Why is Google So Stupid
Fifteen years ago, the state of the art of full-text searching was word proximity based searching. You hand the search engine a few words and the documents with those words come back, usually sorted intelligently based upon the proximity of…
UCaaS + Google Apps
Perhaps the biggest mystery in the world is why Google doesn’t add enterprise-class voice solutions to its UC portfolio. I don’t have that answer, but solutions are appearing from partners. Last week Vonage acquired gUnify which offers a very strong…
EC15 Keynotes Google
This last post of this four part series of keynote presentations at Enterprise Connect 2015 is about Google. The keynotes, in order of delivery (and posting), were: Rowan Trollope of Cisco Gary Barnett of Avaya Zig Serafin of Microsoft Adam…
Crazy October
It was true last year too – October is a crazy month in the world of UC. This October 2014 is filled with travel, briefings and trials. On the travel side, I’m doing a 4 city road show with AVST,…
Lync, Skype, and IM
I can’t recall when I started using Skype – probably around 2007. It’s incredibly useful – at least it was. I’ve begun removing contacts from Skype because their presence indication is always green/available. Presence is one of the key features…
Google and Cloud Security
There is this impression that premises-based solutions are more secure than cloud-based solutions. While this certainly CAN be true, it is a far cry from being true. The vast majority of organizations will find cloud-based services to deliver improved availability and security….
A Few Thoughts on Hangouts
I’ve said before that Google isn’t that serious about enterprise communications. My main proof point was the bungling of the Google Voice opportunity. I’ve been using Google Apps from nearly the beginning. Although not as robust as Microsoft Office, it…
Conversation with gUnify
Crisantos Hajibrahim is the founder and CEO of gUnify which brings enterprise UC to Google Apps. Actually, gUnify is a “middleware” company. It is a pure cloud play, and enables service providers to integrate with Google Apps. There is no…
Reflecting on Chromebox for Meetings
Google recently announced Chromebox for Meetings (Hangouts for rooms). Vidyo concurrently announced Hangouts to Other (H2O). Here’s a collection of my thoughts in random order. Related content: Room with a View. I can’t decide if this is a good price or not….
Federating BroadSoft
It is a very busy Fall. My Twitter followers know it was ShoreTel, STC, a dealer customer event, and BroadSoft Connections. This week is the Cisco Collaboration Summit, and soon after that is finale in Japan – NEC User Forum and iExpo. Generally,…
Forbes is Right – So What
Forbes published a tirade on Microsoft on Jan 2 titled Microsoft is Fast Turning Into a Sideshow. Roger Kay makes some compelling points that Microsoft is not as influential as it once was, and that it has missed or blown…
Johnny Cab
What seemed far fetched just a few years ago is on the fast track toward reality. I’m speaking about Johnny Cab. In the movie Total Recall, Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) jumps into a driver-less taxi known as “Johnny Cab.” To make…
Microsoft and Me
Regarding desktops, tablets, and smartphones – I am considering going pure Microsoft. That will mean two new mobile devices, and then switching to IE and Office 365. I will lose apps on my mobile devices and hinder my path to…
The Googrilla Grows
I recently published the Googrilla in the Midst which posits that the influence and impact of Google Apps is largely underappreciated and untapped by the UC community. We are reasonably confident that the cloud in general, and Google Apps specifically,…
The Cloud Dissipation Problem
Google has decided to kill Reader. This is not the first time a product I use and value has been discontinued. I continue to use lots of products that were discontinued, such as my TV and car. The difference is…
Siri, You Don’t Say
Google slated Siri. Apple’s Siri and I have never gotten along. I don’t need a personal assistant with a sense of humor. I need a computer assistant that gives me answers. Siri gives enough backlash that it just isn’t fun…
UC Alliance Anyone?
The Tech Sector had a rough month in May. Kevin Kelleher of CNN Money asks (but doesn’t answer) the question Why Are Blue Chip Tech Stocks So Blue? Exhibit A, of course, is the Facebook (FB) IPO, which in its first…
FireSpotter’s UberConference
Until I spoke to Craig Walker about FireSpotter Labs’ new UberConference service – I hadn’t really thought about how much audio conferencing has been frozen in time. Yes, there has been some big innovations – particularly with enterprise class premises…
Google Apps in the Enterprise? Not!
I’m a big fan of Google Apps. I regularly collaborate with others on various projects, and find Google Docs a powerful tool. Most of my documents include multiple editors. I despise making multiple copies and sending them via email –…
Google Voice Offline
Evidently at least one of the engineers at Google Voice woke up and came up with a new feature…Offline Texting. It was announced with the following blog post: Sometimes the times that we’re offline can be our most productive times….