new release delivers both Linux and/or Windows applications as complete virtual desktops – and also via web portal.

2009-11-29T19:06:00.008Z

I have the new version up and running. So simple that this widows guy could set it up by just reading the installation PDF. The only client requirement is that you have a Java enabled browser. Have tested it with Firefox, IE8 and Opera with no problems.

Delivering Linux and/or Windows applications to virtualized desktops and/or web portals

Open Virtual Desktop (OVD) 1.0 was about delivering Linux and/or Windows applications to virtual desktops accessible from within or outside an organization. OVD 2.0 takes this concept even further by providing key additional features: “Some IT departments have the requirement of delivering complete desktops to end-users, but others would prefer to deliver individual applications. With OVD 2.0, users can simply click a link on a web page to launch a single application without the overhead of a complete desktop”, says Thierry Koehrlen CEO & co-founder of Ulteo. “Users can now log into their corporate portal and simply click a link to launch a remote Windows and/or Linux application, or they can click an icon to open a document with an associated remote application.”

Ulteo OVD 2.0 provides more implementation choices to IT departments “OVD 2.0 is about providing more choices from an architecture perspective as well” adds Gaël Duval, Ulteo CTO and co-founder.
“We are very focused on what our community of users is asking for.

They wanted more options with Ulteo OVD, so we're happy to provide shared directories for greater user collaboration, the foundation for a wider assortment of supported databases, single sign-on, support for different web portal, ECMs, support for Windows Server 2003 and 2008, hypervisors, and more. OVD 2.0 delivers an impressive set of new features; upcoming point releases will further increase the list of supported products so that OVD will seamlessly fit into most current and future environments. For example, OVD can now run on Amazon's EC2 cloud computing environment. This ability was made possible with the help of the Open Source community which allows us to deliver an impressive list of features much faster than on our own.”

Ulteo OVD: a flexible Open Source Virtual Desktop solution for public and private organizations of all sizes, and also for telco and cloud companies

"In our daily interactions with the community of Ulteo users (Desktop Architects, System & support Administrators, IT managers), several key reasons are given for the adoption of Open Virtual Desktop" comments Thierry Koehrlen. “The number one reason is the ability to deploy Windows or Linux applications, and even a mixture of both, to a unified desktop environment. Ulteo users also greatly appreciate the cost reductions provided by our product, plus the fact that Ulteo Enterprise subscription plans provide a comprehensive and affordable support solution. The simplicity and ease-of-use of the system is another popular reason. And finally, the openness of the code and development process guarantees both flexibility and the ability to customize the product for any organization."

Mike Norman, Open Source Analyst at http://www.virtualizationpractice.com sums it up: “Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop (OVD) delivers Terminal Services, Linux and Windows desktop applications through a single portal to any Java-enabled browser, without installing a client application. In a market dominated by high-cost proprietary solutions, it offers a cost-effective Open Source desktop connection broker for enterprise applications and application service providers.”

Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop 2.0 is now available for download at:

http://www.ulteo.com/home/ovdi/openvirtualdesktop

Read more about the features at:

http://www.ulteo.com/home/ovdi/openvirtualdesktop/features

For more information please go to:

http://www.ulteo.com

Media inquiries: please contact press(at)ulteo(dot)com

Customer and partner inquiries: please contact sales(at)ulteo(dot)com

About Ulteo

Ulteo is the Open Source Enterprise Virtual Desktop and Application Delivery Solution company co-founded by veteran open source entrepreneurs Gaël Duval (founder of Mandrake Linux, a popular Linux distribution) and Thierry Koehrlen (co-founder of Intalio, the leading Open Source BPMS). Ulteo is proud to have won the “Best Open Source Start-up” award at the Open World Forum 2009.

Until the next post,

Steve

Press Release: Comcast Begins National Rollout of High-Speed Wireless Data Service

2009-07-05T22:19:00.001Z

Portland first to launch Comcast High-Speed 2go™ with Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and more launching before year-end 2009

Philadelphia, PA - June 29, 2009

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information, and communications products and services, launches its anticipated high-speed wireless data service tomorrow in Portland as the company kicks off its nationwide rollout of Comcast High-Speed 2go™.

Comcast’s High-Speed 2go is a fourth-generation or 4G wireless high-speed data service that provides the fastest available wireless Internet in the nation via wireless data cards. Comcast will be selling this wireless service bundled with one or more of its popular Internet, phone and television products, providing mobile broadband where ever and whenever customers need to be connected.

“With Comcast’s wideband Internet, we already offer one of the fastest wired connections available today. Now with the launch of High-Speed 2go, we also deliver the nation’s fastest wireless Internet,” said Cathy Avgiris, senior vice president and general manager for wireless and voice services at Comcast. “Innovation through mobility is one of many advances Comcast is providing consumers in the area of entertainment, information and communications. Comcast High-Speed 2go now gives consumers the best of both worlds, the fastest fast at home and on the go. In today’s world, consumers don’t want to be disconnected for even a minute and now Comcast provides wired and wireless access – a combination consumers won’t want to live without.”

Comcast is selling two different data cards and service plans:

Comcast High-Speed 2go Metro service uses a 4G-only data card giving customers the fastest wireless service within the 4G metro coverage area. The Metro device operates only in a 4G service footprint.
Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service delivers the fastest metro 4G service plus coast-to-coast access on Sprint’s national 3G network. The Nationwide device automatically switches between available 4G and 3G networks.

The world-class services Comcast is known for in the home are beginning to be extended to where consumers work, live and play. High-speed mobile Internet is one of the first products consumers want as a natural extension of Comcast’s super fast wired high-speed Internet. The combination of the two is a unique proposition and the only package of its kind available in Portland today.

Bundled Pricing
For the first time, consumers will have bundled access to both the fastest wired and wireless internet in the nation - sold together at launch as a “Fast Pack”www.comcast.com/highspeed2go for additional pricing plans and service packages. for as low as $49.99 per month for one year. Both new and existing Comcast customers will be eligible for special bundled pricing, with Triple Play customers receiving 4G wireless as an add-on for as low as $30 per month. Visit

The $49.99 Fast Pack Metro service includes Comcast’s 12 Mbps home Internet service, a free WiFi router for mobility and extended coverage in the home, and 4G service that will provide up to 4 Mbps download speed when customers are on the go. For an additional $20 per month, consumers can upgrade to the Fast Pack Nationwide service that includes the same services plus nationwide 3G mobile network access.

Comcast also will be selling High-Speed 2go to small-to-mid-sized businesses through Comcast Business Services sales teams. As the nation’s largest video provider, largest residential ISP and the third-largest residential phone provider, Comcast now has the ability to provide wireless mobility to consumers in a combination that is both competitive and differentiated from any bundled services on the market today.

Comcast is selling wireless data services following its investment in Clearwire in November 2008. Comcast’s 4G service will be provided via the Clearwire network, and its 3G service will be provided by Sprint’s nationwide 3G network. Comcast is one of the first investors in Clearwire to bring a service to market and expects that it will continue to add value to existing bundled products.

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 24.1 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 6.8 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.

Ulteo unveils the first Open Source virtual desktop

2008-11-22T15:34:00.015Z

Received an email from Ulteo about their entry into the Server Based Computing market. Then ZDnets' Paula Rooney article appeared in the news column to the left or click here to read. Maybe there just might be something here that will grow legs.

From the news page at Ulteo Published on 11/19/2008

Following its commitment to desktop virtualization solutions, Ulteo, an Open Virtual Desktop Infrastructure company, announced today that they were releasing the first installable version of their Open Virtual Desktop solution for enterprises. Delivering faster deployment times and ease of management for the IT department, this first release can be integrated easily into an existing professional Linux or Windows IT environment. The solution can be up and running in a few minutes, delivering rich desktop applications to corporate users.

Virtual desktops help reduce end user desktop TCO, but businesses can go much further with the open source Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop Solution

Ulteo enters the corporate market as a pure Open Source player, and leverages the experience it acquired during the past two years with virtualization products & services that were previously offered on their own servers.

The Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop is a great solution for corporations who want to reduce the Total Costs of Ownership of the end user desktop, a cost that cripples IT budgets. Moreover, the Ulteo open source business model remove the typical upfront licence fee and replace it with a much more affordable subscription support plan instead. “With Ulteo businesses save money even in the first year of virtual desktops deployment and that counts in the current economic environment” says Thierry Koehrlen, CEO and co-founder of the company.

The Ulteo solution also helps IT departments to increase the end users systems uptime and mobility and therefore their productivity.

“This first version of the Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop is great for all the companies who are seeking to leverage open source applications and Linux within a Linux or a Windows environment. And in February 2009, Windows applications will be available too, integrated into a unified interface" Koehrlen advises.

Ulteo makes virtual desktops easier for the IT department:

Ulteo's solution has been designed with a radical approach: in particular, no installation is needed on the Desktop client, and nothing has to be replaced or modified in the existing infrastructure.

IT administrators appreciate the simplified quick installation, configuration and deployment process of the Ulteo virtual desktops. They also appreciate the value of accessing to the code so that the solution can be customized to fit even better their specific needs.

Advanced features include a full administration console, desktop sharing, application server replication and many others.

The Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop is ready for business:

The product has already served more than 140,000 desktop sessions over the last few months and has been tested through external Proof of Concepts with some early adopters’ organisations. “So we are very excited to share it now with the rest of the world and to expand the community of users and developers around it” reports Gael Duval, CTO and co-founder of Ulteo.

Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop is Open-Source and IT departments have the choice to either use the free version with community support, or benefit from commercial licensing terms that offers extended support to organizations wishing to enter a commercial and privileged relationship with Ulteo.

For more information please go to http://www.ulteo.com

Media enquiries: please contact press(at)ulteo(dot).com

About Ulteo Ulteo is and Open Source Enterprise Virtual Desktop and Application Delivery Solution co-founded by veteran open source entrepreneurs Gaël Duval (founder of Mandrake Linux, a popular Linux distribution) and Thierry Koehrlen (co-founder of Intalio, the leading Open Source BPMS).

Until the next post,

Steve

Nasty packages for computer peripherals

2008-11-08T23:37:00.009Z

This post is going to be different. I am going to endorse a product. Not just list a product, but endorse it. It is not Server Based Computing hardware, nor software, not cabling or any computer vendor. But it will be welcomed in every server room in the world. It is a device to open those nasty packages that computer peripherals are wrapped in. To this day I do not know how they make that exotic metal alloy look like clear plastic.

The “OpenIt!” product is a combination scissor/shears, knife and screw driver. I have used each of those devices individually to open those nasty plastic packages. The major difference is that the shear blades are angled and offset. In the past when using regular scissors to open those nasty packages, the plastic come in contact with you hand. Not good. The offset and angled cutting blades allow you work around the package without coming in contact with the plastic.

OpenIt! Includes a small interchangeable Phillips head and straight slot screw diver. Those is also a retracting knife to cut plastic or tape that enclose software or DVDs. I found this device at a Walgreens in the hardware section. Not much money for something that does what this product does.

Until the next post,

Steve

FCC ADOPTS RULES FOR UNLICENSED USE OF TELEVISION WHITE SPACES

2008-11-05T22:42:00.002Z

Let the air wave wars begin. And it is unlicensed!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 4, 2008

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Robert Kenny: (202) 418-2668
Matthew Nodine: (202) 418-1646

FCC ADOPTS RULES FOR UNLICENSED USE OF TELEVISION WHITE SPACES

In its continuing efforts to promote efficient use of spectrum and to extend the benefits of such use to the public, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopted a Second Report and Order (Second R&O) that establishes rules to allow new, sophisticated wireless devices to operate in broadcast television spectrum on a secondary basis at locations where that spectrum is open. (This unused TV spectrum is now commonly referred to as television “white spaces”). The rules adopted today will allow for the use of these new and innovative types of unlicensed devices in the unused spectrum to provide broadband data and other services for consumers and businesses.

The rules represent a careful first step to permit the operation of unlicensed devices in the TV white spaces and include numerous safeguards to protect incumbent services against harmful interference. The rules will allow for both fixed and personal/portable unlicensed devices. Such devices must include a geolocation capability and provisions to access over the Internet a data base of the incumbent services, such as full power and low power TV stations and cable system headends, in addition to spectrum-sensing technology. The data base will tell the white space device what spectrum may be used at that location.

Wireless microphones will be protected in a variety of ways. The locations where wireless microphones are used, such as sporting venues and event and production facilities, can be registered in the data base and will be protected in the same way as other services. The Commission also has required that devices include the ability to listen to the airwaves to sense wireless microphones as an additional measure of protection for these devices.

All white space devices are subject to equipment certification by the FCC Laboratory. The Laboratory will request samples of the devices for testing to ensure that they meet all the pertinent requirements.

The Commission also will permit certification of devices that do not include the geolocation and data base access capabilities, and instead rely solely on spectrum sensing to avoid causing harmful interference, subject to a much more rigorous approval process.

In a process that will be open to the public, applications will be released for public comment prior to agency action. Such devices will be tested by our Laboratory to a “Proof of Performance” standard both in the lab and in a variety of real-world environments to ensure they do not cause interference to licensed services when in use. The staff report and recommendation will also be released for public comment. For now, certification of any such device will require approval by the full Commission.

Manufacturers may continue to provide additional information to the Commission to support the use of higher power devices in adjacent channels. In addition, the Commission will explore in a separate Notice of Inquiry whether higher-powered unlicensed operations might be permitted in TV white spaces in rural areas.

The Commission will closely oversee and monitor the introduction of TV white space devices. The Commission will act promptly to remove from the market any equipment found to be causing harmful interference and will require the responsible parties to take appropriate actions to remedy any interference that may occur.

Action by the Commission November 4, 2008, by Second Report and Order (FCC 08-260). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, and McDowell with Commissioner Tate approving and dissenting in part. Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell.

For additional information, contact Alan Stillwell at (202) 418-2470 or alan.stillwell@fcc.gov.

FCC

News and other information about the FCC is available at www.fcc.gov

Until the next post,

Steve

NComputing Wins Bid to Provide Computing Access to 1.8 Million Students in India

2008-10-13T15:40:00.002Z

REDWOOD CITY, CALIF., October 13, 2008 – NComputing, the leading provider of low-cost computing solutions, today announced that it was chosen to supply a massive 5,000-school educational computing initiative in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The initiative will provide computing access to 1.8 million children throughout the state. Andhra Pradesh is the largest and most populous state in South India. Andhra Pradesh will contract leading education IT firms to build the computer labs in 5,000 schools totaling 50,000 computing seats over the coming few months. The win marks the largest single deployment of NComputing's solution in India. The decision to deploy NComputing's low-cost and eco-friendly solution establishes the government of Andhra Pradesh as an innovator in educational computing and provides a blueprint for other governments and institutions considering similar projects.

By leveraging NComputing, the government will save $20 million in up-front and ongoing costs. The government will also use 90% less electricity compared to a traditional all-PC solution. "NComputing is proud to have been chosen by Andhra Pradesh to fulfill its vision to improve learning and computer literacy throughout the state," said Stephen Dukker, chairman and CEO of NComputing. "At about $70 per seat, our solution is the ideal platform to enable schools, businesses, and governments to maximize their PC investment. We are the world leader in desktop virtualization and the scale of this deployment further extends our leadership position."

The NComputing solution is based on a simple fact: today's PCs are so powerful that the vast majority of applications only use a small fraction of the computer's capacity. NComputing technology creates multiple virtual desktops on a single PC so that many users can tap the unused capacity and share it as if each person had their own computer. Andhra Pradesh chose the NComputing X300 solution, which enables up to seven users to simultaneously share one PC.

The computing labs will be used to teach computer skills and office productivity (spreadsheets, word processing) as well as subjects like reading and math. The entire system will run on the Microsoft Windows Server operating system and use Microsoft Office Suite. "India holds a strong position in the knowledge economy today due to the country's consistent investment in education over the years," said Javier Arrupea Gitlin, director, Microsoft Unlimited Potential Group. "In India and around the globe, Microsoft is committed to enabling affordable access to computing for education. Through Microsoft's Unlimited Potential commitment, we are continually looking for innovative and affordable technology solutions that can sustain social and economic progress. Initiatives such as this announced today that leverage the value toeducational computing provided by the Windows Server platform represent yet another solution that can help move us towards this goal."

"With the modernization of India's economy, students are eager to learn the computer skills that will prepare them for the digital workplace – but most government school students have never even had the chance to type on a keyboard or click a mouse," said Mr. Raj Shah, chief marketing officer of NComputing, "This computerization project shows how forward thinking governments can use proven and practical technologies like NComputing to bridge the digital divide."

The project is based on an innovative outsourcing model. The Andhra Pradesh government will outsource the entire project for five years to leading educational IT companies, including Educomp, Everonn, NIIT, and Social Computers. The model is referred to as Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) and requires the companies to install, staff, and manage the labs. This arrangement helps ensure that the labs are installed quickly and performance benchmarks are met. The five-year period also enables school staff to develop their own competencies in managing the labs and computer-aided teaching.

NComputing's technology is used by 20,000 organizations in more than 90 countries. In the United States, NComputing has been deployed by over 4,000 school districts in classrooms, computer labs, and libraries. Although smaller in scale than Andhra Pradesh, school districts in North America face many of the same challenges including tight budgets, demand for wider computing access, limited IT support staff, and a desire to use "green" technology.

NComputing has received numerous green computing awards because it uses just 1 watt of electricity (compared to 110 watts or more for stand-alone PCs). "Our students are learning about global warming and increasingly engaged in school initiatives to lower the carbon footprint," said Richard Potter of Medicine Hat School District. "We rebuilt our computer lab with NComputing and a few PCs and the students planted a hundred trees to create a carbon-neutral computer lab."

NComputing recently announced that Will Poole, former corporate vice president of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential Group, has joined as co-chairman.

About NComputing, Inc.
Winner of the Wall Street Journal's Technology Innovation Award, NComputing, Inc. was founded with the goal of making desktop computing affordable for everyone. Headquartered in Redwood City, CA, NComputing is a privately held virtualization software and hardware company. The company's patented technology drastically lowers desktop computing costs, improves manageability, and reduces both energy consumption and e-waste.

Media Contacts:
Renee Deger
GlobalFluency
(650) 433-4153
cvanhaver@globalfluency.com

David Rand
NComputing, Inc.
drand at ncomputing dot com

XOHM WiMAX Broadband Service Debuts in Baltimore

2008-09-29T12:24:00.003Z

Here is the official start up press release. With the initial monthly fee of 25 USD for home and 30 USD for roaming, certainly it is priced right for early adapters.

XOHM WiMAX Broadband Service Debuts in Baltimore

09/29/2008

Media Contact:

John Polivka, (972) 405-5139

john.m.polivka@sprint.com

Investor Contact:

Bryan Fries, (800) 259-3755

investor.relations@sprint.com

XOHM WIMAX BROADBAND SERVICE DEBUTS IN BALTIMORE

New 4G wireless era dawns as unique business model revolutionizes mobile Internet access
Service-plan innovation includes $50 “Pick 2 for Life” offer without usage limitations

HERNDON, Va. – Sept. 29, 2008

A next-generation 4G wireless network based on mobile WiMAX technology debuted today in Baltimore, heralding the start of a new era for wireless consumers as Sprint (NYSE: S) officially launched XOHM TM mobile broadband commercial service in the first major U.S. city.

“This is truly an historic day with the birth of a completely new Internet-based business model that alters the dynamics of the traditional telecom industry,” explained Barry West, president of Sprint’s XOHM business unit. “Wireless consumers will experience WiMAX device and XOHM service innovation on multiple levels as the computer, Internet, telecom and consumer electronics industries converge to redefine wireless mobility.”

