Despite all the attention given to disaster recovery and backup, it has escaped most people’s attention that failing to backup and archive email is often as big a problem as all the other forms of electronic data they worry about put together. Worse still many users simply don’t realise that their email is NOT backed up because much backup software CANNOT backup email. They think they are covered and they simply are not.
Email has become the default method for distributing most documents, despite the fact that it’s probably the least efficient way of transferring files: it wins out because it’s easy. This means that for many documents that we receive the only copy is kept in email folders creating huge capacity problems. Even if we archive received mail, many organisations don’t archive sent mail creating a huge potential liability through the commitments made, or inferred, on email. Increasingly email is accepted as documentary evidence of a commitment, of which no record is kept.
Most customers don’t realise they have an obligation to maintain an archive of their emails under the Data Protection Act. Anyone can request a copy of any documentation under a Subject Access Request and the company has 40 days to find it and produce it or face a fine. The most common requests are from disgruntled ex-employees. Failing to find the appropriate document could therefore give rise to two separate fines, one under Data Protection and one through grievance procedures for which no defence is available. In fact the cost of failing to retrieve email doesn’t stop there as research has revealed that the cost of searching for these documents can exceed £30,000.
For many users with hosted email the process can be even easier with a copy kept centrally automatically and only downloaded when required. With email storage running to multiples gigabytes per user per annum it makes sense to plan archiving it for all users in an organisation rather than relying on individual users running their own routines. Power email users can send an AVERAGE of 100 emails a day!
Once archived a document should be capable of being retrieved via search, individually or en bloc. Beware, searching outside of destination, subject, sender and date is very difficult and potentially very expensive. Of course, backup and archiving applied to all documents is a central element of any disaster recovery strategy and the ability to recover documents quickly and cheaply can go a long way to resolving problems when they occur, or avoiding them in the first place.
For more information, visit the data security pages on the Wired Workplace site, where you can download the rest of this whitepaper, and get more information about the email archiving system on offer!
Monday, 2 June 2008
Friday, 30 May 2008
Voice Over Wireless
What is Wireless for?
As the technology that delivers data networking has stabilised around a well understood architecture (including Ethernet and TCP/IP) and the technologies themselves have developed to the point where they provide all of the capability that most people need, new developments have focused on the application of data communications in a mobile/wireless context. The evolution of wireless LAN (or WiFi) technology has had two principle drivers:
Similar requirements have driven WiFi in business use. Some homes and offices are not really suitable for re-cabling – the cost and disruption of retro-fitting LAN cabling make it impractical. There is also the case that some landlords will not allow tenants to drill holes in walls or do the other work necessary to deploy LAN cabling. Unless the user is happy to have cables trailing across floors, WiFi is the perfect solution. It is also true that many businesses have a changing population of users and again WiFi’s ability to flex across a dynamic population of users makes it ideal for this application.
This latter attribute, the ability to accommodate a shifting population of users, has driven the WiFi “Hotspot” market, in response to the requirement in the second point above. Airports, business centres and hotels are natural applications for this and speculative business plans have seen hotspots installed in coffee shops and pubs. From a technology perspective the primary driver for WiFi usage has been simple availability. Most new laptops (which are taking an increasing share of the PC market) and many PDAs have WiFi capability built in, either at the chip level (Intel’s Centrino product) or on the mother board. This drives the perception that WiFi is “free” and drives up its utility.
As WiFi and Broadband become pervasive users are looking for new ways to harness this newfound communications power and their attention rapidly transfers to voice traffic, which still accounts for the majority of most peoples spending on communications. In the early stages of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) deployment at the user level it was mostly invisible to the user and was driven by a strategic choice in larger companies. Latterly VoIP has become reliable and easy enough to use at the user level and the migration of this use from fixed broadband to wireless is inevitable. Where a specific choice is being made it is often driven by an awareness of the high cost of mobile calls.