XOHM WiMAX will extend the home or office Internet experience and mobile multimedia applications to other places and additional devices. With XOHM, consumers, businesses and local governments will ultimately be able to experience new forms of interactive communications, high-speed mobile Internet browsing, social-networking tools, location-centric services and multimedia including music, video and on-demand products at faster average downlink speeds of 2-4 Mbps. The data-centric XOHM broadband service differs from present wireless offerings in that:

No long-term commitments or contracts are required, freeing customers from restrictive long-term subsidized plans;
Monthly home, on-the-go and day-pass Internet plans provide service choices;
A single monthly charge covers service for multiple WiMAX access devices;
WiMAX devices are purchased like other computing/consumer electronic devices,
XOHM broadband service is self-activated and includes future updates capability;
Customers can enjoy an Internet portal offering enhanced mobile services;
The Open Internet business model transcends other carriers’ wireless walled gardens that restrict services, choice and innovation.

Starting today, customers can purchase XOHM-branded Samsung Express air cards for $59.99 and ZyXEL modems for $79.99 via XOHM web, telesales or select Baltimore-area independent retailers. Additional WiMAX devices such as a ZTE USB modem, Intel Centrino 2 WiMAX notebook PCs and the Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition are expected in market later this year.

Introductory offers allow customers to choose from both daily and month-to-month service options. At launch, mobile WiMAX service plans include a $10 Day pass, $25 monthly Home Internet service and $30 monthly On-the-go service. Special launch pricing includes a $50 “Pick 2 for Life” monthly service option covering two different WiMAX devices. Visit www.xohm.com to view the current XOHM WiMAX coverage area, details of the introductory broadband service offerings and device sales information.

XOHM subscribers will be given free access to a unique and customizable Web site, called MyXOHM, focusing primarily on local services and entertainment content, as well as providing security services, hosted storage and interactive communications. After choosing preferences, subscribers will have their content pushed to a customized and location-aware portal via small digestible widgets.

XOHM continues to work with WiMAX ecosystem partners and others to incorporate WiMAX technology in a range of computing, portable multimedia, interactive and other business and consumer electronic devices, including the availability of XOHM WiMAX in vehicles for navigation information, news and entertainment.

Sprint will be the first and only national wireless carrier to offer customers a dual–mode 3G - 4G device that extends the power of Sprint’s NOW network. Expected to launch in the fourth quarter, this Sprint device will operate on the nation’s largest 3G mobile broadband network and the 4G network in Baltimore and other markets as WiMAX service becomes available.

The Baltimore XOHM service launch is one of the most rapid ever for new network development, approximately two years after Sprint’s selection of WiMAX IEEE 802.16e as a technology standard and the formation of a charter WiMAX ecosystem with Intel, Samsung and Motorola. Those firms shared a common vision of next-generation mobility services predicated on an embedded chipset model and the wireless enablement of millions of consumer electronic devices that lack wireless connectivity or Internet capability. Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Google, ZTE, ZyXEL and others have since joined the XOHM WiMAX ecosystem.

Sprint’s XOHM business unit focuses on developing the WiMAX ecosystem and standards to bring the latest broadband wireless technology to U.S. customers while pursuing roaming and interoperability agreements globally. The XOHM WiMAX network utilizes the 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings that were combined in the Sprint and Nextel merger to deploy next-generation technology. XOHM uses WiMAX infrastructure developed by Samsung Electronics Corporation Ltd. and has worked with them in deployment and buildout of the Baltimore-area WiMAX network. Additional markets are in various stages of infrastructure development for commercial readiness. These efforts are ultimately intended to allow customers to experience a nationwide 4G mobile broadband network that is designed to offer faster speeds, lower cost, greater convenience and enhanced multimedia quality.

As announced earlier this year, Sprint expects to complete the anticipated combination of its XOHM WiMAX business assets with Clearwire to form a new company in the fourth quarter. This new company, to be called Clearwire, will continue to expedite the deployment of a nationwide mobile WiMAX network. Following the transaction, Sprint will be the only national wireless carrier to sell 4G services through an MVNO structure with the new Clearwire.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving nearly 52 million customers at the end of the second quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

For more information on Sprint’s XOHM business unit, visit www.xohm.com.

SAFE HARBOR

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding plans for the development and deployment of a broadband network based on WiMAX technology; the timing, availability, capabilities, coverage, and costs of the WiMAX network; products and services to be offered on the WiMAX network; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The words “estimate,” “project,” ”forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “target,” “providing guidance” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are projections reflecting management’s judgment and assumptions based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements.

Future performance cannot be assured. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

the uncertainties related to the implementation of the company’s WiMAX business strategy;
the costs and business risks associated with deploying a WiMAX network and offering products and services utilizing WiMAX technology;
the inability of third-party suppliers, software developers and other vendors to perform requirements and satisfy obligations necessary to create the products and software designed to support WiMAX features and functionality, under agreements with Sprint Nextel;
the impact of adverse network performance;
other risks referenced from time to time in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Sprint Nextel believes the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Sprint Nextel is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

Until the next post,

Steve

Chip PC Thin Clients Now VMware-Ready Certified:

2008-09-28T22:23:00.005Z

Nice to see Jim Crocco as General Manager, Chip PC, Americas. I had the opportunity to work with Jim's server based computing company Netier almost 10 years ago before they merged with Wyse. He and his staff jumped into a very earlier adapter program to enable WiFi in embedded NT. We asked them on a Friday if they thought they could do it. The OS arrived Monday AM by courier. It worked!!!

This company also makes the Jack PC. Fits in a junction box and has POE.

Here is the press release:

Chip PC Thin Clients Now VMware-Ready Certified: Innovative Thin Client Platforms Add an Important Component to its Extensive Support of Desktop Virtualization Environments

Sep 15, 2008, Las Vegas, NV

At VMworld 2008, Chip PC Technologies, a global technology leader in desktop virtualization and server-centric solutions, today announced it had certified its range of innovative thin client devices for VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Virtual Desktop Manager. VMware Virtual Desktop Manager allows customers deploying VMware VDI to deliver an enhanced user experience, simplify desktop management, and reduce costs.
Further leveraging Chip PC's participation in the VMware Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) Program, Chip PC and VMware have worked together to deliver an integrated solution based on VMware Virtual Desktop Manager and Chip PC thin client devices.
“As a VMware Ready Certified product, customers can deploy Chip PC’s Thin Client with confidence, knowing it is reliable, secure and optimized for the VMware platform,” said Jerry Chen senior director of enterprise desktop at VMware. “Our vast ecosystem of partners is an important vehicle for VMware customers to build out complete virtualization solutions. We will continue to collaborate with innovators like Chip PC to provide our mutual customers with valuable and practical virtualization solutions.”

"Desktop computing is most certainly moving towards virtualization and we see many of our customers adopting desktop virtualization solutions in the near term," said Adi Dulberg, CEO, Chip PC. "Providing seamless integration into VMware’s robust desktop virtualization environment and supporting virtualization solutions all across the board is a strategic goal for us.”

“We are pleased to add VMware certification as an important component of our desktop virtualization support,” said Jim Crocco, General Manager, Chip PC, Americas. “Our flexible products are an out-of-the-box solution for both virtual desktop and server-based environments.”

About Chip PC
Chip PC Technologies focuses on delivering innovative desktop computing solutions covering the complete spectrum from smart user desktop devices to Active-Directory-based management software. http://www.chippc.com

About VMware
VMware (NYSE: VMW) is the global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop to the data center offering a wide range of award-winning virtualization products. www.vmware.com.

Editorial Contact: Ms. Ronit Pasternak, Tel: +972 4 8501 121 Email:ronit@chippc.com;

* Xtreme PC®, Jack PC® and Xcalibur Global® are trademarks of Chip PC Technologies. All brands and names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders. VMware and VMware Ready are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions.

All company and product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and are used for identification purposes only.

Until the next post,

Steve

Wyse and Novell Announce First Enterprise-Class Linux Thin Client Optimized for Desktop Virtualization

2008-09-28T22:16:00.002Z

Looking back at old press releases that I have not read.This one caught me eye.

Wyse and Novell Announce First Enterprise-Class Linux Thin Client Optimized for Desktop Virtualization

OEM Partnership Offers Industry Standard Thin Client-Based on SUSE Linux Enterprise

SAN JOSE, Calif. and WALTHAM, Mass. – 09/16/2008 - Wyse Technology, the global leader in thin computing, and Novell today announced the joint delivery of Wyse Enhanced SUSE® Linux Enterprise, the next-generation of Linux* operating system designed for thin computing environments and available only on Wyse desktop and mobile thin client devices. Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise is a powerful combination of Wyse's extensive experience in thin computing and the ease of use, flexibility and security of SUSE Linux Enterprise. Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise will be available pre-loaded on the Wyse thin client devices in Q4 2008.

According to a 2008 IDC report (1), the Linux thin client market will grow from nearly 1 million units in 2008 to 1.8 million units in 2011. Linux will reach a 30.5 percent share of all operating system shipments on thin client devices by 2011. The ever-increasing market penetration of Linux-based thin clients is due to their ability to lower total cost of ownership, while helping enterprises gain a more secure and flexible computing environment. Additionally, in emerging areas such as desktop virtualization, the operating system used by client devices is becoming less relevant, as long as it is an enabler of virtualization technologies, and not the limiting factor.

With Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise customers gain a host of benefits. End-users will be able to maximize productivity and minimize training costs due to the easy-to-use graphical user interface combined with the rich user experience provided only by Wyse, including cross-platform multimedia support, USB peripheral support and flexible hardware options. IT administrators will gain the flexibility of having their thin client devices automatically update and configured upon boot-up, or being able to use the enhanced scalable management capabilities of Wyse Device Manager, the industry-leading thin computing management software solution.

"With the announcement of Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise pre-loaded on our platforms, we are providing more choices and more flexibility to users who wish to deploy Linux-based thin clients," said Ricardo Antuna, vice president of Product Management and Business Development at Wyse Technology, Inc. "Since we announced our intention to collaborate with Novell last year, we have worked towards creating a solution that will enable our customers to deploy Linux without the compromises on security, scalability and performance encountered with non-standard and proprietary thin Linux distributions. Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise doesn't disappoint."

"We are pleased that Wyse has selected SUSE Linux Enterprise as the platform for their next generation Linux-based thin clients," said Carlos Montero-Luque, vice president of product management for Open Platform Solutions at Novell. "This is clear indication of the readiness of desktop Linux overall to meet the needs of enterprise customers, including lower costs, stronger security and improved manageability. All kinds of organizations are finding Linux thin client deployments to be a good fit for their hardware, security needs and budgets, and we are excited to partner with Wyse to deliver a market-leading solution."

Integration with Microsoft* Active Directory* and unparalleled driver and software support will enable enterprises to easily deploy Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise thin clients in a Windows* environment. Finally, Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise includes built-in support for Wyse's suite of virtualization software, enabling enterprises to take advantage of third-party desktop virtualization solutions such as Citrix* XenDesktop* and VMware* VDI.

"Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise further builds momentum for client virtualization by providing customers with multiple options when deploying desktop appliances within their organizations," said Raj Dhingra, group vice president and general manager, Desktop Delivery Group, Citrix Systems Inc. "The tight integration between Wyse’s suite of desktop appliances and Citrix client virtualization technologies, XenDesktop and Citrix XenApp, provides a superior experience for the user and a cost-effective solution for desktop and application delivery."

"The VMware-Wyse partnership has been extended with the release of Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise with built-in support for the VDM client. This release further helps lower the overall costs of deploying a VMware VDI solution by eliminating the need for expensive client-side hardware and operating systems," said Jerry Chen, VMware's senior director of Product Marketing for Enterprise Desktop Products.

Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise includes the GNOME* desktop, Firefox* browser, a powerful terminal emulator, as well as pre-built technologies for connecting to thin computing architectures. These architectures include the VDM client from VMware, the ICA client from Citrix, and the RDP client from Microsoft. This flexibility and support makes Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise the ideal choice for organizations whether they wish to run server-based, Web-based, or local (including legacy) applications.

Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise will be available in Q4 2008 pre-loaded Wyse X50L mobile thin client devices. For more information on Wyse Enhanced SUSE Linux Enterprise and the Wyse family of thin clients visit http://www.wyse.com/products.
About Wyse Technology
Wyse Technology is the global leader in thin computing. Wyse and its partners deliver the hardware, infrastructure software, and services that comprise thin computing, allowing people to access the information they need using the applications they want, but with better security, manageability, and at a much lower total cost of ownership than a PC. Thin computing allows CIOs and senior IT professionals to reduce costs, manage risk, and deliver access to information. Wyse partners closely with industry leaders Microsoft, Citrix, VMware, and others to achieve this objective. Wyse is headquartered in San Jose, California, with offices worldwide.

For more information, visit the Wyse website at http://www.wyse.com

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers the best engineered, most interoperable Linux platform and a portfolio of integrated IT management software that helps customers around the world reduce cost, complexity and risk. With its infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell harmoniously integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology to work as one. For more information, visit www.novell.com.

PR Contacts:

Cara Cassidy, for Wyse Technology
Big Sky Communications, Inc.
(408) 460-0241
cara@bigskypr.com

Charlotte Betterley
Novell, Inc.
(781) 464-8253
cbetterley@novell.com

(1) IDC, Worldwide Enterprise Thin Client 2008-2012 Forecast and Analysis: QView, Doc # 212588, June 2008

SUSE is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

* All brands and names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders. or call 1-800-GET-WYSE

Until the next post,
Steve

3Tera Partners with Citrix

2008-09-28T21:50:00.004Z

Who is going to buy Citrix? Maybe no one.

Press Release from 3 Tera.

3Tera Partners with Citrix
to Bring Cloud Computing into the Mainstream

(VMWorld 2008 – Las Vegas, NV – September 15, 2008) – 3Tera , Inc., the leading innovator of cloud computing technology and utility computing services, announced today a partnership with Citrix Systems, Inc. to make enterprise grade cloud computing solutions available to customers of all sizes in external hosted clouds, or as a platform that can be deployed in corporate data centers behind customer firewalls . By combining the new Citrix Cloud Center™ (C3) solution with 3Tera’s award winning AppLogic™ Cloud Computing Platform, the companies are elevating the benefits of virtualization to a new level – from physical servers and virtual machines to entire virtual data centers and applications running in the cloud. The initial focus of the collaboration between the companies will center on the new Citrix® XenServer™ Cloud Edition, a key component of the Citrix C3 product family. XenServer Cloud Edition offers the full benefits of the proven Xen-based virtualization technology enhanced with advanced cloud infrastructure capabilities specifically defined by 3Tera. 3Tera will also embed XenServer Cloud Edition in future versions of its AppLogic Cloud Computing platform.

"With the introduction of Citrix Cloud Center (C3), Citrix offers a solution to manage the information technology infrastructure of next generation data centers," said AJ Jennings, vice president of business development, Citrix Systems. "We carefully chose 3Tera to be one of our first strategic partners for C3 because of their deep experience offering a full and open cloud computing platform for running multi-tier applications in a massively scalable global cloud."
"As cloud computing moves from early adopters to mainstream users, new customers are demanding enterprise levels of reliability, support and control. Our Cloudware architecture allows us to work with Citrix to incorporate commercial, industrial strength virtualization into AppLogic," said Barry X Lynn , Chairman and CEO, 3Tera. "Adding XenServer Cloud Edition to our application packaging technology, global cloud presence, and disaster recovery appliances creates the first open cloud computing platform ready for mission critical applications."

Benefits for Customers
Cloud computing is dramatically changing the way applications will be developed, delivered and deployed by everyone from Fortune 500 enterprises to small businesses and startups. The Citrix / 3Tera partnership adds industrial strength virtualization to an already massively scalable platform. The resulting benefits are particularly important to the enterprise.

Reinforcing its industry leadership, Citrix is working with 3Tera to add powerful capabilities for data center scalability, management and portability to offer enterprise customers secure, easy to use virtual infrastructure services scalable on demand with remote management through a browser.
Offering an OS agnostic platform for cloud computing solutions and virtualized data centers leveraging 3Tera's support for all major server operating systems: Linux, Sun's Solaris and Microsoft Windows.
The proven leadership of Citrix in virtualization helps make AppLogic an even more dependable platform on which multiple operating system components can operate in the same applications.

About 3Tera, Inc.
3Tera, Inc. is the innovator of cloud computing technology and utility computing services, simplifying the deployment and scaling of Web applications. Named "Cool Vendor in IT operations, 2008" by Gartner Group and one of the "Top 20 Companies to Watch in 2008" by Linux Magazine, 3Tera offers the AppLogic™ grid operating system that enables the first true utility computing services to completely remove the cost and complexity associated with infrastructure. AppLogic converts commodity servers into scalable grids on which users can visually operate, deploy and scale transactional Web applications without any modification of code. Software-as-a-Service providers, Web 2.0 companies, enterprises and open source developers can now get new online services quickly to market by utilizing resources from commodity hosting providers on a pay-as-you-go basis, while maintaining complete control of applications including visual operation, scaling and on-demand resource provisioning. For more information, visit www.3tera.com.

# # #

3Tera, the 3Tera logo, AppLogic, Cloudware and Cloud Computing without Compromise are trademarks or registered trademarks of 3Tera, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other company names and marks belong to their respective owners.

Until the next post,

Steve

WiMax in the USA and Server Based Computing.

2008-06-29T16:02:00.025Z

Below is a portion of the AT&T web page announcing the availability of WiMax. Click here to view their web page.

What does WiMax have to do with Server Based Computing? Let us review the four components of Server Based Computing and then I am going to add a fifth component.

The first component is a Server. More likely clusters of servers that have high availability and fault tolerance. These servers host applications that are presented remotely and may also provide storage for data.

The second component is a client. It can be thin, fat, a phone, pen, Netbook, actually, almost anything. It is the presentation to the user and input device to the server.

Third, a protocol to allow servers and clients to communicate. Earlier examples are ICA and RDP. Now there are more than I can count.

Fourth, management systems that keeps tabs on the servers and clients. Who can do what, when, where and how. Ever been asked to key on you email address and a password? Now you know your are experiencing SBC.

I would like to add "Transmission Medium" as the fifth component. Connectivity has always been implicit. A benefit often sited for the early Citrix ICA protocol was its ability to operate with bandwidth as low a 20Kb. I had the opportunity to work with wireless thin clients ten years ago. It opened up new ways to place equipment on the shop floor. The distance and bandwidth limitations within 802.11b was not a problem using semi-mobile thin clients with embedded NT.

Now how we connect the server to the client and how much bandwidth is required will be more important. Today we are wanting broadband everywhere. Have broadband at home, at work and at hot spots. At home I have broadband via a cable company. Work is a corporate connection via a proxy server. The hot spots are a mix of open, closed, and browser based systems. Although many of them are client networks, generally I use the wireless network only to access the Internet.

It appears to me that SBC vendors that have the ability to pack more punch into less bandwidth will have an advantage over those vendors that are dependent on wide bandwidth to make their applications work. One ISP is banking on fiber to your door. Nice, except that sales forecasts for this year are that more laptops, Netbooks and NIDs are going to be sold than desktops. I will bet that mobility trumps big bandwidth. Leave carrying the big pipes to the "Blue Man Group"!

For the enterprises of the world this presents a new security challenge. It is possible to be on two networks at the same time. The secured enterprise network and the open wireless network can coexist on the the same device. So do you build a Faraday cage around every structure or do you switch to thin client systems that can access the enterprise system only by the way it is authorized?

There are over 350 WiMax installation world wide. The largest single installation may be the country of Pakistan by Wateen Telcom with at least 22 cites being served. In the US the list is smaller.

MetroBridge Networks serves businesses in Arizona and Greater Seattle with connections up to 2500 Mbit/s with 8000 square miles of coverage area. MetroBridge Networks 197 Cottage Ave.Sandy, UT, 84070.

DigitalBridge Communications launched the first commercially available WiMAX network in the United States in 2007 under the name BridgeMAXX and holds 2.5 GHz licenses in several regions. Current Deployments are in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Indiana, South Dakota, and Virginia. Digital Bridge Communications Corp. 44675, Cape Court Suite, 130 Ashburn, VA 20147 • Phone: 703.723.3566.

Sprint Nextel holds licences in the 2.5 GHz band covering most of the U.S. Sprint plans to build a "Nationwide advanced wireless broadband network expected to cover 100 million people in 2008." Chicago, Baltimore and Washington D.C. are named as U.S. cities scheduled to be online by the end of 2008 under the brand name Xohm.

Clearwire holds 2.5 GHz licences in several regions, and is running a test market in the Northwestern United States in preparation to deploy a nationwide network to rival the other nationwide carriers. In May 2008, Sprint Nextel announced a plan to merge their WiMax operation under the Clearwire name, with additional investment from five other technology companies.

NextWave Wireless holds licences in the 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz band. NextWave's has portfolio of licensed spectrum holdings in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Slovakia. US operations are based in California, 12670 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130, (P) 858.480.3100.

NextPhase Wireless holds a national WiMAX license and LMDS in broad coverage areas over Atlanta, Southern California (Los Angeles), Miami/Fort Lauderdale and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Wilmington, Delaware/Trenton, New Jersey. NextPhase Wireless 300 S. Harbor Blvd. Suite 500 Anaheim, CA 92805 Xanadoo operates Navini Networks-based pre-WiMax networks in the 2.5 GHz spectrum in 6 markets in the midwest.

Xanadoo operates Navini Networks-based pre-WiMax networks in the 2.5 GHz spectrum in 6 markets in the midwest.

Open Range Communications will build a 17-state WiMAX network providing wireless broadband to 500+ un-served and underserved rural American communities. 1735 Nineteenth St., Second Floor, Denver Colorado 80202, phone: 303.376.2111.

Conterra in Columbia, SC, Charlotte, NC, and nearby areas. Conterra Ultra Broadband, 2101 Rexford Road, Suite 200, East Wing Charlotte, NC 28211.

Quad-Cities Online will use 2.5 GHz spectrum in Illinois. It is currently under construction.

RazzoLink carries WiMax and pre WiMax throughout Monterey County, California on the 2.5/2.6 GHz band. Razzolink 6114 LaSalle Ave, #458 Oakland, CA 94611 800-913-RAZZ (7299), ext. 1.

The list is only going to get longer and the security challenge wider. And the productivity gets better.

Until the next post,

Steve

Digital Pen and Paper, A New Thin Client Part Two

2008-05-02T00:52:00.026Z

It has been almost a year since I posted about Anoto paper and a digital pen in this blog (click here to read). Chris had called me and wanted to show me something and it was the Anoto paper. He had connected the dots and thought the combination of Anoto enabled paper with a digital pen would make for a rich voting experience and at the same time simplify the back office operations of a board of elections. Just might increase voter's confidence in the voting system also. As with anything that is truly innovative, it a difficult to find people that can see the entire process.

Unlike the “Mariner” in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” we have stopped everyone, not limiting ourselves to wedding guest's, and asked them to try this process. In Taylor's epic poem the wedding guest is bemused by the “Mariner” and also annoyed by the man's tale. But the guest's interest turns fascination as he realizes that the mariner is describing supernatural events.

Two of the more famous passages:

Day after day, day after day,
We stuck, nor breath nor motion;
As idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean.

Water, water, everywhere,
And all the boards did shrink;
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.

Digital Pen Voting by PenVote.com is not a supernatural event, but for many it appears to be just that. We have been successful on occasions to explain the process and it is wonderful to watch someone as they experience the “Ah Ha! I get it!” There will be more.

A couple of weeks ago Jeff Bell with Business First of Columbus called and asked about the project. Jeff wrote about digital pen voting by PenVote last summer. Late in the first interview I saw Jeff's eye's roll back and he asked a impromptu strong question and Chris answered. He experienced the “Ah Ha.” Below is a follow up report published last Friday by Jeff Bell.

Have also included the report By JANE MCCARTHY with Seattle's KING 5 News further below. She interviews Ken Schneider, CEO of Adapx. He is only the second person that I have read about that recognized that Anoto enabled paper with a digital pen is a thin client/computer. "So what that means is the paper, in effect, becomes the computer and the pen is like a mobile device and it's blue-tooth enabled," said Schneider. Adapx is expanding the depth and breadth of digital paper uses to into new markets. We wish them well.

My take is similar to Schneider's in that the paper is the monitor and the pen is a keyboard. It is the combination of the appearance of low tech with the really easy use of high tech that makes this solution elegant, or is it supernatural?

Friday, April 25, 2008

Election tech startups find common ground
Business First of Columbus by Jeff Bell Business First

Two startup companies in Columbus are working together to see if they can make digital pen-and-paper technology a common tool in Ohio petition drives and elections.

Ohio Petition Co. will invest $50,000 in digital pen hardware, software and other equipment while drawing on PenVote's expertise to deploy the technology on voter-registration forms and petitions in voter signature campaigns, said Ian James, an Ohio Petition principal.

That investment will help PenVote get the certification it needs from Anoto Group AB, a Swedish company that controls the technology for the digital pen-and-paper system, said PenVote co-founder Chris Wilson.

"For us, the funding issue has been the biggest challenge," said Wilson, a former Franklin County elections official who launched PenVote last year with business associate Steve Hilsman.

The first big test of the technology could come as early as May, James said, when the Ohioans for Healthy Families Coalition could begin collecting signatures to place a paid-sick-leave proposal on the statewide ballot in November.

James said he is optimistic his company will land a contract to help collect the 120,683 valid signatures needed to put the issue on the ballot. He worked last year with sick-leave mandate proponents on their statewide drive.

PenVote has helped develop a digital pen-and-paper voter registration form that would be used in the sick-leave signature drive and other petition projects to be taken on by Ohio Petition Co. It fits well with a process the company has developed to provide a line-by-line review of all signatures within 72 hours.

Winning over officials

In a nutshell, digital paper contains thousands of tiny dots that are read by a digital pen. The pen writes in ink and contains a small sensor that records the locations of the pen strokes on the paper. The pen is placed into a cradle, and the data on it is downloaded to a computer for review.

James and Wilson connected shortly after James, Julie Heffelfinger, Chris Kvinta and Stephen Letourneau launched Ohio Petition Co. in January.

Digital pen technology also has potential beyond the elections field, James said. For example, it could it be used to record responses to consumer surveys or register participants at large events. That's fine with Wilson, but he said his focus will remain on election applications.

Like other states, Ohio is moving back to paper ballots because of studies that challenge the security of electronic voting systems. Wilson said PenVote's digital pen-and-paper technology would provide a reliable, cost-effective way to record votes on paper ballots, but he has yet to win over the Ohio Secretary of State's office, which oversees elections in the state.

"We know it will be a long-term battle," Wilson said. "There are pockets of interest around, but the dam hasn't opened for us yet."

Until it does, PenVote will concentrate on the development of voter registration and petition forms as well as a digital pen-and-paper poll book it tested last November in Franklin County. In a field trial at a precinct in New Albany during the November general election, PenVote took existing paper poll books - the ones signed by voters upon arriving at their polling place - and printed them on dot-enabling digital paper. Voters signed the books with a digital pen, which was docked at the end of the voting day. At that point, the digital pen equipment instantly applied the poll-book information to Franklin County's voter registration database.

Wilson said the digital pen technology eliminated the time-consuming and error-prone manual process in which electronic wands read and scan in the data. In a letter to Wilson after the election, Franklin County Board of Elections Director Matt Damschroder said the field test was "exceptionally successful."

614-220-5456 | jabell@bizjournals.com

And Jane McCarthy with Seattle's KING 5 News

Seattle company develops digital pen and paper
08:53 AM PDT on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

By JANE MCCARTHY / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Over the years, there has been a lot of talk about computers taking the place of good old-fashioned pen and paper. Now a Seattle company is merging the two.

The company is called Adapx (pronounced "adapts"); a prominent technology research company recently named them among the 2008 cool vendors in emerging technology.

From firefighters positioning crews to battle back flames in Southern California to the troops gathering intelligence in Iraq, many are still charting their next moves on a map.

Now, many of them are doing that with a new digital pen from Adapx.

"A digital pen is a much simpler thing for a soldier to carry on the ground than a laptop," said Ken Schneider, CEO of Adapx.

Their capturx software along with a digital pen allows people to print a document off of any normal printer and digitally enable that paper.

"So what that means is the paper, in effect, becomes the computer and the pen is like a mobile device and it's blue-tooth enabled," said Schneider.

As you write, all the information is collected in the digital pen. When you dock the pen in a computer, all the information appears on a screen. Map data that has historically taken days, even months, to update is now done in seconds. The system can also download handwriting and even doodling.

If you ask the people at Adapx, all this talk about pen and paper falling out of favor is a fallacy.

"In many respects, we don't think society has gotten away from the pen at all," said Schneider.

The mapping technology has only been available for a few months and the company now has clients worldwide.

Until the next post,

Steve

Terminal Server and Asus Eee PC

2008-04-13T23:20:00.012Z

Have been thinking about the UMPC Asus Eee PC and what would compel me to buy it. My needs are access to the internet, Skype video conference and able to remotely manage a Mircosoft Terminal Server. Not a big list. Should be doable.

Went to a giant PC store and found the Asus Eee counter. There were 3 models leashed to the counter and rightly so, they are that small. An easy fit into a coat pocket and out the door.

Unfortunately the sales staff knew almost nothing about the product. Most could not name the software vendor (Xandros) and all said you could install XP if you had a copy. I suspect none of them read the installation instructions to install XP. I would not do it.

Not one knew if you could upload tsclient to the device. You can I found out later. But I was surprised that the 30 day money back guarantee had been shortened to 7 days and a 15% restocking fee applied. What? The sales person said they are getting way to many returns so they went to a more stringent return policy to help keep people from buying the device. Brilliant!!!

Fortunately, standing behind me was a customer that had several of these devices. He confirmed that it was easy to switch to a full desktop version of Xandros. I decided that if I could get the Xandros standard desktop then I could get to a repository with rdesktop and tsclient. We then discovered that rdesktop was actually already in the full distribution, just not in the Easy Mode. Alright, take the plunge and out the door I go with the little package in hand.

Unpacked the device, inserted the battery, plugged in the power cable and pressed the ON button. Answered a couple of questions and it was good to go. Firefox and Skype where already available so it was just matter of getting rdesktop and tsclient running.

First thing to do was to enable the Xandros full desktop. Even an old Windows guy like me found it very easy. Here is link to the instructions.

http://code.google.com/p/pimpmyeee/wiki/HowTo

The script once ran enables toggling (think dual boot) between the Eee presentation

“Easy Mode” and the full Xandros desktop. And sure enough there was rdesktop in the full desktop menu system. But it would not connect to my 2003 terminal server. Was it down? Jumped on to a machine with a beta version of Ubuntu and used tsclient to get right in. It was working. Now what? Could I load up tsclient? Not in the Eee repository. Xandros is a fork off of Debian. Using non Xandros repositories just might break something. Was warned that it was possible to “brick” the Eee. Not an option for me.

Could I load Ubuntu? After very little searching the answer is yes but the wireless component needs to be “tweaked”. More research and found eeebuntu and eeexubuntu. Already had the Eee drivers installed and also had “Live” disks. Downloaded and burned the ISOs.

The live DVD version of eeebuntu worked well. But after the install, both the wireless and wired network connections failed to initialize. The Eee does come with DVD rescue disk. Re-imaged the 4 gig drive. Then tried eeexububtu live CD, but I could not get a wireless connection and the web cam did not work. Back to square one.

After enabling the full desktop version with the pimpmyeee script I noticed that another option was to load additional Xandros repositories. Now at the point that I

know how to re-image the drive so why not? Ran the script again and followed the instructions.

Reloaded package manager and searched for tsclient. BINGO! Select apply and YES I was good to go or was I? The application is to large to fit on the 800 X 480 screen. Oh my! Close but not there, yet. The little Eee has a trick up its sleeve. Press the Alt key and hold down the left side of the mouse bar.

The four arrow icon shows up on the screen and you can drag the dialog box all over the place. Eureka!

Now I can connect to my Terminal Server. Select full screen mode and the entire server desktop appears on my little Eee screen.

Nice.

Until the next post,

Steve

First Comparison of MS Terminal Services 2008 and Citrix XenApps

2008-03-23T16:10:00.022Z

This is the first published comparison of Microsoft Terminal Services 2008 with Citrix Xen Apps. Have also added to the bottom of the post, the conclusion of a white paper about the Microsoft in house implementation of Terminal Services 2008. The white paper in its entirety may be viewed by clicking the linked white paper title.

Rolling Review: Citrix XenApp Vs. Windows 2008 Terminal Services

The first pit stop in our Windows 2008 Server Rolling Review finds Microsoft walking a fine line on presentation virtualization.

By Randy George
InformationWeek
March 22, 2008 12:01 AM (From the March 24, 2008 issue)

Windows Server 2008's eagerly awaited Terminal Services is a respectable presentation virtualization alternative for smaller shops, but for large enterprises,Citrix Systems (NSDQ: CTXS) still reigns supreme. That's the--not unexpected--finding of the first installment in our ongoing Windows Server 2008 Rolling Review. From a product-positioning perspective,Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is walking a fine line, responding to calls for more core Terminal Services functionality in Windows Server, yet keeping its hands mostly off the large enterprises that comprise Citrix's core audience.

While we found many enhancements in Windows 2008 Terminal Services, including better session and print driver management, load balancing, and single sign-on, there are three major functionality additions that companies weighing the choice of Microsoft's versus Citrix's presentation virtualization must consider: Terminal Services RemoteApp, Gateway, and Web Access.

In the past, Microsoft has gotten beat up pretty regularly for the dearth of enterprise-level thin-client functionality in Terminal Services 2003, especially when compared with Citrix's offerings. From a strict functionality standpoint, the criticism was warranted. But functionality doesn't tell the whole story. For every Citrix XenApp (formerly Presentation Server) license sold, Microsoft requires purchase of not only a desktop client access license (CAL), but also a Terminal Services CAL.

In addition, Citrix is one of just a handful of companies with access to the Windows Server OS source code. Microsoft is making millions on CAL licensing no matter which direction Windows shops choose to go, and given that, there's little motivation to go after Citrix in head-to-head competition.

The company's official stance: "Microsoft and Citrix continue to be strong partners; this perception [of competition] arises with each new release of Windows Server/Terminal Services," says Alex Balcanquall, Terminal Services product manager. "Together, over the years, we have continued to deliver great joint solutions to our mutual customers. Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services is about reaching out to net new customers, those that aren't using presentation virtualization today.

PUT TO THE TEST

We built a test bed that would reflect a small organization within our Boston Real-World Partner Labs, deploying a single dual-processor Hewlett-Packard DL 360 server with 4 GB of RAM to act as our core presentation server. Installation of Terminal Services was a snap; it can be added as simply another server role in a full OS installation or Server Core build. We tested Terminal Services RemoteApp by deploying a virtualized version of Microsoft Outlook to a user with a huge Exchange mailbox. Our client was a Windows XP SP2 box.

One thing we love about Terminal Services compared with Citrix XenApp is Microsoft's method for placing an application desktop shortcut. In XenApp, IT must first deploy the full desktop client, run Citrix Neighborhood, and create a connection to the application; only then can the desktop shortcut be created. In Terminal Services 2008, a RemoteApp wizard guided us through the process of publishing our application.

After selecting the app, we were instructed to create an MSI or EXE file, which can be deployed to many clients simultaneously. RemoteApp silently installed all the supporting files and shortcuts needed. However, when we tried to run our application for the first time on our Windows XP SP2 box, we ran into our first caveat emptor moment: You need to install RDP 6.1 before having employees attempt to connect to a Terminal Services 2008 server. If you're a Vista shop, of course, you're all set.

After getting the RDP issue resolved, we ran into an annoying caveat emptor No. 2 in the area of pass-through authentication. In Citrix XenApp, single sign-on just works. It works in Terminal Services 2008, too ... if you have Vista deployed. See a pattern here?

Still, despite the need to manually log on to our terminal session, performance compared quite well with a similar Citrix session, all system and network latency conditions being equal.

We then shifted gears to WebAccess, which was again very easy to configure. One feature of WebAccess we liked is its ability to provide a means to remotely link to any server in the network that can accept a remote desktop session. While this feature may be of limited value for end users, it's certainly helpful for admins who want to perform server maintenance from a variety of PCs. However, there are a couple of gotchas.

First, you will, again, need to have RDP 6.1 installed before transporting yourself to a remote system, so don't count on troubleshooting end users from PCs that aren't running Vista or XP SP3. The other, more significant, drawback is the inability to customize applications by user or group security--you either present an application through WebAccess, or you don't. This is a major distinguishing factor between Terminal Services and Citrix's Web services, and we can only surmise that leaving out customization was a strategically placed point of demarcation by Microsoft. Out of the box, Citrix XenApp provides a very simple methodology for customizing applications presented to users.

Finally, we set our sights on Terminal Services Gateway, which is essentially an SSL VPN that enables organizations to securely serve corporate applications over the public Internet. Configuration was somewhat cumbersome, and again you'll need RDP 6.1 to make Gateway work. But once the service was fully configured, we were impressed with how well it performed. There's no doubt that Citrix provides a more scalable and mature SSL service for presentation virtualization, but you'll need to shell out some extra bucks for a Citrix Access Gateway license to get that functionality. In contrast, Gateway is packaged into the core Terminal Services offering.

For small to midsize enterprises with simple presentation virtualization needs, Terminal Services will definitely fill the bill. But organizations that must scale to thousands of users will need the compression, acceleration, load balancing, and management options that only XenApp provides. According to Citrix, a new version of XenApp that will build on improvements within Terminal Services 2008 will be released later this year.

How MSIT Uses Terminal Services as a Scalable Remote Access Solution
Deploying Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services at Microsoft
Technical White Paper

Published: February 27, 2008

Conclusion

The Terminal Services deployment team intended the Terminal Services deployment to act as a test environment to determine the overall scalability and stability of Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services in a large enterprise. Additionally, the team intended this worldwide deployment to generate feedback with regard to features and functionality to include in the Terminal Services program.

The TS Gateway concept proved to be a popular and scalable remote access solution, enabling users to access the corporate network at Microsoft from virtually any location worldwide. Personnel could use this feature to access important files and resources at Microsoft from locations from which they were unable to do so previously. Additionally, the speed of connecting to resources on the internal network improved to such an extent that users preferred the TS Gateway farm over that of the typical remote access VPN connection.

By using fast and easy-to-access terminal server farms, the team was able to achieve a goal of increasing the security of sensitive internal resources such as internal documents and worksheets.

Although this pilot project was deployed as a test environment, the deployment was so successful, and the user response was so positive, that the Terminal Services pilot did not end. Instead, the whole environment was integrated into the production environment at Microsoft IT. This change means that the worldwide Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services deployment is now handled in the same manner as a typical production environment at Microsoft.

Until the next post,

Steve

Mobile Thin Clients and UMPCs or are they Very Small Laptops

2008-03-12T18:54:00.034Z

It is being reported that ASUS Computer sold about 350,000 EEE laptops in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Click here for ASUS update prediction as of 13 March 2008. Try 3.8 million Eee PCs.

Since then Everex has entered the market with “Cloudbook”, and HCL with “MiLeap”. NorhTec annonuced it will enter the market next month. These devices are minimalist devices designed to access the Internet and provide some local execution of applications. They fall between small a laptop and hand held computer. Not sure if they meet the criteria for UMPC. Some will argue that they are too big. This may be a new class of devices. Maybe just a Very Mobile Laptop that is too small for some and too big for UMPC devotees.

Pictured right is the HCL MiLeap.

Under 1 kg, with a 7” screen and keyboards that you can use with more than 2 fingers, they are the right size for me. Battery life starting at 3 hours and going up to eight hours is more than enough for most users.

But I like the ability to load in RDesktop or RDP and connect to terminal services. Managed TS on Server 2003 using a cell phone. At best it worked, but barely. The screen had to be divided into 5 windows. Not friendly at all. With a resolution of 800 x 480 on these devices the situation improves.

Pictured left is Everex CloudBook.

Pictured to the right is ASUS EEE.

But that is not the subject of this post. It is Laptop Thin Clients. Big Screens and no storage on inside. Must connect to a server to provide functionally. That is the whole purpose of this type of device.

Pictured left is the NorhTec "Gecko".