Market dynamics
This new market is attracting sufficient attention to get on the radar of the analyst and market watching firms, who are starting to measure shipment and deployment volumes at the handset level. Although much VoIP usage is driven by “soft client” usage, this is difficult to measure. Handset shipments are a good proxy for the overall growth in the Voice over Wireless market, even if they account for only a portion of that market. Infonetics estimate that 113,000 units shipped worldwide in 2004 producing revenues of $45m with more than 8,000 handsets supporting both Voice over Wireless and cellular. Although this latter market is clearly in an even earlier stage, it looks likely that Voice over Wireless will create a further dynamic in the convergent telecoms market. Early shipments have featured take up in healthcare and logistics where fixed line phones have real limitations. In the US IDC estimate that the residential market for VoIP will grow from 3 million subscribers in 2005 to 27 million in 2009. Apart from the value of this market on its own, these sorts of volumes flush additional development investment into the technology and service provider markets. In Western Europe IDC estimate that overall IP telephony shipments grew 13% to $77m just in the fourth quarter of 2004. Their prediction for 2005 is that the market will grow 53% overall and revenues will reach $350m. Ovum estimate the VoIP market will reach $1.4bn in 2008.
Outstanding issues
There are still issues that need to be addressed and managed. The ones that have gained most attention so far have been quality of service, the ability to roam between different wireless platforms (or even between different access points on the same network), the relatively short range of unlicensed spectrum systems and their ability to support relatively low densities of users. As most users leave access points on their default settings, security is also a consideration.
Another issue at play is the shift in revenues between fixed and mobile telephony. In most markets there are multiple mobile operators, even where there is limited competition for the incumbent national carrier in fixed telephone services. This shift has challenged the business models of even the most monopolistic fixed line operators, who are seeing traffic levels falling rapidly in the one area of their business where most of the revenues and margins sit. Despite attempts to counter this with pricing action they have universally found the mobile proposition difficult to counter, to the point where, in some countries, the number of mobile handsets exceeds the adult population and where many people choose to not have a fixed telephone line at all.
Voice over wireless is seen by many operators as a partial answer to this challenge and as a way of defending their revenues against cannibalisation by mobile traffic. The VoIP “free on net” calls model can appear to makes their situation worse and yet many operators realise that they have to find a way of addressing these challenges. Embracing VoIP seems a bitter pill to swallow but the ability to challenge mobile erosion with Voice over Wireless makes this more palatable.
For more information about Voice Over Wireless, visit the Wired Workplace customer zone and download the whitepaper in full.
As the technology that delivers data networking has stabilised around a well understood architecture (including Ethernet and TCP/IP) and the technologies themselves have developed to the point where they provide all of the capability that most people need, new developments have focused on the application of data communications in a mobile/wireless context. The evolution of wireless LAN (or WiFi) technology has had two principle drivers:
- A need to address the requirements for networking where physical cabling is not practical or not desirable, especially where the number of connections is relatively small.
- A need to provide mobile or nomadic access for people working outside of the traditional office environment. This was itself driven by a growing dissatisfaction with the high costs and poor performance of data communications over 2G mobile phones.
Similar requirements have driven WiFi in business use. Some homes and offices are not really suitable for re-cabling – the cost and disruption of retro-fitting LAN cabling make it impractical. There is also the case that some landlords will not allow tenants to drill holes in walls or do the other work necessary to deploy LAN cabling. Unless the user is happy to have cables trailing across floors, WiFi is the perfect solution. It is also true that many businesses have a changing population of users and again WiFi’s ability to flex across a dynamic population of users makes it ideal for this application.
This latter attribute, the ability to accommodate a shifting population of users, has driven the WiFi “Hotspot” market, in response to the requirement in the second point above. Airports, business centres and hotels are natural applications for this and speculative business plans have seen hotspots installed in coffee shops and pubs. From a technology perspective the primary driver for WiFi usage has been simple availability. Most new laptops (which are taking an increasing share of the PC market) and many PDAs have WiFi capability built in, either at the chip level (Intel’s Centrino product) or on the mother board. This drives the perception that WiFi is “free” and drives up its utility.
As WiFi and Broadband become pervasive users are looking for new ways to harness this newfound communications power and their attention rapidly transfers to voice traffic, which still accounts for the majority of most peoples spending on communications. In the early stages of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) deployment at the user level it was mostly invisible to the user and was driven by a strategic choice in larger companies. Latterly VoIP has become reliable and easy enough to use at the user level and the migration of this use from fixed broadband to wireless is inevitable. Where a specific choice is being made it is often driven by an awareness of the high cost of mobile calls.