Below is an article about mobile thin clients. I think there is much room for both Thin Client laptops and the less than 1 kg convergence small laptop or UMPC. In fact, there may be more choices in this space in the very near future. Choice is good.

From Techworld:

January 28, 08
Will we really use mobile thin clients?
Work on the move, but keep the data in the office?

By Peter Judge, Techworld:

When yet another laptop goes missing, along with a ton of sensitive data, IT managers might wonder if there's any way to keep that data off the laptop in the first place. Could that need be pressing enough to make the idea of mobile thin clients work?

On the face of it, the idea of a mobile thin client is bizarre. Imagine a laptop you can't use without a connection back to your office. You wouldn't be able to work on the plane, and you’d lose your connection when your train went into a tunnel!

But the idea has had several incarnations, and shows no sign of going away. HP, who launched a laptop thin client this week, says there are reasons why the time may have finally arrived for laptops that don't work on their own.
Who's tried it?

Thin clients as a while haven't been very visible, but they have been gaining ground. On desktops, they have been taking the place of old-style dumb terminals; like them, they are plugged in and work unnoticed, displaying work that is effectively carried out on remote servers.

As workers become more mobile, it makes sense that some sort of mobile thin client could be useful. Especially as people are carrying around large quantities of sensitive data on laptops - and when those laptops are stolen, so is the data.

HP's 6720t (pictured left) isn't the first mobile thin client. It comes from HP's recent acquisition Neoware, which had itself launched one, two years ago. Wyse, the undisputed leader in thin clients till the HP-Neoware merger, launched one in 2007.

In May 2007, the concept nearly got a boost from a well-known name in mobile computing. Palm announced the Foleo - a thin client of sorts, but more accurately a client-of-a-client, that would act as a big keyboard and screen for a smartphone.

The Foleo was delayed, and then finally canned in September. Palm decided it simply couldn't sell the concept to its consumer customers, especially as the cost would be similar to that of a "full" laptop.

HP thinks it's not going to sidestep the same problem, for two reasons. Firstly, this laptop is going to be much more like a "real" laptop, apart from the local storage. It will use the same accessories, port-replicators batteries and optical drives as HP's normal laptops. "There's no trade-off from the customer point of view," says Andrew Gee, sales manager for HP remote client solutions.

It also runs a familiar-looking Embedded XP - which Gee is pleased to report - comes from a different part of Microsoft to the division that will be axing the regular Windows XP later this year.

Secondly, it's not going to be used by people who would normally get a laptop. "It enables businesses to deliver IT to users who historically haven't had it," says Gee, who suggests thin clients might be used by staff on the road in VANs, giving them the ability to update office systems more effectively than using a handheld terminal.
Practical issues

Alongside these issues, two practical points may come to the aid of the mobile thin client. Firstly, the price is better than one might have feared. The first wave of wired thin clients, in the 1990s, was scuppered because they were promoted on the basis of saving money over expensive PCs - but then turned out to be more expensive than those PCs.

This time round, all thin clients are sold on the basis of lifetime costs, so even though the client may not be vastly cheaper than a PC, it will save money be outliving any PC, since no hardware upgrades will be required. "It's about total cost of ownership," says Gee. "If you're going out there trying to reduce acquisition cost, that's not the right way to go about it. This has no moving parts, memory and flash disk is upgradeable. It's a piece of glass."

This sort of emphasis on lifecycle costs is usually a preamble for a high purchase price - but the HP laptop thin client turns out to be reasonably priced - with an entry price of $725 - and the one we found online costs $837.89.

Secondly, connections are much easier than they used to be, so mobile working on a thin client is more practical, says Gee. The 6720t includes both Wi-Fi and an Ethernet socket, as well as a card slot for a 3G modem. Some of Gee's Neoware/HP colleagues have already worked a full day on a 6720t, using 3G and GPRS while travelling from Manchester to London on the train, then working in offices, plugging in a spare battery and working on the way back.

"If we had tried to launch mobile thin clients three or four years ago, it would have been difficult for the market to accept," says Gee. "Now, network connnectivity is more prevalent and becoming cheaper. If you are using an efficient server-based protocol, even GPRS is quick enough for email and diary."

The bigger picture

Behind all this, there is a possibility that we are all moving towards a more thin-client mentality. People are using Google and Hotmail in order to be able to work on any terminal, and the mobile versions of services like Google mail bring thin client working into the mobile world. On some handsets, mobile Google mail is a really usable thin computing service, where messages are
manipulated remotely.

Craig Mathias has suggested that phones could be mobile thin clients.

Pictured right is the DevonIT Safebook.

However, on laptops, the concept may need tweaking to match the reality. "It's a matter of thin client computing, not a thin client computer - as always," says analyst Clive Longbottom of QuoCirca. "Yes, too much information is being held locally on clients, but some of this is necessary. The key is that some of it is necessary, not all of it - and yet the user carries it all around 'just in case'."

Longbottom suggests that a really useful mobile thin client would sort data out into two kinds: "Use thin client computing to give access to the information that is only touched once in a while, use the device to store - encrypted and digitally controlled for lifecycle - that information that is required on a more continuous basis."

That will take a bit of thought - but the idea is simple, and maybe IT managers at places like the MoD could give it some thought.

Until the next post,

Steve

FREE Computer-as-a-Service

2008-03-08T16:32:00.012Z

Yes!!! FREE!!! Get a little advertising in an ad box on the right side of the presentation and pay only 9.95 USD for shipping.

Everyone knew that someday computers would be free. We just did not know what day. Got a press release in the email advising me today is the day to get a free computer. The computer is in the cloud and that is good for me. Ordered one and will let you know about my experience with Screen PC and Nimbus Cloud Computing.

Norwalk, CT (PRWEB) March 6, 2008 -- Experienced entrepreneurs Vern Kennedy, John Crowley and Vijay Das created ScreenPC, Inc. to tackle the problem of costs and complexity in home computers. ScreenPC, Inc., funded by Columbia Ventures Corporation, today launches its nimbus cloud computer as a monthly subscription service with both paid and free versions.

Mr. Kennedy left Broadview Networks in 2005, a company he founded in 1996 as the first local telephone competitor in New York City and built up to $200-plus million in revenue at the time of his departure. During his tenure at Broadview Networks, Vern served as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board.

Forced to field a few calls a day from frustrated friends who needed help with their computers, Vern wondered if there was a better way. An electrical engineer from Princeton, Vern immediately began to tinker with an idea for a new way to look at how computers are delivered to home users. "If the costly and complicated parts of a computer could be hosted in a central data center that was managed by experts and only a screen was delivered to a home user, then things would be a lot simpler and less expensive for everyone involved. I wanted to make this happen."

There was an immediate challenge. No cost-effective device existed to drive the screen at the home. Existing thin clients would have been a likely starting point but were still far too expensive. "We had to build our own from scratch. Most thin clients are really just an ordinary PC with components removed. Our ultra-thin client was designed from the ground up to focus just on screen and USB management."

Vern assembled a team to tackle the technical and business challenges ahead in creating a new home computer. He enlisted Dr. John Crowley, who had designed the highly regarded back office system at Broadview Networks, to be the Chief Technology Officer. He contacted Vijay Das, who had been responsible for the design and commercialization of new products at Broadview Networks, to be the Chief Marketing Officer.

Dr. Crowley is very pleased with today's launch. "Its been quite an adventure in rethinking and redesigning just about every aspect of the computer and it's great to have the service out today. As someone who has been involved in personal computers for over 25 years as I have, it's amazing how radical a development this company is. We've completely changed the hardware and software of home computing."

Vijay Das thinks that consumers will appreciate the options that a truly affordable computer make possible. New users need not be afraid of the cost or complexity. And if a home already has one or more computers, the nimbus cloud computer is a way you can add a few more in convenient locations. "The nimbus cloud computer represents a complete re-imagination of what home computing can be. But today is just the beginning. We will be announcing new services that we will deliver through the nimbus cloud computer platform are truly unique. Stay tuned!"

The nimbus cloud computer service is available today on the web: www.nimbuscc.com.
Vijay Das
ScreenPC, Inc.
203-842-0460 604

Of course there is the fine print. From the Nimbus website i have included theirs.

Looking for small print!?

You've come to the right place! Its no big deal really but feel free to dig in. Full Terms of Service apply. You will need a broadband connection of at least 768 kbps through dsl, cable or fiber. Service is month-to-month. You may cancel your service with us at any time. Monitor not included. Just about any VGA monitor you have will work with the nimbus. If you don't have one, we can get one real cheap for you so check what we have when you place order. Not all USB devices supported. We maintain a list of USB devices and monitors on our supported hardware page. The nimbus device is yours to use for as long as you are a customer and you will not be charged separately for it. But, these little puppies cost us real cash to make. If you cancel your service and you don’t want to return it, thats fine, just pay us $50 and its yours (thats why we put a $50 hold on your credit card). If you are a free customer and you end up not using the device, then we will ask you to return it as well. There are lots of folks waiting in line and we want our nimbus to go to folks who will use it. Free customers, you will have an Ad Panel.

Until the next post,

Steve

Shaklee Cleans Up with SAAS

2008-03-02T22:54:00.009Z

The eWeek.com article by Debra Donston is one of the best SAAS articles i have read. The article covers many of the topics that decision makers must evaluate before moving to SAAS. Writers are going to be writing books about how far and how fast the pendulum swings back to one of the new Server Based Computing solutions.

With more choices for IT managers it is now how much of which solution is right for them to achieve their organization's objectives. SAAS is just one of many options in the IT payoff matrix.

Click here to go to the Debra's eWeek.com article or continue to read below.

Shaklee Cleans Up with SAAS
By Debra Donston
2008-03-02

Shaklee looks to the cloud to effectively align IT with business requirements.

Shaklee was green before green was cool. Now the company is applying that forward-thinking philosophy to SAAS.

Shaklee, based in Pleasanton, Calif., has been around for more than 50 years. What started with a vitamin formulation developed by Dr. Forrest Shaklee has evolved into a broad spectrum of all-natural cleaning, nutritional and skin-care products that have recently won accolades from no less than Oprah Winfrey and nods in Time, Woman’s Day and In Style, among many other magazines.

This is something of a resurgence for the company, which was taken private almost four years ago by Roger Barnett (now the company’s chairman and CEO) and private equity organizations. In 1982, Shaklee was a Fortune 500 company, but between then and 2004, when the company was acquired, Shaklee had been shrinking, according to the company’s CIO, Ken Harris.

Shaklee’s new owners brought in a management team to turn the company around, including Harris, who was formerly CIO of companies such as Gap, Nike and PepsiCo.

One key objective for the company’s new management was to make Shaklee relevant to a new generation of consumers, as well as to a new generation of independent sales representatives—the major channel through which Shaklee products are sold.

“When the new management came on, they really were looking to turn the company around in a number of different ways,” Harris said. “I would say one of the most important things was to appeal to a younger demographic—to reach out to a younger demographic—in addition to the demo they had, which is an older generation. What we were looking to do was make sure that the current generation was joining on as reps as well as our existing reps. That meant, frankly, investing in a lot of new technologies.”

The challenge was that Shaklee had under-invested for a number of years in its infrastructure. “Most of the systems were COBOL- or mainframe-based or client/server technologies coming out of the ’80s,” Harris said. “The technology here was very, very dated.”

In addition, Shaklee is significantly smaller than other companies Harris has worked for. This meant Harris’ budget was relatively smaller, but the breadth of applications he needed to implement wasn’t.

“[At Shaklee,] we had the basic ERP [enterprise resource planning], finance systems, supply chain systems and HR [human resources] systems that we needed to support,” he said. “We had a very active Web community that we needed to support. We had e-commerce. We had the full expanse. We didn’t have maybe the same number of transactions, but the same kind of breadth.”

Harris needed to set some priorities and find a way to be more efficient in his spend of IT tech dollars.

The first thing he did was build a map of the company, aligning business activities with the technologies underlying them.

“I created a picture of the business, using English words or business terms—not a lot of tech-speak,” Harris said. “I used it to talk with the businesspeople about the key things we do to run this business. And then I mapped the techs we have that supported these business activities and color-coded them red, yellow or green for the state, or the condition, of the technologies.”

Anything that was red, for example, had a higher priority than any technologies that were green.

This document gave Shaklee’s IT department a good understanding of the business and its priorities, and it communicated to the business side in a clear manner what the state of each technology was.

“[The document] enabled us then to put forth a road map for the rest of the business—where we needed to make investments, how and when,” Harris said. “It was kind of that process that we used to get alignment.”

At the same time, Harris came up with a number of technology architecture principles. One of them was that, wherever possible, the company would leverage new technologies that enabled faster time to market, a reduction in the amount of infrastructure that needed to be built and maintained, and a reduction in costs.

Fortuitously, Harris said, at the same time, software-as-a-service technologies and the SAAS marketplace were starting to take off.

Harris had worked with SAAS applications, including Salesforce.com, before he came to Shaklee. He was hopeful that leveraging the SAAS model would help him update aging applications quickly and relatively inexpensively.

“We had our map of the entire business spectrum, and what we said was that every application that we need to look at replacing, we’re going to try to replace with a SAAS-based solution, including strategic applications,” Harris said. “We look at all the potential apps, but it’s usually the case that a SAAS vendor can deliver faster, cheaper and better than a traditional vendor.”

The SAAS model is gaining steam. In a July 2007 survey conducted by eWeek sister publication CIO Insight, 27 percent of respondents said their companies’ IT architectures were fundamentally based on SAAS, while 73 percent said they planned to expand their use of SAAS applications.

While Harris and his team were aware of SAAS’ benefits, they were not without initial trepidation.

“I clearly had a number of concerns, and my business partners had additional concerns—or the same concerns more intensely,” Harris said. “In my experience, the economics of SAAS are better than the economics of buying technology, implementing it yourself, hosting it yourself, etc., but you can’t just walk willy-nilly into SAAS and expect that it’s going to work, because it won’t.”

Service levels and security were two major concerns, he said.

“If I have some other company running key technologies of mine, if there’s a problem in the middle of the night, are they going to respond to it the same way we would? … What if they have access to all my data? Or, if my data is on their systems, what if somebody else accesses it? Does it expand the data risk, the security risk?”

Other concerns included business viability and integration.

“What if they go out of business tomorrow? What if they start running into economic problems and they shortchange their service as a result? … How easy is it going to be to get third parties to integrate all of our systems?”

In the end, Harris determined that three of those four main concerns—service levels, business viability and integration—could be taken care of with good contractual arrangements. The fourth—security—could be resolved through technology, such as encryption. Harris added that any vendor must demonstrate that its offerings can enable Shaklee to adhere to PCI (Payment Card Industry) and other regulations, further ensuring that security standards are being met.

That said, Shaklee initially took SAAS baby steps: “When we elected to go with software as a service, we said, ‘We’re not going to jump in the water; we’re going to put our toe in first and make sure the water’s not freezing cold.’”

Shaklee’s first SAAS venture was a simple address verification application from StrikeIron. The application was brought in to help Shaklee clean up the addresses in its database and was also intended as a SAAS proof of concept.

“We have over 750,000 members—people who buy our products, and we ship a lot of products,” Harris said. “We had a number of addresses in our database that were just, frankly, wrong, so things got shipped to the wrong places. So we implemented an address verification module for one of the things that we were doing, across all the systems that were collecting addresses.”

Harris said it took about 60 days—and very little cost—to implement the StrikeIron service.

That SAAS success led to relationships with two other SAAS vendors: RightNow and Visual Sciences.

Shaklee is using RightNow’s technology for all its customer interface applications, mass-mail marketing, call centers, telephone order entry and Web knowledge content capabilities. “Basically, the front-end picture to our customers,” Harris said.

The company is using the Visual Sciences service, now owned by Omniture, for all its Web analytics, Web search and, most recently, Web marketing presentations. “It’s a fully hosted service, so when you do Web search, you end up getting a page that looks just like Shaklee’s Web site; it just happens not to be Shaklee’s technology,” Harris said.

Shaklee then waded more deeply into the SAAS pool by betting its data on the model.

“At the core of any business map, in my opinion, is the data—the database and the data warehouse—because all the apps end up using and sharing the data,” said Harris.

Shaklee implemented a fully hosted data warehouse solution from PivotLink, so “at core, our architecture and infrastructure are on a SAAS platform,” he said.

It took less than 120 days to implement the PivotLink application, for “low six figures,” Harris said. On-premises data warehouses he’s implemented in the past have each taken up to two years—with seven-figure price tags—to implement. “[With PivotLink,] we didn’t have to buy any hardware; we didn’t have to buy any software. We had to negotiate certainly service levels, but we didn’t have to build up the expertise and the technology,” he said.

Shaklee is also using the Lenos Software on-demand solution for event and convention management, and Virtela’s management service for Shaklee’s global network. (“They not only provide the network, but they also manage it, down to the router,” Harris said.)

As for future projects in the cloud, Shaklee is evaluating the Workday service for its HR and payroll activities.

HR and CRM (customer relationship management) topped the list of enterprise applications licensed in the SAAS model, according to the CIO Insight research, with 36 percent of respondents saying they were using a hosted CRM solution and 36 percent saying they were using a hosted HR solution. Billing/
accounts payable, collaboration and e-commerce were next on the list, with 24, 22 and 21 percent of respondents, respectively, saying they were using such hosted solutions.

Different role for IT

Harris said SAAS really changes the job of IT.

For one thing, the model places a greater burden on getting vendor contracts right—having the right relationship and managing the relationship on an ongoing basis, he said.

“You go back to your businesspeople and say, ‘What are the requirements for a service-level agreement?’ You don’t always do that internally,” Harris said. “You put into the contract detailed service-level specs, and you put around them incentives and consequences. Usually the metrics need to be uptime, response time, severity Level 1 problem resolution and disaster recovery time.”

In addition, working with a SAAS provider shifts the burden of integration.

“If you work the relationship so that you don’t pay until you’re using the service, now the SAAS provider has an equal share—if not a greater share—in making sure that software gets up and running and works,” Harris said. “They don’t get any money until it does, and that means they have to be involved in solving the integration problem.”

Harris added that it’s important to build an exit strategy into the contract if the relationship with a vendor does not work out or if the vendor folds.

“We’ve had a couple of arrangements that didn’t work out as intended, so, as part of our negotiation process, we negotiate some kind of out in case it doesn’t work,” he said. “With one of our SAAS relationships, we negotiated the out to take over the technology and run it internally. And, in that particular situation, we ended up doing that.”

As with any vendor, Harris said, it’s important to conduct reference checks before beginning a relationship with a SAAS provider.

He added that not all vendors that have SAAS offerings can be good SAAS vendors.

“It’s not just about having a solution that can be applied or delivered over the Web; it also requires a major change in culture from what tech providers have done in the past,” he said. “To be a good SAAS vendor, you have to have a model that says, ‘I never walk away from my customers. I have to provide a service, and I have to provide a standard of performance.’ Not all companies understand that because it hasn’t been in their genetic makeup.”

Green benefits

So, with Shaklee’s heritage—including the distinction of being the first company in the world to totally offset its CO2 emissions and be certified as Climate Neutral—were SAAS’ power-
saving advantages any factor in the move to the cloud model?

In a way.

“It’s interesting,” Harris said. “Our first product, in the 1950s, was the first totally natural cleaning product, and all of our products since then have been all-natural. We didn’t go to SAAS because of green—I wish I could tell you otherwise—it only turned out that SAAS is more green because I’m not using nearly as much energy. I’m leveraging the capability of aggregation, which definitely has a positive impact.

“It happens to coincide with our original direction and mission, but it’s coincidental, not causal. But that’s part of the reason it was easier to sell.”

Maybe in the next week or so we might here that Microsoft maybe moving into this space. Just maybe?

Until the next post,

Steve

Termianl Services In MS Server 2008

2008-02-15T05:53:00.012Z

Dennis Chung, a Singapore based Microsoft MVP posted a success story about an early adapter of Terminal Services using MS Server 2008. With permission from Dennis, have reposted his commentary. Click here to visit Dennis Chung's Live Site.

ITC Solutions, uses and recommends Terminal Services

Hey, Lunar New Year holidays has just passed, and I took a much deserved break. Well, at least that’s what I think. Alright, back to work. There are so many things I am working with right now. Windows 2008, SQL 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 are products that Microsoft is launching real soon. Saw an email internally mentioning T-16. In another 16 days, Microsoft, we will launch the 3 products... Wow… time flies. In Singapore, we are launching on the 26th Mar 2008.

Anyway, I am not blogging about this launch. Let me put some attention to an IT Pro. He is William Lam, Technical Manager of ITC Solutions. He provides infrastructure advice and consultancy services to many SMBs in Singapore. A huge majority of his customers uses the Windows platform. In a bid to expand their businesses, including his own, he provides remote connectivity infrastructures. He provides the services to source and implement the solutions for his customers.

Using the RC versions of Windows Server 2008, he implemented Terminal Server. He was able to implement Terminal Services Remote. Using a HP Proliant DL380G5 Server (Intel Xeon Dual-Core CPU, 4GB of ram), he provided a remote application infrastructure providing MS Office 2003, Adobe Reader Version 8 and several custom applications. To make the solution more secure, he placed the server behind an ISA2006 firewall and loaded up Terminal Services Gateway. In combination, he offered his customers and users Terminal Services Web Access.

He used Vista with SP1 and Windows XP with SP3, to remotely connect in from anywhere on the Internet through HTTPS. Through a browser, he accesses the TS Web Access page and launched the offered applications. Not only was the access smooth, it was hassle free. No longer do users have to figure out which is the real desktop and which is a terminal services desktop. ;-) No data handled by the Remote applications launched, ever leaves the corporate network, which improves security.

William, his users and customers are so impressed with the functionality and performance of Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008, they plan to extend their tests and roll out TS RemoteApp with their other custom applications such as Supply chain management software and ERP software. So impressed are they that they unanimously believe that it is the perfect solution to their remote access requirements. Through the Terminal Services deployed in his office, he is also using the same to do Proof of Concepts. In the past, William mentioned he could only recommend Citrix solutions, which is costly, and SSL VPN solutions. But now, he said he will drop all those and strongly recommend Terminal Services in Windows 2008.

If you would like to contact William for a discussion, you may email him at itcss@singnet.com.sg.

BTW, WS2008 bits has RTMed (Released to Manufacturing)

/Dennis

Untill the next post,

Steve

No 'tipping point' yet in PC alternatives, Intel says

2008-02-03T16:38:00.000Z

Found an article on Server Based Comptuing that includes all the current buzzword technologies and the author has a well written opinion with numbers. What is almost unique is a posted comment about the article. The comment is as good as the article. Have posted both of them.

But the chip maker is planning for growth in demand for server-based systems and will have products for it

By Patrick Thibodeau and published by Computerworld

February 1, 2008 (Computerworld) Intel Corp. has released survey data it has gathered in an effort to find out what PC alternatives are winning the hearts and minds of its customers. The short answer from the survey is this: None of them.

Other than Terminal Services, which include Citrix Presentation Server and Microsoft Terminal Server, Intel said that users haven't anointed any other alternative -- including desktop virtualization, application and operating system streaming, or blade PCs -- as a clear favorite.

Finding out which technology will make the most inroads in the enterprise isn't an idle question for Intel, said Mike Ferron-Jones, Intel's manager of its emerging model program. "Knowing this is really important because it informs how we are going to build our products," he said. With desktop virtualization, for instance, the question is, "How do we optimize our server products for dishing out high volumes of client virtual machines to thin clients?"

Intel conducted online interviews with more than 700 IT managers at medium-to-large-size companies to gather its data. The respondents were qualified to ensure they had some decision-making roles, Ferron-Jones said.

The survey found, for instance, that 64% of the companies were using Terminal Services, a well-established technology, and were deploying them to about 26% of their clients. In two years, that will rise to about 34%.

But among the broader spectrum of alternatives, Intel said users have no clear favorite. For instance, 39% of the respondents said they had some current deployment of desktop virtualization, including installations such as testing and pilots. But the survey found that users were deploying desktop virtualization to only 8% of their clients.

Other models looked at include application streaming, with 30% of the users reporting some deployment; operating system streaming, 15%; and blade PCs, 26%.

But when asked what percentages of clients were using any of these models, as with desktop virtualization, the numbers were much smaller: applications streaming, 11%; operating system streaming, 3%; and blade PCs, 6%. But the survey points to increasing deployment in all of these technologies. As a percentage of client deployments, Intel's survey shows increases ranging from 50% to more than 100% over two years, although the overall percentage remained relatively low.

"What the data is showing is we haven't hit the tipping point on one particular model yet," Ferron-Jones said.

Bob O'Donnell, an analyst at IDC, said he wasn't surprised by Intel's findings. "I think they are correct that it's still too early to tell," he said.

"They are all valid technologies," O'Donnell said, and user choice may be based on which is best for the application load. As to why this is an important issue for Intel to explore, O'Donnell said, "I think they are a little nervous about it because it potentially changes their model" by moving to servers and potentially non-Intel-based thin clients.

Intel already has a good idea of what will be needed for these alternatives and has products in the pipeline, such as an upcoming microprocessor, Diamondville, which is intended for low-power devices, including thin clients, Ferron-Jones said. But the direction that users take matters, he said. For instance, if operating system streaming takes off, vendors will have to make sure they are building I/O subsystems "that can really pound out high volumes of OS images in short amounts of time," he said, such as when systems are booted up in the morning.

And here is the posted comment.

Have we gone full circle back to the 60's?
Submitted by Wisesooth on February 1, 2008 - 17:15.

When mainframe computers started interracting with dumb (and later, smart) terminals, the mainframe "timeshared" the terminal activity.

When the PC emerged as a viable alternative, the mainframes morphed from foreground timesharing and background batch-processing into file servers as people adopted the "distributed processing model." Thus began a tug of war between do-it-yourself end users and a centrally controlled IT department. At that time, they called themselves "Management Information Systems" or MIS. Their customers suggested that they add another "S" to their acronym because they missed the boat, but that is another story.

The "mainframe in a glass cage" morphed into a data center with racks of networked servers. The rise of the Internet, point-of-sale, collaboration, contact management, and other server-based applications expanded the role and complexity of the distributed model. Deployment, security, configuration control, and other issues made management of the infrastructure difficult and expensive.

As the relative speed and efficiency of hardware components increased, the processor was so fast, it needed work to do. Storage became so vast that it needed specialized gear to do that specific function. Servers are being consolidated using virtual management software because we now have processors and front-side bus architecture that is fast enough to make that happen.

The emerging "thin client" model gives control back to IT, simplifies deployment and configurtion control, and prevents rogue software from inhabiting client PCs. Of course, the end users have declared war on IT because they have lost their freedom to do their own thing.

Voice over IP and the thin client model has placed a heavy capacity burden on the network infrastructure. That area is in need of the most help and is the emerging "choke point."

Subscription licensing is going to increase the capacity burden on the Internet. This is another potential "choke point."

Sometimes, the IT architects adopt a new model without thinking the project through to its logical consequences. If they fail to do this, the results are predictable (all bad).

Agemain, the CEO of the Chase Manhattan Bank in the 1960s had these words of wisdom to share. He called these principles "ALOPTs" (Agemain's Laws of Prudent Thinking). Here are a selected few.
1. The surest way to make the new system cost more than the old is to pioneer the wrong thing.
2. The surest way to lose in poker or blow a computer budget is to throw good money after bad.
3. It is not against the law for a sales person to puff his/her product. Beware of sales people giving technical advice.
4. If a consultant knows only one vendor's product be assured that the consultant will recommend that vendor's product. If the only tool one knows how to use is a hammer, the solution for all problems looks like a nail.
5. Do not expect 10 technicians to fix a telephone in a telephone booth in one-tenth the time it takes one to do it.

Until the next post,

Steve

Cell Phones meet Server Based Computing

2008-01-29T16:34:00.000Z

Server Based Computing and Smartphones combine to do more than each can do alone. Good idea.

Server Based Computing Skyfire unveils downloadable mobile browser that delivers the PC Web experience on your phone

Skyfire features full Ajax and Flash to bring the “real Web” to smartphones – users can now experience sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Last.fm at record speeds

January 28, 2008 -- Palm Desert, Calif. – Today at the DEMO 08 conference, Skyfire unveiled a new mobile browser that makes browsing on a smartphone just like browsing on a PC. For the first time ever, smartphone users can experience the “real Web” to access and interact with any Web site built with any Web technology, including dynamic Flash, advanced Ajax, Java and more – at the same speeds they are accustomed to on their PC. With this free downloadable browser, users can finally watch videos from the real YouTube, stay connected with their friends on the full-feature PC versions of Facebook and MySpace, and listen to any Web music service like Last.fm. Before Skyfire, users painfully waited for these Flash and Ajax-heavy sites to render – often resulting in error messages or crashes.

“For too long consumers have been promised the ‘real Web’ on their phone, only to be disappointed by slow rendering, error messages, no Flash support, watered down WAP pages or second-rate mobile versions of their favorite site,” said Skyfire CEO Nitin Bhandari. “Skyfire has remedied those ills at a speed not seen before on the mobile platform. By extending the PC Web experience to smartphones, we fully expect Skyfire to fundamentally change the way people use their phones.”

Users will not have to change their Web behavior on their smartphones because Skyfire allows them to access the same Web content, and interact with that content, exactly as they do on their PC. When users load their favorite sites, they will not encounter unrecognizable content, unfamiliar page layouts, or missing content, like they have with other mobile browsers. To date, Skyfire is the fastest loading mobile browser on the market.

“Many sophisticated technologies are launched at DEMO, and in my many years of hosting the event, it’s the simple and elegant products like Skyfire which seem to have the most staying power,” said Chris Shipley, executive producer of the DEMO conferences. “Mobile browsing has not advanced at the same rate as other mobile technologies, so I am delighted to see Skyfire bring a new product to market which directly addresses one of the biggest pain points in the mobile experience today.”

Skyfire has broken down the two primary barriers for Internet adoption on smartphones – speed and user experience. Recent studies point to the demand for mobile content, but the browsing experience has hindered the potential growth. As prices continue to drop, more users will adopt the full functionality offered by smartphones. According to ABI Research, 115 million smartphones were to be shipped in 2007, and that number will rise to 410 million by 2012.

“Skyfire’s ability to support Flash video can give a shot in the arm to consumption of video on smartphones which currently stands at 18.4 percent,” said Seamus McAteer, senior analyst, M:Metrics. “Technologies that improve the user experience of mobile applications will bolster the adoption of mobile media as it becomes increasingly mainstream.”

Skyfire includes numerous features aimed at simplifying the mobile browsing experience. For example, when a user conducts a Web search from the home page, Skyfire pulls results from multiple search engines and displays the results in multiple tabs that consumers can easily navigate. In addition, users can bookmark specific locations on a Web page to get to the content that matters most to them in one click – such as stock quotes, sports scores, blog messages, etc. Skyfire’s user interface features full screen navigation, thumbnail views and zooming to seamlessly resize the Web content to fit the
mobile screen.

Skyfire Technology
Skyfire’s patent-pending technology is the foundation of Skyfire’s unique ability to support all Web technologies, both current and future, at speeds comparable to the PC. With Skyfire’s proprietary technology, supporting any new Web standard becomes a seamless user experience without the need to upgrade to new releases. This technology allows Skyfire to support real Web browsing while saving precious bandwidth and reducing processing power and memory needed on the phone.

Private Beta Announced
Skyfire announced a private beta to support Windows Mobile phones, both touchscreen and non-touchscreen, in the U.S.. The company will introduce a version for Symbian smartphones in the coming months and other platforms and geographies are on the product roadmap. Users can sign-up for the private beta by visiting www.skyfire.com.

Skyfire was founded by Bhandari and CTO Erik Swenson in April 2006, and has been in stealth mode under the name DVC Labs until today. Based in Mountain View, Calif., the team includes engineering veterans from Adobe, Creative, eBay, Extreme Networks, MobiTV, Pinnacle, and Shutterfly.

About Skyfire
Skyfire is the creator of the Skyfire mobile browser, which extends the PC Web to mobile phones so users can experience the mobile Web exactly like they do on their PC. The company was founded in 2006 by Nitin Bhandari and Erik Swenson, who serve as CEO and CTO respectively. Skyfire is backed by Trinity Ventures and Matrix Partners and has raised $4.8 million in total funding. For more information about the company, visit www.skyfire.com.

About DEMO
Produced by Network World Events and Executive Forums, the semi-annual DEMO conferences focus on emerging technologies and new products, which are hand-selected from across the spectrum of the technology marketplace. The DEMO conferences have earned their reputation for consistently identifying tomorrow's cutting-edge technologies, and have served as launch pad events for companies such as Palm, E*Trade, Handspring, and U.S. Robotics, helping them to secure venture funding, establish critical business relationships, and influence early adopters. Each DEMO conference features approximately 70 new companies, products and technologies. For more information, visit www.demo.com.

For more information, please contact:
Nick Leahy
Sparkpr for Skyfire
415.846.1715
Nick@sparkpr.com

Until the next post,

Steve

Google Partners with Wireless Provider Clearwire Communications

2008-01-21T13:34:00.002Z

When Clearwire entered into their first four markets almost 4 years ago, I called their Jacksonville, Florida office and suggested they offer applications on top of their high speed wireless product. Of course they thought i was crazy and told me to call their corporate office in Washington state.

No response from HQ.

Anyone want to guess who had the ability to offer over the web on Clearwire wireless connections, at a low bandwidth, most of their products without modifying any code?

And they still do have that capability. Something is holding them back. But what?

Google now has a partner than can manage a nationwide wireless network for mobile devices. Now if just Google could get a very nice piece of bandwidth! Oh, the "beach front property" of the radio spectrum goes on auction this week. Ready, set, go.

KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan 15, 2008
(BUSINESS WIRE) --

Wireless broadband pioneer Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ: CLWR) today announced it is teaming up with Google (NASDAQ: GOOG: 600.25, -0.54, -0.08%) to deliver the company's popular Google Apps(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) communication suite to Clearwire customers. Clearwire will begin migrating its current customers to Gmail(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) and Google Calendar(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) in the first half of this year. In addition, Clearwire customers will also have access to Google Talk(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%).

"Clearwire is excited to launch our relationship with Google to further our commitment to deliver all the Internet has to offer to a person rather than a place. Both companies are built on the foundation of providing a simple to use, rich and open Internet experience and we believe the addition of these communications tools will be a tremendous benefit to Clearwire's customers", said Scott Richardson Clearwire's chief strategy officer. "We look forward to expanding our working relationship with Google further enhancing our customer's access to the Internet -- anytime and anywhere."

In addition to Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Talk, Clearwire will use AdSense for Search(TM: 99.70, +1.10, +1.11%) to provide Google search capabilities on future Clearwire portal applications.

"We're pleased to work with Clearwire to offer its high-speed wireless broadband customers access to our leading search and communications tools," said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager Google Enterprise. "Our companies share a vision of giving consumers innovative choices that will the change the way they interact with each other."

Clearwire is building and operating one of the world's most capable wireless broadband networks. The company is building from the ground up a single network that bridges the gap between today's wire line and wireless networks by delivering a true broadband experience to a person rather than a place. By collaborating with world-class companies like Google that are committed to innovation, Clearwire and its customers will enjoy all that the Internet has to offer at home as well as in a mobile environment within the Clearwire coverage area.

About Clearwire

Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by telecom pioneer Craig O. McCaw, is a provider of simple, fast, portable and reliable wireless high-speed Internet service. Clearwire customers connect to the Internet using licensed spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone lines. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., the company launched its first market in August 2004 and now offers service in 16 states across the U.S. as well as in Europe and Mexico. For more information, visit www.clearwire.com.

About Google

Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top Web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall Web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Google, Google Apps, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Talk and AdSense for Search are trademarks of Google Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations and beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made with information that is currently available. The forward-looking statements include the anticipated migration of Clearwire's customers to Gmail, Google Calendar and other communications tools as well as Clearwire's anticipated use of AdSense for Search on future portal applications. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, manyof which are outside of Clearwire's and Google's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted include, among others, unforeseen technical challenges and economic factors, as well as those risks and uncertainties included in each of Clearwire's and Google's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information under the headings "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in each of Clearwire's and Google's most-recently filed Form 10-Q. Clearwire and Google do not assume any obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Clearwire

Clearwire
Helen Chung, 425-216-4551
helen.chung@clearwire.com
or
Google
Andrew Kovacs, 650-253-8899
akovacs@google.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008

Until the next post,

Steve

India's HCL to Lauch 7" Screen UMPC "MiLeap"

2008-01-18T14:29:00.000Z

More choices the better the market space becomes. Asus, Everex and now HCL to bring to market Ultra Mobiles PCs at less than 1 kg.

HCL UNVEILS THE FUTURE OF PERSONAL COMPUTING LAUNCHES NEXT GENERATION, ULTRA PORTABLE, SUB RS.14000/- LAPTOPS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN INDIA

7” (17.74 cms) screen size
Weighing less than a kg
Offering a true mobile internet experience with full PC functionality
Among the products showcased today the HCL ‘MiLeap’ X Series Ultra Portable range of Leaptops breaks the Rs. 14,000/- price barrier. With prices starting at Rs 13,990/- the HCL ‘MiLeap’ X series, which is specially designed for the Indian environment delivers exceptional value at a very affordable price.

Available with both flash-based and disk based storage versions, its sturdy design incorporates features that make it dustproof, shock-proof and durable. Both the models have network ports, are Wi-Fi ready, have the option for “Data card” and are available with GUI enabled user friendly Linux OS.
Click here to view the product video from India's IBNLive.
Also launched today is the HCL ‘MiLeap’ Y Series Ultra Portable Leaptops breaking the sub Rs 30,000/- price barrier. Ranging from Rs 29,990/- onwards this range of Ultra Portables are at half the price point of current similar products available in the market.

The HCL ‘MiLeap’ Y Series, powered by the latest Intel Ultra Mobile Platform & Microsoft’s Vista Home Premium, operating system weighs just 960 gm. This ultra Portable Leaptop comes with a Swivel 7’’ touch screen, 80GB HDD, wireless connectivity, Data Card option, blue tooth & Ethernet network port offering full PC functionality with true internet experience on the move.

The MiLeap Top Y Series incorporates a unique Navigational Pad that offers multiple navigational features such as touch screen, thumboard, stylus, keyboard, mouse and One touch buttons, making it one of the most intuitive products. It also features a Swivel 7” display cum note pad, making it a pleasure to input using a stylus and hand writing. The Microsoft Windows Vista Home premium powered MiLeap Y series is priced at Rs 33,990/-

Designed using the latest Intel Ultra Mobile platform- Intel processor A110 & Intel 945GU express chipset- this energy efficient lower power silicon design consumes less power, reduces thermal impact and gives an extended battery life. HCL being a socially responsible organization and conscious of the environment, both products are fully RoHS compliant with low energy footprint design.

Marking the occasion as HCL’s tribute to the nation, the company announced that the new range of HCL Leaptops will start shipping on 26th January coinciding with the Indian Republic day celebrations.

HCL also shared that they are going to come out with even more exciting products in this new category.

About HCL Infosystems

HCL Infosystems Ltd, with revenue (TTM) of US $ 2.9 Bn (Rs. 12162 Crores) is India's premier information enabling and ICT System Integration company offering a wide spectrum of ICT products that includes Computing, Storage, Networking, Security, Telecom, Imaging and Retail. HCL is a one-stop-shop for all the ICT requirements of an organization.

India's leading System Integration and Infrastructure Management Services Organization, HCL has specialized expertise across verticals including Telecom, BFSI, E-Governance & Power.

HCL has India's largest distribution and retail network, taking to market a range of Digital Lifestyle products in partnership with leading global ICT brands, including Nokia, Apple, Casio, Kodak, Toshiba, Bull, Ericsson, Cisco, Microsoft, Konica Minolta and many more.

HCL today has India's largest vertically integrated computer manufacturing facility with over three decades of electronic manufacturing experience HCL desktops is the largest selling brand into the enterprise space.

With India’s largest ICT services network that reaches to every corner of India, HCL’s award winning Support Services makes it the preferred choice of enterprise and consumers alike. For more information please visit us at www.hclinfosystems.in

About HCL Enterprise

HCL Enterprise is a $4.4 billion (Rs. 18,525 crore) leading Global Technology and IT enterprise that comprises two companies listed in India - HCL Technologies & HCL Infosystems. The 3-decade-old enterprise, founded in 1976, is one of India's original IT garage start-ups. Its range of offerings span Product Engineering, Custom & Package Applications, BPO, IT Infrastructure Services, IT Hardware, Systems Integration, and distribution of ICT products. The HCL team comprises approximately 51,000 professionals of diverse nationalities, who operate from 18 countries including 360 points of presence in India. HCL has global partnerships with several leading Fortune 1000 firms, including leading IT and Technology firms. For more information, please visit www.hcl.in

For further information, contact:
Sanjay Chaudhary/Romita Kumar/ Saumya Upadhyaya
Vaishnavi Corporate Communications
romitak@vccpl.com/ supadhyaya@vccpl.com
9810203810/9958100403/ 9810488225
011-42393500

No word on which Linux distribution is being bundled with the "MiLeap". Can only assume that RDesktop will be available. Windows Vista is being offered with the Y series.

Until the next post,

Steve

Everex Unveils CloudBook Ultra-Mobile PC at CES

2008-01-11T02:31:00.000Z

Here is the official press release. Seven inch screen and 9" wide and weighs in at two pounds.

I have loaded the RDesktop client using the gOS on a desktop and connected to a remote server. Should we assume that it will work on the Everex UMPC? Most likely, but we will have to wait for an answer.

7" UMPC model to feature popular Open Source software from gOS

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Everex, a world leader in the design and production of personal computers, today launched their much anticipated Ultra-Mobile PC featuring the latest Open Source operating system from gOS.

Measuring 9" in length and 2 pounds in weight, the Everex CloudBook caters to users seeking the latest in mobile computing. With its 1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV mobile processor, the laptop averages 5 hours of battery life on a 4-cell, lithium-ion battery. Unlike many of its competitors, the CloudBook also features 30GB of internal storage, digital video output (DVI-I), 4-in-1 card reader and 1.3MP webcam.

With its size, specification and energy efficient design, customers will now find the performance and features of much larger laptops in one of the most mobile computer designs on the market.

"The overwhelming success of our gPC desktop generated countless inquires from customers seeking additional Open Source mobile platforms," states John Lin, general manager of Everex. "With the launch of the new CloudBook our vision remains the same: Provide mainstream users with their favorite applications wrapped in a no-compromise, low-cost, consumer friendly product."

The CloudBook, model CE1200V, showcases the gOS operating system and familiar applications from Mozilla, Skype, Google, Facebook, Faqly and OpenOffice.org. Available January 25th, the computer will be available at Walmart.com for $399.

"The potential of mainstream, Open Source PCs is tremendous," said Lin. "Combine a revolutionary platform like our CloudBook with the stunning graphics and performance provided by gOS Rocket and consumers will be armed with the utmost in mobile computing."

To learn more about Everex, the CloudBook and their entire line of computing products, visit www.everex.com. For information on gOS or to download a free copy of gOS Rocket see www.thinkgos.com.

Key Features*

-- Operating System: gOS V2 Rocket

-- Processor: 1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV Processor

-- Display: 7" WVGA TFT Widescreen (800 x 480 native resolution)

-- Preinstalled and Linked Software: Mozilla FireFox, gMail, Meebo,
Skype, Google Documents & Spreadsheets, Google Calendar, Google News,
Google Maps, Wikipedia, Google Product Search, GIMP, Blogger, YouTube,
Xine Movie Player, RhythmBox, Faqly, Facebook and OpenOffice.org 2.3
(includes WRITER, IMPRESS, MATH, DRAW)

-- Memory: 512MB DDR2 533MHz SDRAM (1GB Max)

-- Hard Disk Drive: 30GB, 4200RPM PATA

-- Graphic: VIA UniChrome(TM) Pro IGP

-- Audio: VIA VT1708A High Definition Audio Codec with built-in speakers

-- WLAN: 802.11b/g

-- LAN: 10/100 Ethernet

-- I/O: (1) DVI-I port, (2) USB 2.0 ports, (1) RJ45 Ethernet port, (1)
Headphone/Line Out jack, (1) Microphone/ Line In jack, (1) 4-in-1
Media Card Reader (Secure Digital, Multi-Media Card, Memory Stick,
Memory Stick PRO)

-- Battery: 4-Cell (14.4V, 2200mAh), rechargeable Lithium-Ion

-- Dimensions: 9.06" x 6.73 x 1.16" (W x D x H)

-- Weight: 2 pounds

-- Warranty & Support: 1 Year Limited Warranty with 24/7 Toll-Free
Technical Support

-- MSRP: $399.00

*Specifications subject to change

About Everex

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Fremont, California, Everex has established itself as a world leader in the personal computer industry. As a subsidiary of First International Computer, a supplier to many of the world's largest computer companies, a unique and distinctive line of products has propelled the organization to become the eighth largest retail computer brand in the US. For the latest information on Everex, visit www.everex.com.

Everex Media Contact: Paul C. Kim, Director of Marketing, 510-252-8829
(USA), paulkim@everex.com

gOS Media Contact: David Liu, Founder, 310-709-4881 (USA),
davidliu@thinkgos.com

SOURCE First International Computer

Paul C. Kim, Director of Marketing of First International Computer,
+1-510-252-8829, paulkim@everex.com; or David Liu, Founder of gOS,
+1-310-709-4881, davidliu@thinkgos.com

Attention!!! Terminal Server Admins and Road Warriors.

2007-12-13T17:10:00.000Z

"Cloudbook" for MS "cloud computing?"

Ever since i started managing Terminal Services via a cell phone, wanted a form factor that did not split the screen into 5 pieces. My wait may be over in January. At 400 USD it may be the value product of 2008. Where does the line to the check out counter begin? Could the situation become similar to Wal Mart offering the 199 USD, "gOS" based desktop unit just this November? Sold out in days. Good news is that they got some product back on the shelves quickly.

Recently downloaded the gOS and tested it on an OLD desktop. The OS has some limitations out of the box but is more than adequate for 90-95% of the market. Was curious if you could add the RDP client to the "gOS" and the answer is yes. It worked. You can read my post regarding "gOS" further down on this blog.

But wait, it also a phone and supports Skype. It can drive a overhead projector and both can now fit into the same case. Just may have to get one of these devices.

From LinuxDevices.Com December 9, 2007

Everex has confirmed plans to ship a UMPC (ultra-mobile PC) with a 7-inch screen, similar to competitor Asus's EEE PC. A source close to the company revealed that the device -- codenamed "Cloudbook" -- will ship with the Google Apps-oriented "gOS" Linux distribution early next year.

According to our anonymous source, the initial Cloudbook model will be powered by a Via C7 ULVwebcam. In general, the hardware appears to closely resemble Via's Nanobook design.

Preceding the Cloudbook's mid-January launch, Everex plans to ship a "Developer" version equipped with a touchscreen, our source revealed. That version will come with gOStoolchains, similar to the gOS development board. gOS is an Everex-sponsored Linux distribution optimized for use with Google Apps.

Everex itself officially confirmed the Cloudbook's UMPC with a 7-inch screen. Our source suggested that Everex would likely launch the Cloudbook at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas the week of Jan. 7, with consumer availability as soon as Jan. 15.

The Developer edition will launch earlier -- possibly on January first. It was originally scheduled for earlier release, but was reportedly delayed by short supplies in the market for 7-inch touchscreens.

"Standard" Cloudbook

The Cloudbook appears to be FIC/Everex's answer to Asus's EEE PC, another ultra-mobile Linux-powered PC that began shipping earlier this fall. Like the EEE PC, the Cloudbook will use a 7-inch WVGA (800x480) LCD display, along with an identical keyboard, albeit in a different color, our source close to the company said.

That's where the similarities end, though. The EEE PC uses a 900MHz CeleronCloudbook will use a Via C7 ULV (ultra-low voltage), clocked at 1.2GHz. And, instead of the EEE PC's 4GB SSD (solid-state disk), the Cloudbook will pack in a 30GB hard disk drive.

Other preliminary Cloudbook specs confirmed by our source include 512MB of RAM, built-in wired and wireless Ethernet interfaces, a 4-in-1 card reader, a pair of USBDVI-out. Thanks to DVI-to-HDMI and other available converters, the Cloudbook should "hook up to most multimedia equipment," said our source, citing projectors and TVs with digital interfaces.

Developer edition

Unlike standard Cloudbook models, the Developer edition will include a touchscreen interface. It will also include some kind of expansion interface for modules that will include a webcam, cordless Skype phone, and retro LCD alarm clock module.

The Developer model appears to serve two intents for Everex. The company likely plans to add a touchscreen to second-generation Cloudbook models, and hopes to ensure the best touchscreen support possible in gOS by offering developers of gOS'sNokia's 770 Internet tablet several years ago.

Another intent is to offer open source community developers a chance to get their applications on what could prove to be a very popular device, if the EEE PC is any indication. Our source said, "[Everex] will take some apps [developed by the community] to market with the next iteration of the unit, creating instant business opportunities."

Availability

The standard Cloudbook is expected to ship on Jan. 15, priced at $400 with a 30GB hard drive. The touchscreen-enabled Developer Unit should arrive a few weeks early, possibly on Jan. 1, at an as-yet unknown price.

Until the next post,

Steve

Is Linux ready for Prime Time?

2007-12-10T18:36:00.000Z

Over the past year i have posted about the growing awareness of PC alternatives. Steven puts them all together in one article. Is the Microsoft PC dead? No. But choice is good.

From Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

at Desktoplinux.com

Dec. 07, 2007

Opinion -- Sometimes, several unrelated changes come to a head at the same time, with a result no one could have predicted. The PC market is at such a tipping point right now and the result will be millions of Linux-powered PCs in users' hands.

The first change was the continued maturation of desktop Linux. Today, no one can argue with a straight face that people can't get their work done on Linux-powered PCs. Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, MEPIS, OpenSUSE, Xandros, Linspire Mint, the list goes on and on of desktop Linuxes that PC owner can use without knowing a thing about Linux's technical side. People can argue that Vista or Mac OS X is better, but when Michael Dell runs Ubuntu Linux on one of his own home systems, it can't be said that Linux isn't a real choice for anyone's desktop.

Another change occurred when Nicholas Negroponte proposed the so-called $100-laptop, the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) machine. He couldn't get them built for quite that price -- they cost about $200 -- but that's still remarkably cheap and they're available today.

Not long after OLPC was announced, Intel and other companies came up with their own take on an inexpensive PC: the Classmate PC. By 2007, it had become clear that you could build a laptop that was good enough to run desktop Linux for about $200.

That gave other hardware vendors an idea. If you could build a no-frills PCs that ran Linux, why not make sub-$500 computers with a bit more power and sell them to consumers? That's exactly what Asus did with its Xandros Linux-powered ASUS Eee UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC), which lists for about $400. At about the same time, Everex introduced its gOS TC2502 gPC. Available first only from Wal-Mart, these $199 desktop systems are also now also available from ZaReason, an open-source VAR.

And how are these sub $500 computers and laptops doing? Everex is building them as fast as it can and has announced that its forthcoming laptop version, the CloudBook, has already been picked up by a major U.S. reseller. At the same time, according to an unconfirmed report, ASUS is planning on selling 3.8 million Eees in its next fiscal year.

While all this has been going on, broadband Internet connectivity has become almost as easily available as cell phone coverage. It is a small town indeed where there's not some kind of free Wi-Fi available at a local coffee shop or library. You may have to pay for Wi-Fi at the airport or in your hotel, but Wi-Fi is almost always there. And, at home, well I'm living on a rural mountain overlooking a national forest and I have 3M-bps DSL coming in to my house.

Google has made billions from this simple fact. It's not just about search and ads anymore, though. Google has found that there's a big demand for its office Google Apps. And not just from home users; Capgemini, a multibillion dollar international consulting company, is using GAPE (Google Apps Premier Edition) for one of its offices.

Four trends: user-friendly Linux desktops, useful under-$500 laptops and desktops, near-universal broadband, and business-ready Internet office applications. Put them together and you have a revolution.

For the last two decades, we've been buying expensive desktop operating systems on business PCs running from $1,000 to $2,000. On those systems, we've been putting pricey desktop-centric office suites like Microsoft Office. That's a lot of money, and the convergence of the above trends is about to knock it for a loop.

Here's the business case. You tell me if it's not compelling. You can buy 100 $500 PCs running a free version of Linux, hook them to a high-speed Internet connection for a $1,000 a year and use GAPE at $50 per user account per year. Finally, we'll throw in a grand for a Linux server. That's $57,000 for your equipment, your connectivity, your operating system and your applications.

Now, let's say you want to run Vista Business. First, you'll need 100 PCs that can run it. The cheapest deal I can find today for machines I'd consider adequate for Vista Business, which is to say they must have at least 2GB of RAM, is for the Dell OptiPlex 320 at $707 a PC. Of course -- unlike with Linux, which always includes an office suite, OpenOffice -- for those times when the Internet is down, you'll need to buy an office suite. If you went with Microsoft Standard 2007, with a little shopping you can get it for the upgrade price of about $200 per copy. So, on the PC side alone, we're looking at $90,700.

All done? Not quite. To get the most from Microsoft Office 2007, you really need to be operating it with a minimum of Microsoft Server 2003 ($4,994 base price plus 100 CALs (client access licenses)), Exchange 2007 ($7,399 base price plus 100 CALs) and SharePoint 2007 ($13,824 base price plus 100 standard CALS). If you're running Windows you probably already have Server, so we won't count it. Throw in another two grand for the Exchange 2007 and SharePoint 2007 servers, and a grand for the Internet connection, and (insert sound of old-fashioned adding machine) the final total is $114,923.

So, by my calculations, all those trends have joined together to make a Linux-based small business using Google applications instead of Exchange and SharePoint cost less than half its Microsoft-based twin.

Worse still, if you're Microsoft, you can't really defend yourself. Linux desktops run just dandy on low-end, under-$500 PCs. Vista Basic, which comes the closest to being able to run on these systems, is unacceptable since it doesn't support business networking. Office 2007 also won't run worth a darn on these systems. And somehow, I can't see Microsoft optimizing its applications to work with Google Apps instead of Exchange and SharePoint.

Put it all together, and here's what I see happening. In the next few quarters, low-end Linux-based PCs are going to quickly take over the bottom rung of computing. Then, as businesses continue to get comfortable with SAAS (software as a service) and open-source software, the price benefits will start leading them toward switching to the new Linux/SAAS office model.

You'll see this really kick into gear once Vista Service Pack 1 appears and business customers start seriously looking at what it will cost to migrate to Vista. That Tiffany-level price tag will make all but the most Microsoft-centric businesses start considering the Linux/SAAS alternative.

Microsoft will fight this trend tooth and nail. It will cut prices to the point where it'll be bleeding ink on some of its product lines. And Windows XP is going to stick around much longer than Microsoft ever wanted it to. Still, it won't be enough. By attacking from the bottom, where Microsoft can no longer successfully compete, Linux will finally cut itself a large slice of the desktop market pie.

-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Until the next post,

Steve

Macedonia picks Ubuntu for 20,000 PCs

2007-11-17T19:55:00.001Z

I have had a couple of NComputing devices on the test bench for more than year. Even wrote a post for this blog (nComputing, More than meets the eye) a year ago September. They are simple and they work.

How many SBC vendors can issue a Press Release that states 7,000 servers on the way with another 13,000 due to be delivered? And about 160,000 connections to those 20,000 devices! And are in the price range that a education system can afford to buy new. Not many, if any.

From C/Net news.com:

November 16, 2007 4:03 PM PST

Macedonia picks Ubuntu for 20,000 PCs

Posted by Stephen Shankland

NComputing's products let multiple people share the same PC.
(Credit: NComputing)

A batch of 7,000 PCs with Ubuntu Linux have been sent to Macedonian schools, the first of a collection that Ubuntu sponsor Canonical expects will reach 20,000.

Through a program called Computer for Every Child, the Macedonia Ministry of Education and Science plans to install the PCs throughout its elementary and secondary school system. Ubuntu will run on the 20,000 PCs, but 160,000 more students will be able to share those machines using hardware from NComputing, Canonical plans to announce Tuesday. The PCs are being supplied and installed by Haier, a Chinese PC maker.

"The Computer for Every Child initiative is the largest and most important education project undertaken in the 15-year history of the Republic of Macedonia," said Ivo Ivanovski, Macedonia's minister for the information society, in a statement. "By selecting Ubuntu as the operating system for all of our classroom virtual PCs, our education system can provide computer-based education for all schoolchildren within the limited financial and infrastructural confines that most institutions face today."

The schools are using version 7.04 of Edubuntu, a version of Ubuntu tailored for classroom use.

With PCs already commonplace in richer countries, companies such as Intel, Microsoft, and Canonical are focusing on reaching markets in developing countries.

Until the next post,

Steve

gOS: Where Computers Are Headed?

2007-11-16T16:35:00.000Z

I personally have an interest in building a computing device with an embedded OS that can be both a fat and thin client and operate with no internal storage. Have communicated with a manufacture that can deliver a complete unit for less than 100 USD. But while searching for that type of unit, found the press release for the "Wal Mart, Everex, gOS, Google, Skype, Open Office, Ubuntu" 200 USD PC .

It has been published that Wal-Mart started selling on November 1 st, a "gOS" based PC with an inventory of 10,000 units. Less than two weeks later it was published that the warehouse was empty, but there may be a few units on store shelves. Sales at about 1,000 units a day may not seem like much to Wal-Mart, but in my opinion that would constitute a very successful test run.

Dowloaded the gOS for testing an added the ability to access a Microsoft Terminal Server using RDP. Of course the underlying OS is Ubuntu 7.10 and it has about 20,000 more applications that may be added. Below is review by Ducan Riley.

From Techcrunch.com on November 4, 2007.

gOS: Where Computers Are Headed?

Duncan Riley

We reported Thursday on the gPC going on sale at Wal-Mart, a $199 bare minimum PC that runs a Linux package by the name of gOS. Unlike some initial reports suggested, this isn’t the long fabled Google Operating System, but the folks behind it most definitely had Google on their mind.
In an interview at Fsckin, David Liu, founder of the gOS project gave some indication of what they are trying to achieve:

I got interested in Google applications, especially docs and spreadsheets, presentations; and originally, I wanted to create my idea of what a Google OS would look like.. if there were such a mythical OS. As I started looking around at all the Google applications out there, I realized that all of our “computing” could eventually be done in the Google cloud. We just needed an OS that looked really good and pointed people to Google in a really friendly, intelligent way. After seeing this, I got excited because I saw it was also commercially viable for the mainstream end user… Google makes Linux familiar.

gOS is billed as “Linux for human beings who shop at Wal-Mart” but how does it really stack up? gOS is available for download so I gave it whirl under VMWare Fusion to see if we are seeing the future of PCs.

Not your usual Linux desktop

The most obvious difference in gOS to a usual Linux install is the use of the Enlightenment windows manager as opposed to the more commonly used Gnome and KDE managers. KDE and Gnome in a standard install look and feel a little like Windows, Enlightenment looks a bit like OS X, complete with the rounded window open/ close buttons to the left of each window.

A dock bar runs across the bottom and provides links to a range of Google tools, Meebo, Skype, Wikipedia, Facebook and a couple of OS specific apps. A Google search box is embedded in the desktop in the top right corner.
A leaf icon bottom left opens up a familiar Windows style menu, complete with program short cuts and settings options. Interestingly the Live CD comes with Open Office, despite the emphasis on Google apps elsewhere.

It Works

I tested a number of Google apps and they all work, pretty much as they would on any machine. Apps are delivered via Firefox. The only drawback I found is one of aesthetics: the standard font pack in gOS doesn’t make for the nicest online experience, but many wouldn’t notice.

The dock shortcuts are handy, and will probably be more appreciated by those who aren’t highly computer literate, like those who cant save a bookmark or type in a web page…perhaps that’s a little bit harsh but most people don’t need gigantic shortcut buttons.

The Future?

This isn’t a PC anyone reading this article will likely buy, the specs are low and if you’re competent enough to read blogs then you can use an operating system that isn’t gOS. It is however an interesting exercise in where computers may well be heading. In a range of areas, web apps are now the equal to their offline equivalents, or are quickly catching up. If we get to the point where we can do the majority of our activites via an online interface, the need for all-powerful operating systems and computers diminishes. gPC and gOS is a nice try, and for people out in middle America looking for a cheap second or third PC for their kids to do their homework on, or conversely to do their own work on as their kids are using the main PC for gaming, its a pretty good buy. This is very much a first generation, or perhaps even 0.1 effort, but going forward it’s an option we will see more and more of. In 10, 15 or even 20 years time, when the idea of locally installed applications may be foreign, the likes of gOS may well be the norm.

This blogger post is being written using the gOS installed on a old Dell. You can download a version of gOS by clicking here. You will need to have the ability to create a bootable CD from an ISO image. You can also buy a motherboard and memory to build a PC device with the gOS and you can view that information here.

There is published information that Everex and Wal-Mart may introduce a sub 300 USD notebook in the first quarter of 2008. I suggest they start with more than 10,000 units. May want to add a 0 to the right side and bump the number on the left.

Bake this. Start with a sub 300 USD notebook and a sub 300 USD UMPC. Add WiFi and WiMax capabilities. Can boot from a removable drive. Have the ability to run applications online with a software as a service vendor and offline with locally stored and executed applications. Make wireless phone calls.View several types of video. Make a video. Publish the video and other content. Let bake for 12 to 24 months. Serve well done.

Until the next post,

Steve

WiMax reaching Critical Mass

2007-10-25T20:36:00.000Z

Cisco Buys WiMax Startup

The networking giant has agreed to buy WiMax base station maker Navini Networks for $330 million.

From: Peter Sayer, IDG News Service

Cisco Systems Inc. has agreed to buy Navini Networks Inc., a developer of WiMax broadband wireless access systems.
The US$330 million deal marks Cisco's first foray into the technology: Earlier this month, Cisco dismissed rumors that it planned to buy Navini, saying it had no plans to develop wireless base stations using any technology other than Wi-Fi.
Navini makes mobile WiMax wireless base stations.
Wi-Fi and WiMax are wireless networking technologies defined in standards set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc. WiMax (802.16) has a range over a hundred times greater than the older and more widely deployed Wi-Fi (802.11) family of standards.
Cisco said it is particularly interested in Navini's expertise with "smart beamforming" technologies used with Multiple-Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna arrays, which in Wi-Fi systems allow base stations to handle much higher data throughput.
Cisco plans to fold Navini into its wireless networking business unit. It expects the acquisition, its 124th, to close by the end of January.

Until the next post,

Steve

Truck fleet replaces two-way radio with 3G and thin clients

2007-10-05T13:29:00.001Z

Posted on Computerworld Australia

By Sandra Rossi 04/10/2007 10:47:01

Furniture removalist company MiniMovers is in the business of mobility. With a fleet of more than 100 trucks and support vehicles operating across the eastern states of Australia, its communication system has to be as mobile as the furniture.

As a result, the company decided to replace its two-way radio system with a 3G network.

According to MiniMovers IT manager, Jason Arthur, the business had experienced annual growth of more than 40 percent over the last five years.

"We had captured 95 percent of the short distance domestic moving market in south east Queensland and we recently set up operations in Melbourne which is a fairly mature market," Arthur said.

"Our next move was to take on the Sydney market. To do this we needed to improve job management processes by upgrading our mobile communications technology."

Arthur said the two-way radio system was only good for its Brisbane operations.

In Melbourne, the fleet coordinator communicated with drivers via mobile phone as two-way radio transmission from the company's Brisbane-based depot did not extend to the Gold Coast, Melbourne or Sydney.

"Communicating with drivers via mobile phone was expensive and unsustainable," Arthur said.

"We needed a mobile solution that would enable drivers to receive job information quickly and reliably. We wanted to streamline job management and deliver productivity gains."

To determine whether 3G was the solution, the company conducted a trial arming selected staff with 3 Mobile broadband cards and thin client PC terminals.

"We could see immediately that the cards and mobile PC terminals would deliver big productivity and cost savings to the business," Arthur said.

MiniMovers made the decision to fit out its entire fleet with thin client terminals and 3 broadband cards providing 10 senior staff with laptops and 3 cards.

The company also deployed a 3 mobile broadband card in one of its Melbourne depots where no fixed phone line was available.

"Using wireless mobile instead of fixed lines saved the company in costly line rental expenses and gave users the flexibility to connect anywhere, anytime," Arthur said.

"It is actually cheaper for us to use broadband cards and mobile phones in our depots than ADSL and landlines."

The PC terminals in the trucks connect to the company's central database via 3's network. Using the PC's touch screen, the drivers can access the job management system. All administrative tasks, such as billing, job status updates and customer service reports, can be done anywhere.

Staff can also communicate with fleet coordinators via the PC terminal without having to talk on the phone.

"Since deployment removalists no longer have to manually calculate what to charge a customer. They also use the PC terminal to clock on when they start a job then clock off. The system calculates all the totals and tells them how much to bill the customer," Arthur explained.

"When a customer has an enquiry or complaint, we can now act immediately. Fleet controllers no longer have to make multiple calls to drivers and then manually update the job system, all the information is entered by the drivers."

Since deploying 3, MiniMovers fleet controllers are effectively managing a 20 percent larger fleet.

"Fleet coordinators can now control 70 trucks per person, 20 percent more than before. Previously they were stretched managing 55 trucks; we can do more now with fewer people," Arthur said.

The Melbourne depot, which has no fixed phone lines, now has access to critical business applications such as e-mail. Staff have access via two PCs and a router connected to a 3 Mobile broadband card.

Arthur said the company's depots are often established on large blocks of undeveloped land to accommodate a fleet of trucks.

"Now that we know its cheaper to use mobile phones and broadband cards than it is to use ADSL and landlines we are going to replace our landline connections at all our other depots over the next two months," he said.

Australia's first 3G mobile network was launched by 3 in April 2003 and today the company has more than one million customers. Globally, the 3 Group has 11.9 million customers worldwide.

Found this article interesting but was curious about 3G transmission costs. Went searching the web.

Eureka! Earlier this year there was a 3G price war.

View the Austrilian IT article "3G Price freefall" posted April 3rd.

Maybe as prices go down, consumption goes up? Just maybe!

Until the next post,

Steve

One Laptop Per Child Group Expands its Audience

2007-09-24T12:44:00.000Z

There has been speculation that OLAP may offer a two for one program. The speculation is over.

U.S. and Canadian residents can pay $400 for one laptop to keep and one to give to a child in a developing nation.

From: Nancy Gohring, IDG News Service
Monday, September 24, 2007 4:00 AM PDT

Some of the low-cost PCs designed by One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) for kids in the developing world will go to people in North America.

That's the result of a program the group plans to launch on Monday that will let U.S. and Canadian residents pay US$400 for one laptop to keep and one to give to a child in a developing nation.

Initially, at least, purchasers won't be able to choose where the second laptop will go.

"The idea is to help feed programs in the least developed countries and broaden the community of engagement," said Walter Bender, president of software and content for OLPC. By putting the laptops in the hands of people in North America, the group hopes to persuade more people to contribute content or other developments to the project, he said.

The offer will start on Nov. 12 and run through Nov. 26. "We don't want to divert too much away from the developing world, so we'll do a short window," Bender said.

Mass production of the laptops is scheduled for October, with the first units landing in the hands of kids around the world in early November, he said. The initial run will generate 40,000 units and production will quickly double and triple that capacity to meet demand, he said.

The original plan for the OLPC project was to create a laptop that would cost less than $100, but more recently the price has been pegged closer to $190. The $400 deal for two laptops includes some padding for the cost of sending one of the laptops to a remote location, Bender said.

Can we load "rdesktop" into the system and Skype too?

Until the next post:

Steve

NComputing's Breakthrough Virtual PC Technology Enables 180,000 Low-Cost Workstations on Classroom Desktops Nationwide

2007-09-18T20:42:00.000Z

From Marketwire:

Sep 17, 2007 04:00 ET

Macedonia Becomes First Nation to Provide Computer Workstations for Every Student

NComputing's Breakthrough Virtual PC Technology Enables 180,000 Low-Cost Workstations on Classroom Desktops Nationwide

REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwire - September 17, 2007) - NComputing, provider of the world's most affordable solutions for PC access, today announced that its multi-user virtual desktop software and low-cost virtual PC terminals will be used to equip every school child in the Republic of Macedonia with a rich individual computer experience. The most ambitious national undertaking ever to standardize all schools around a single technology platform, the "Computer for Every Child" project of the Macedonia Ministry of Education and Science will deploy 180,000 NComputing-enabled workstation seats, enough to provide virtually every elementary and secondary school student in the nation with his or her own classroom computing device.

NComputing's multi-user virtual desktop software and low-cost virtual PC terminals, along with supporting Linux-based PCs, were proven in Macedonia tests to deliver a rich PC experience at less than half the cost of any other proposed solution, including low-cost desktop and laptop PCs and other thin client options, according to Ivo Ivanovski, Macedonia's Minister for the Information Society. Huge additional advantages in reduced maintenance and replacement costs made the choice of NComputing even more compelling. With half the students attending school in the morning, and half attending in the afternoon, 180,000 workstations will provide a 1-to-1 computing experience -- one virtual PC at each student's desk -- for the country's entire public school student population.

"The Computer for Every Child initiative is the largest and most important education project undertaken in the 15-year history of the Republic of Macedonia," according to Ivanovsky. "Our goal is to build a knowledge-based economy in which our entire workforce is educated in using information and communication technology within the next five years. Yet, like most school systems around the world, Macedonia's education system has limited financial and infrastructural resources to address this challenge. By adopting NComputing's low-cost virtual PC technology, Macedonia is taking the lead in providing computer-based education for school children."

"We at NComputing believe that providing PC access to the next billion users -- those who cannot afford the cost of an individual PC -- is the single biggest challenge facing our industry today. Perhaps the most important segment of this under-served mass market is school children, including students in the United States and other developed countries, as well as those in developing nations," said Stephen Dukker, Chairman and CEO of NComputing. "We're gratified that NComputing's technology can be an important part of the solution in Macedonia and around the world."

NComputing's corporate mission is to provide affordable PC access to under-resourced markets around the world, including schools and users in developing and developed countries. The company's revolutionary technology allows a single PC to be shared by multiple simultaneous users -- each running their own applications. Setup is simple, and begins with software on the shared PC that creates multiple virtual user desktops. Standard monitors, keyboards and mice then plug into very low-cost, highly reliable virtual PCs (also known as access terminals). As a major leap forward in green computing, NComputing solutions draw between one and five watts of power for each added user, versus 115 for a typical PC. Neither IT staff nor end users require special training, and the system is compatible with Windows, Linux and standard PC applications. Pricing is as low as $70 per seat.

With NComputing's X300, up to seven users can simultaneously share a single PC. The cost and power savings are critical in school deployments, including in Macedonia, because budgets and electricity are often limited. Macedonia also chose NComputing's technology because maintenance and replacement costs are a fraction of what they are for traditional PC deployments. NComputing's solid-state virtual PC terminals have no moving parts and require little or no maintenance, so the principal maintenance costs follow only the shared PCs and monitors. In addition, in an upgrade cycle to newer PCs, only the PCs themselves, not the virtual PC terminals, need to be replaced.

Through a global network of resellers, NComputing also offers the L-series, which connects via Ethernet at any distance from a shared PC or server on either Local Area Networks or over the Internet. The number of L-series virtual PCs supported is limited only by the power of the shared PC. Hundreds can be supported on virtualized servers.

When completed, Macedonia's Computer for Every Child initiative will have deployed approximately 160,000 NComputing virtual PC terminals and 20,000 NComputing-enabled PCs (which each also support a student on the attached monitor) running the Ubuntu Linux-based operating system. The Haier Company, a diversified manufacturer and PC maker, and one of China's largest and most respected companies, won the contract for procurement and installation. The project will enable a range of innovative educational programs, including interactive web-based classes in which specialized experts teach lessons in such areas as mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics to multiple schools and classrooms around the country.

NComputing's multi-user system software and low-cost virtual PC terminals represent the next generation of thin computing, in which multi-user computing finally becomes affordable and accessible, and the user-experience equals that of a dedicated PC. The Macedonia project is at the same time, the largest known thin client and desktop Linux deployment ever undertaken.

"This project would not have been possible 5 years ago," said Ivanovski. "Today's least expensive desktop PCs are so powerful we use less than 10% of their capacity and NComputing's technology puts this wasted power to work."

In a brief 18 months after starting active shipments, NComputing has sold more than 500,000 seats, including more than 200,000 to U.S. schools, providing technology that addresses the needs of under-served markets worldwide, as well as those of small business and enterprise customers. The company's technology is being sold and deployed in more than 80 countries -- including thousands of schools, corporate and small business offices, and villages and cities in Africa, Europe, Asia and South America.

Until the next post,

Steve

26.25 gigaflops Server for less than 2,500 USD and fits into a suit case

2007-09-04T04:44:00.000Z

From:Calvin College
3201 Burton Street, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Written by Allison Graff, web communications coordinator

Student, prof build budget supercomputer
August 30 , 2007

When Tim Brom, Class 07, (pictured right) set out to build a budget supercomputer with Calvin computer science professor Joel Adams, he didn’t know the product of his efforts might end up in his checked baggage headed for England.

Brom, now a graduate student at the University of Kentucky continuing his studies in computer science, worked with Adams to build Microwulf, a machine that is among the smallest and least expensive supercomputers on the planet.

“It’s small enough to check on an airplane or fit next to a desk,” said Brom.

This may prove useful next summer when Brom and others from his graduate program travel to England to do work that will require “a significant amount of computing power.” And as the price of commercial supercomputers is often prohibitive for many educational institutions, bringing a “personal” supercomputer like Microwulf could be a cost-effective solution for the group of graduate researchers.

“So far as we can tell, this is the first supercomputer to have this low price/performance ratio—the first to cost less than $100/Gflop,” said Adams.

This is a significant achievement considering that Microwulf is more than twice as fast as Deep Blue, the IBM-created supercomputer that beat world chess champion Gary Kasparov in 1997, and cost only a fraction of the $5 million spent to build Deep Blue.

Microwulf has been measured to process 26.25 gigaflops, or 26.25 billion double-precision floating point instructions, per second. It achieves this performance by relying on four dual-core motherboards connected by an 8-port Gigabyt Ethernet switch. The connected components form a three-tiered system that looks like a triple-decker sandwich.

Supercomputers like Microwulf are used to solve problems that take too much number-crunching for an ordinary desktop to handle, either because its processor is too slow, or because it doesn’t have enough memory, said Adams. Truly huge supercomputers (more than 100 times as fast as Microwulf) are used by organizations like the National Weather Service to process meteorological data and by the United States Missile Defense Agency to simulate nuclear tests.

Microwulf is considered a Beowulf cluster, a group of networked computers that run open source software and work in parallel to solve a single problem. Beowulf clusters are so named because their homemade, cost-effective nature liberates researchers from expensive commercial options for super-computing, much like Beowulf of the Old English poem liberated the Danes from the tyrannical rule of Grendel.

Do Brom and Adams see themselves as “liberators” by unveiling of a system like Microwulf?

“We’re taking the liberation a step further,” said Adams. “Instead of a bunch of researchers having to share a single Beowulf cluster supercomputer, now each researcher can have their own.”

Just two years ago, building a personal supercomputer like Microwulf for the price of a high-performance desktop was out of the realm of possibility for Adams and Brom. But when they saw a portable Beowulf cluster called Little Fe at a conference in October 2005, they began to think about building their system.

“I was really enjoying my high-performance computing class and wanted to keep working in that area after the class ended. I was also thinking about graduate school at the time and a project like Microwulf looks good on a curriculum vitae,” said Brom.

So by the summer of 2006 when the price of hardware materials needed to build Microwulf had gone down, Adams asked his academic department to provide $2500 for the project. He also asked Brom, then beginning his last year at Calvin, to help him build the supercomputer. In January of 2007, they began to piece together their system and by March, they were running tests to see just what Microwulf could do. In the end, the project came in under budget with Microwulf donning a price-tag of just $2470. With current hardware prices, another system like Microwulf would cost half of what it cost Adams and Brom to build earlier this year.

Though supercomputers are typically evaluated on their price/performance ratio, Adams built Microwulf giving attention to its power/performance ratio as well. In other words, he wanted to pay attention to the system’s energy consumption.

“This is becoming increasingly important, as excess power consumption is inefficient and generates waste heat, which can in turn decrease reliability,” said Adams on his Web site.

Adams and Brom managed to build Microwulf so that it could plug into one standard 120V wall outlet. This feature only enhances the system’s portability, allowing it to be taken to classrooms and other research labs where large power supplies are unavailable.

Adams isn’t going to let Microwulf gather dust in the supercomputing lab in the Science Building. Instead he’s going to take it out on the road, mostly to middle school and high school classrooms to try and get teenagers hooked on computer science.

Microwulf’s inventors aren’t set on keeping their blueprints for the supercomputer a secret. In fact, they’ve just published a detailed description and evaluation of their project on Cluster Monkey so others can build their own portable and affordable supercomputers.

It remains to be seen whether Brom will be able to get his wire-filled personal supercomputer past airport security next summer.

Until the next post,

Steve

Why "Good Enough" Is Good Enough

2007-08-29T12:25:00.000Z

From BusinessWeek September 3, 2007

NEWS & INSIGHTS/Commentary
By Stephen Baker

Why "Good Enough" Is Good Enough
Imperfect technology greases innovation--and the whole marketplace

Say you have a crucial conference call in an hour and your phone goes dead. What do you do? A generation ago, this wasn't much of an issue, at least in the U.S. Phones in the days of the Bell monopoly were engineered to be "mission critical." You picked up one of those heavy receivers back then, and the dial tone was as prompt and reliable as water from the tap. It worked.

Yet these days, even as we pack global multimedia in our pockets, phone service sometimes seems to march backward. Andy Beal was one of 220 million subscribers to Skype, the cut-rate Internet telephony service owned by eBay (EBAY ), who saw the service go dark on Aug. 16. A software glitch kept it down for the next two days. Founder of the Raleigh (N.C.) Internet marketing consultancy Marketing Pilgrim, Beal learned that Skype was out an hour before clients were to call him from Holland. He had to message them in a hurry, telling them to call his tenuous backup: the cell phone. "It was embarrassing," he says. But at least the cell phone worked--which isn't always the case.

Are communications getting worse? Not by a long shot. We're surrounded by miraculous machines and services, most of them calibrated to a level software engineers have long called "good enough." In the right circumstances, good enough is great for the entire economy. A marketplace that's not hung up on fail-safe standards is open to risk and innovation, and drives down prices. Ever since the dawn of the PC--the archetype for a good-enough machine--inventors have been freer than ever to piece together and launch their visions. Some are brilliant, some are half-baked, many are a blend of the two. A precious few are up and running 99.999% of the time--Bell's old standard. But they cost far less to build.

The rise of good-enough technology raises different questions for do-it-yourselfers and major corporations alike. It's no longer whether we can afford a technology, but more often whether we can afford the disruption if and when it fails. Is it critical? Do we have backup in place? Many of us face this question every time we venture from our office with a cell phone. We don't have "one machine that works all the time," says Dave Morgan, chairman of Tacoda Inc., a New York advertising company. "We have lots of alternatives that work most of the time."

The upside of this sloppy status quo is enormous. Consider Andy Beal. He pays Skype about $60 a year, plus a couple cents for foreign calls. This gives him global telephony wherever he wanders with his laptop. He calls the service "seamless." He recently switched most of his office work--including e-mail, contacts, and calendar--to free Web services. This, of course, entails risk. In late July, an electrical outage in San Francisco brought some of the biggest sites, from Craigslist to Second Life, crashing down for 12 hours.

Beal's data reside on Google (GOOG ). The search giant is in fact an example of a major corporation that, like so many small fry, bets its business on good-enough technology. Google's data centers, the heart of the company's operations, consist of hundreds of thousands of commodity computers wired into a vast global network. These computers are little more reliable than yours or mine. Many die and are replaced every week. It could be that one of them at this very minute is issuing its dying blinks--and taking down Andy Beal's contact data with it. But if Google is working as designed, it links customers to another copy of those files or Web pages stored elsewhere on the network. Every computer has a legion of backups. Success, in the good-enough economy, means racing ahead even as the machines supporting us sputter and break.

I am fortunate to have the the name Steve. So when i remind myself to K.I.S.S, it means Keep It Simple Steve. But how simple can you make something and still achieve the required objectives? After a little thought, boiled the question down to the word "Precision". How "Precise" does something have to be?

Sometime later, was sitting in a tavern, famous for its Red Door, talking with a fellow IT guy about computer stuff. We each read several weekly "rags" and would exchange thoughts on what had "Legs" and what was "Flash". Asked him for his thoughts on how precise all this tech needs to be to work.

He answers, "Aristotle."

He informs me that i am couple thousand years behind and that one of the original founders of the first "SAP" had been down this road. He is brief but explains, sometimes "less is more." Maybe the time is right for a cell phone that only makes calls. I have one. It resides in the console of me truck, turned off.

Or here is a digital solution that does everything I want (or need) and nothing else to clutter its beauty. I use about 2% of what is in any of the operating systems and applications on the machines in the lab. Ninety plus some percent of available resources is not needed, nor wanted, but you get it regardless. Sometimes people may be asking for the wrong thing when they exclaim, "Why can it not just work?', when they should ask, "Why can i not get just what i need?" Sometimes more is less.

Until the next post,

Steve

Really Big Clusters Made From Lots of Small Servers

2007-08-29T11:50:00.000Z

Is the real interest in "Greener" data centers to lower energy costs (good for the environment and bottom line) or is it that more efficient ways of computing require less energy? Maybe some of both?

From InfoQ:

Greener datacenters through Millicomputer clusters?

Posted by Johan Strandler on Aug 28, 2007 10:07 AM

One big problem with current large scale enterprise computing and data centers is power consumption, and a lot of effort is made in the industry to reduce the power need in current server platforms. Adrian Cockcroft is defining a new type of enterprise computing platform where he addresses this problem by defining a new type of computer: The Millicomputer - a computer that requires less than 1 Watt. The idea is to build enterprise servers out of commodity components from the battery powered mobile space. He presents a way to build an enterprise server using about 100 such Millicomputers in a cluster on a single 1U rack. This server only consumes less than 160W which is much less than comparable 1U rack enterprise servers of today. Cockcroft calls this disruptive innovation and he makes a prediction for 2010 that there could be a market for about 100,000 Milliclusters at $10K each, where each Millicluster packages 100 Millicomputers into an Enterprise Server.
The Millicomputer and MilliCluster hardware is developed as "Open Hardware", which means that the hardware design won't be owned by a single vendor. The Millicomputer is using LInux as the operating system and the hardware is based on a Freescale i.MX31 System-on-a-chip component using microSDHC flash memory. While the Millicomputer doesn't require much power by itself, external ethernet connections do. In order to save power, Cockcroft introduces the concept of "Enterprise MilliCluster", which allows 14 Millicomputers to be load balanced behind one Twin 1GB Ethernet external interface ethernet port by connecting by connecting them through a USB switch using Linux USBNet transport. The form factor to such a MilliCluster makes it possible to put 8 clusters plus a power unit on a single 1U rack, which consumes less than 160W - probably much less.

By comparing a MilliCluster based 1U server with Suns x4100 Operon and T1000 Niagara servers Cockcroft says:

"For the same 1U package size and similar cost per package power is much less than a Niagara, less than half of an Opteron system. Total RAM capacity is similar, the raw CPU GHz is double, worst case GHz per Watt is six times better than Opteron, three times better than Niagara. Flash storage is 1000x faster for both random and sequential IOPS.

Applications suitable to run on Millicomputers include:

Applications that can be broken into small chunks, small scale or horizontally scalable web workloads, legacy applications that used to run on 5 year old machines, graphical video caves and storage I/O intensive applications are the best candidates to run on Millicomputers."

Although in very early development, Millicomputing appears to be quite a paradigm shift; could this be the enterprise hardware platform of the (greener) future?

Until the next post,

Steve

FCC Sets Spectrum Auction

2007-08-19T23:46:00.000Z

From PC World:

The long-awaited auction of 700MHz 'beachfront property' is scheduled to begin in January.

Stephen Lawson, IDG News Service

Saturday, August 18, 2007 3:00 PM PDT

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will begin its long-awaited auction of 700MHz radio spectrum on Jan. 16, 2008, the agency said Friday.

The sale is expected to take in US$10 billion or more in bids for what has been called "beachfront property:" licenses for frequencies that can carry mobile data and voice services over long distances and through walls much better than current cellular spectrum. The frequencies are currently used by analog television stations, which are scheduled to turn their channels over in 2009 as they move to digital broadcasting.

Google Inc. and others asked for rules in the auction that would help new entrants get into the national wireless business, such as a requirement that the winner sell some of the spectrum wholesale to other service providers. The FCC finally watered-down rules for openness, including that one part of the band can be used by any device or application.

The agency is seeking public comments on the auction, designated Auction 73. They are due by Aug. 31.

Choice is good.

Until the next post.

Steve

Eric Schmidt talking about Web 2.0 vs 3.0

2007-08-19T22:41:00.000Z

From Youtube dot com.

When Eric speaks a lot of people listen.

Until the next post,

Steve

Stephen Dukker, CEO NComputing, comments on OLPC

2007-08-19T22:03:00.000Z

NComputing has for more than a year been one of the top three searches that bring users to this site. I personally operate their units at two sites with out a problem.

From: Stephen Dukker, NComputing CNET News.com

Published: 07 Aug 2007 17:59 BST

via news.zdnet.co.uk

The last few years have witnessed an increasing focus on creating inexpensive, affordable computers for users in the developing world.

At the forefront of this movement is Professor Nicholas Negroponte, founder and former director of the MIT Media Lab. His not-for-profit One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project has been developing a laptop (targeted at $100 (£50) but currently struggling to break $200) suitable for use by every child in the developing world. Recently, Intel joined the board of OLPC and will even contribute funding to the project.

Helping people in the developing world cross the digital divide is a fundamental act of decency and generosity — and even self-interest — as these new markets grow, consumers spend and productivity surges. The need for technology among the under-served is so urgent, hopeful thinking goes, that even a computer with no commercial viability — no distribution channels, maintenance, training, programming services and, in fact, virtually no IT ecosystem at all — can meet that market's need.

As laudable as this dream is, the ideal unfortunately runs counter to a fundamental fact of life: a computer cannot exist independent of basic economic realities.

A computer is, rather, a creature of connectivity and collaboration. And, given the economic realities in the developing world, $200 computers cannot generate the profit essential for the creation of a robust IT ecosystem, which is essential to ensure successful deployment, ongoing operation and maintenance.

The price of a base-level personal computer today is about $400. That hasn't changed much in the last 10 years, although the power this computer delivers has increased profoundly. As a result, however, the world computer user base has been stuck at a largely saturated 850 million users for years. Unfortunately another billion potential users — most in developing and under-served markets like education — cannot afford the requisite $400. If we can merely squeeze down the price tag, have we solved their problem?

Only if you believe that OLPC and Intel's $200 laptop, with their PDA-like, seven-inch screens and obsolete processors are the answer. But the developing world is not just "village kids", but rather motivated, ambitious people engaged in business, agriculture, commerce, healthcare, finance and education.

As laudable as this dream is, the ideal unfortunately runs counter to a fundamental fact of life: a computer cannot exist independent of basic economic realities

Stephen Dukker, NComputing

For PCs to be productive in this business and educational landscape, they require a host of supporting services, plus reasonable features and capabilities. A PC must communicate, which mandates connectivity. That, in turn, demands configuration, maintenance, professional services, technical support, hardware and software upgradeability. Without a healthy ecosystem, a PC is not worth even $200.

Here in the developed world, the PC hardware makers have put up with profitless computing for years as a result of operating in a saturated, upgrade-driven market. We know our industry is in sick condition and we have now driven down the cost of "real PCs" as far as they can go.

However, not everyone needs their own PC. What they do need is access to the functionality and benefits that the PC provides, delivered in an affordable and efficient way. That's where I believe multi-user computing fills the void.

This multi-user model is not new. During the 1960s, when computers were all mainframes and cost millions, multi-user computing, in the form of time-sharing (where we rented access by the hour using low-cost "dumb terminals"), was our first tool for expanding the market from the "Fortunate 500" to the rest of us. This model continued through the 1970s, with $100,000 and, ultimately, $10,000 minicomputers further expanding the market. In the 1980s came the PC and the world changed; ultimately, we all got our own computers.

Although the last 10 years have seen very little movement in the price of low-end PCs, technology advances have turned the 2007 entry-level PC into a very muscular piece of technology whose gigapower is more than 1,000 times that of a $400 box built in 1998. Only a fraction of today's PC users, such as computational scientists, extreme gamers, graphic artists and industrial designers use more than a few percent of what these mainframes on a desk can offer.

As a result, the vast majority of those CPU cycles are wasted, burning energy (150 to 200 watts per box) which is costly and scarce in these markets and becoming ever more costly to own. So why not harness and share this extra capacity and resurrect these proven techniques and technologies from the past to take today's "mainframe on a desk" and put its power to work?

Enterprise computer users have been benefiting from the PC version of multi-user computing since 1990, something our industry has dubbed "server-based computing". Blade computing and virtualisation are the latest twists on this same multi-user concept.

However, these enterprise software and hardware components are expensive. The software licences alone often add up to more than the cost of the full or stripped-down PCs being used as the access terminals. These terminals (thin clients) are themselves as expensive as low-end PCs. It has been, thus far, a technology for the rich and fortunate.

A number of new firms, including my own company, NComputing, have reincarnated the thin client with non-CPU-based access terminals. Access terminals are being built today at costs as low as $11 and sold for well under $100 per user. At the same time, they provide manufacturers, distributors, resellers and maintenance partners with full commercial margins. The expensive software and high-end servers have been replaced by low-cost or free software and desktop PCs. These multi-user environments tap the power of low-end PCs to support 10 or more concurrent users, with power consumption of under six watts per user.

All the evidence undercuts the widespread technology assumption about how best to liberate emerging regions of the globe from the energy-wasteful business model which is being foisted upon them today.

Stephen Dukker is chief executive of NComputing. He is also a founder and former chief executive of eMachines.

If your are really interested, perform a search on "NComputing Ndiyo Teradici". Leave me a comment and i will forward you the name of a computer manufacture that is also interested.

Until the next post,

Steve

Clearwire and Sprint partner to build out WiMax in US

2007-08-19T13:04:00.002Z

Cleaning out the email box and came upon this article. T1 speed with wireless. Covers about 300 million users in the US. I like it.

From: Stephen Lawson, IDG News Service

Sunday, July 22, 2007 4:00 PM PDT

With wider national coverage than either company could have had on its own, Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. say they can achieve on their joint WiMax network some of what Google Inc. and others want to see in the prized 700MHz band.

The companies announced Thursday they will link their respective WiMax wireless broadband networks to give subscribers a seamless roaming experience across territories that eventually will cover 300 million U.S. residents. The network will deliver between 2M bps (bits per second) and 4M bps downstream and about half that speed upstream, they said.

Sprint and Clearwire plan to use WiMax so that subscribers can choose among a wide range of devices built to the open standard on which the technology is based. In addition, they intend to let users access any application or service on the Internet, said Atish Gude, senior vice president of mobile broadband operations at Sprint.

The upcoming auction of 700MHz radio spectrum around the U.S. has sparked a fierce debate between traditional carriers and Google Inc., Frontline Wireless LLC and others over how that spectrum should be used. Current mobile operators generally sell a limited set of devices locked to their networks and favor their own applications among the offerings their customers can access on their phones. Google told the FCC on Friday it won't bid unless the government requires any-device, any-application networks. It also wants a rule forcing the winners to sell wholesale network access to other service providers. Sprint doesn't have plans for wholesale access.

Sprint, which announced its WiMax plans last year, said Thursday it owns spectrum licenses for the WiMax band that cover 185 million U.S. residents. Clearwire has spectrum in the same band to serve 115 million people. The combined network should be fairly comprehensive, covering urban, suburban and rural areas across the country, which today has a population just over 302 million, the Census Bureau estimates.

After "soft" launches in Chicago and Washington, D.C., at the end of this year and commercial availability starting next year, the companies together aim to reach 100 million people by the end of 2008. This is the same 2008 goal Sprint had given previously by itself, but it was an aggressive goal then and is now a conservative estimate, Gude said. The companies did not estimate when the full network would be completed.

Given the higher frequency Sprint and Clearwire plan to use, at 2.5GHz, their network is likely to need more base stations than a similar network using 700MHz, which travels over long distances and through walls more easily.

Video about Xohm

Clearwire already operates a wireless broadband service and has been planning to convert it to standard mobile WiMax, which is only now emerging as a commercial technology. The company is backed by heavy hitters including Intel Corp. and Motorola Inc.

Sprint, struggling against larger rivals AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless Inc., could use Clearwire's helping hand. The deal may let Sprint realize its WiMax dream at less expense, said IDC analyst Godfrey Chua. There seems to be little overlap between the two carriers' licenses, so the partnership won't really hurt competition and is likely to win government approval, Chua said.

The first users will access the network with standalone modems, notebook add-on cards or PCs and smaller Ultra Mobile PCs with embedded modems, Sprint said. But it sees mobility as the key driver of the network and believes WiMax handsets will arrive by 2009, Gude said.

However, Chua thinks ever-faster cellular technologies have the edge for mobility. The Sprint-Clearwire network will compete mainly against DSL (digital subscriber line) and cable modem services, with the advantage that subscribers can set up a notebook away from home and enjoy the same service. It could significantly boost broadband competition, he said.

"It's making the world a little bit more interesting now," Chua said.

Until the next post,

Steve

2007-08-01T09:03:00.000Z

Received in my in box this article from RED HERRING.

PC Killer?
Desktone snares $17M, vies to convert big companies to virtual desktops.
July 30, 2007
By Ken Schachter

Desktone, which aims to get companies to junk their PCs in favor of thin clients with virtualized desktops, has landed $17 million in a series A funding round announced Monday.

Highland Capital Partners and Softbank Capital led the round, which also included China-based Tangee International and strategic investor Citrix Systems.

Desktone, whose software is designed to tie together client devices, operating systems, storage, applications, servers and network technology, is likely to face stiff competition. Some corporate IT departments prefer to build the virtualized desktop on their own. Startups like 2-year-old Kidaro, a New York City-based company backed by Genesis Partners, Storm Ventures and Opus Capital Ventures, also compete for a share of the market.

Microsoft, whose Windows operating system dominates the corporate workplace, in 2006 acquired Softricity, whose chief executive was Harry Ruda, now the chief executive of Desktone.

Peter Bell, a partner at Highland Capital and a Desktone board member, said Desktone, based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, offers the IT managers of large corporations a respite from the complexities of managing thousands of networked PCs.

“Their software platform is removing some of the physical complexity where you might have thousands of desktops,” he said. Desktone will provide the IT organization a single management console.

Ron Fisher, also a board member at Desktone and managing partner at Softbank, the cost of maintaining a personal computer in a corporate environment can be several times the cost of acquisition.

“When you move people’s PCs, the cost of getting them set up is several hundred dollars,” he said.

Rather than charge companies one large fee for its software, Desktone is selling “software as a service,” charging companies a per-user fee per month or per year.

That model appeals to companies seeking to improve their return on assets, said Desktone Chief Operating Officer Paul Gaffney, who has served in senior positions at superstore chains Staples and Office Depot.

One-year-old Desktone already has some undisclosed corporate customers and intends to focus initially on financial services firms in the Boston-New York City corridor, Mr. Bell said.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Citrix Systems’ infrastructure is used in some virtualized desktops to deliver software applications.

Though some companies will want desktop users to have “thin clients,” allowing the IT department to serve and store all information, others will be content to coordinate software patches and updates through a “virtual desktop” on PCs, Mr. Fisher said.

Until the next post,

Steve

Microsoft names their SaaS "Cloud Infrastructure Services"

2007-07-28T21:27:00.000Z

Information Week in this weeks issue, is reporting about Microsoft's epiphany regarding Software as a Service. This is not new. Microsoft for several years has offered through resellers like HP, SPLA (Service Providers License agreement). What may be new is Microsoft may have discovered, 1) Advertisement supported on line services, and 2) the strategic ability to "eat their own young." The second may even be more important that the first.

With Its Head In The 'Cloud,' Microsoft Talks Web Services

Company leaders outline progress, promise more resources, in software-plus-services push.
By J. Nicholas Hoover
InformationWeek
July 28, 2007 12:00 AM (From the July 30, 2007 issue)

Microsoft last week continued to sketch out its emerging software-as-a-service strategy. In speech after speech at the company's annual meeting with financial analysts, Microsoft executives discussed the company's high-priority shift from a heavy reliance on shrink-wrapped software.

"From my viewpoint, every one of our software offerings is either a socket for a new attached service or an upgrade or up-sell opportunity to extend a product's value proposition up to the Web and potentially through to mobile devices," said chief software architect Ray Ozzie.

Throwing talent, resources, money at the ad business Microsoft's online architecture starts with a "foundation services" layer that includes the data centers from which its Web services run. The number of servers in Microsoft's services infrastructure has more than doubled in the last year, according to Ozzie. A new data center will break ground this week in San Antonio.

At the next level are "cloud infrastructure services," which Ozzie described as a kind of "utility computing fabric" of virtualized services, application frameworks, management infrastructure, storage, and network services. Microsoft expects to offer those capabilities to developers and to enterprise customers over time, Ozzie said.

The other layers in Microsoft's services model include "Live platform services" (identity and presence services, for example) that have an online advertising infrastructure, and applications such as CRM.

Microsoft will give Web-based "click-to-run capabilities" to Windows applications, CEO Steve Ballmer said. Jeff Raikes, president of Microsoft's business division, added that there's a place online for "traditional office productivity," though he didn't say whether that meant Web versions of Office apps or lesser collaborative document editing and sharing capabilities.

Microsoft will extend its software offerings with "connected productivity scenarios" that might include document sharing, note taking, meetings, and universal access on the Web and mobile devices, Ozzie said. For line-of-business employees, CRM, lightweight ERP, and "issue-tracking solutions" may be in store.

Microsoft has been investing heavily in its advertising platform, including the $6 billion it's spending to acquire aQuantive. Last week, it disclosed plans to buy AdECN, an ad exchange that Microsoft officials likened to a stock exchange where ads are auctioned off to advertising networks that are exchange members. Yahoo bought an ad exchange, Right Media, earlier this year.

'HELL-BENT' ON SUCCESS
"We are hell-bent and determined to allocate the talent, the resources, the money, the innovation to absolutely become a powerhouse in the ad business," said Ballmer. "This is essential if our software-plus-services vision is going to come to fruition." And there was progress to report: Microsoft last week revealed deals to serve advertisements to visitors to social news site Digg and in-game advertising for five EA Sports video games.

As part of that effort to innovate and gain market position, Microsoft said it has formed an applied research group called the Internet Services Research Center to accelerate the development and deployment of Microsoft advertising technologies. The group will be headed by VP Harry Shum, formerly chief scientist for the company's search and advertising platform group under senior VP Satya Nadella.

Until the next post,

Steve