Market dynamics
This new market is attracting sufficient attention to get on the radar of the analyst and market watching firms, who are starting to measure shipment and deployment volumes at the handset level. Although much VoIP usage is driven by “soft client” usage, this is difficult to measure. Handset shipments are a good proxy for the overall growth in the Voice over Wireless market, even if they account for only a portion of that market. Infonetics estimate that 113,000 units shipped worldwide in 2004 producing revenues of $45m with more than 8,000 handsets supporting both Voice over Wireless and cellular. Although this latter market is clearly in an even earlier stage, it looks likely that Voice over Wireless will create a further dynamic in the convergent telecoms market. Early shipments have featured take up in healthcare and logistics where fixed line phones have real limitations. In the US IDC estimate that the residential market for VoIP will grow from 3 million subscribers in 2005 to 27 million in 2009. Apart from the value of this market on its own, these sorts of volumes flush additional development investment into the technology and service provider markets. In Western Europe IDC estimate that overall IP telephony shipments grew 13% to $77m just in the fourth quarter of 2004. Their prediction for 2005 is that the market will grow 53% overall and revenues will reach $350m. Ovum estimate the VoIP market will reach $1.4bn in 2008.
Outstanding issues
There are still issues that need to be addressed and managed. The ones that have gained most attention so far have been quality of service, the ability to roam between different wireless platforms (or even between different access points on the same network), the relatively short range of unlicensed spectrum systems and their ability to support relatively low densities of users. As most users leave access points on their default settings, security is also a consideration.
Another issue at play is the shift in revenues between fixed and mobile telephony. In most markets there are multiple mobile operators, even where there is limited competition for the incumbent national carrier in fixed telephone services. This shift has challenged the business models of even the most monopolistic fixed line operators, who are seeing traffic levels falling rapidly in the one area of their business where most of the revenues and margins sit. Despite attempts to counter this with pricing action they have universally found the mobile proposition difficult to counter, to the point where, in some countries, the number of mobile handsets exceeds the adult population and where many people choose to not have a fixed telephone line at all.
Voice over wireless is seen by many operators as a partial answer to this challenge and as a way of defending their revenues against cannibalisation by mobile traffic. The VoIP “free on net” calls model can appear to makes their situation worse and yet many operators realise that they have to find a way of addressing these challenges. Embracing VoIP seems a bitter pill to swallow but the ability to challenge mobile erosion with Voice over Wireless makes this more palatable.
For more information about Voice Over Wireless, visit the Wired Workplace customer zone and download the whitepaper in full.
Beyond Broadband
The Broadband market has taken off faster than even the most optimistic market guru might have been predicted. At a time when the IT and Communications industries have been imploding due to a collapse of confidence and new investment, Broadband is showing growing like no other sector. Yet the first signs of the end of the boom are already in sight; Germany is the first market in Europe to be showing signs of saturation an Korea and Taiwan grew by just 9.3% and 6% respectively in the first half of 2003 (Point Topic, 2003). So where do we go from here? Most observers agree that the days if the fast Internet proposition are numbered and that the rest of the population, whether business or consumer, needs something more compelling that fast downloads and email.
The central hypothesis is that, in order for the Broadband market to keep developing, and for those in it to make money, there is a requirement not only for a review of the services offered over Broadband, but moreover, a fundamental shift in user behaviour. Although widely misused throughout the nineties, the phrase "paradigm shift" is appropriate. When explosive growth is matched with significant change in behaviour, we see the sort of discontinuity, mor market dislocation, where the rules get re-written.
To continue reading this document, visit the Wired Workplace customer zone, where you will be able to download the whitepaper in full.
The central hypothesis is that, in order for the Broadband market to keep developing, and for those in it to make money, there is a requirement not only for a review of the services offered over Broadband, but moreover, a fundamental shift in user behaviour. Although widely misused throughout the nineties, the phrase "paradigm shift" is appropriate. When explosive growth is matched with significant change in behaviour, we see the sort of discontinuity, mor market dislocation, where the rules get re-written.
To continue reading this document, visit the Wired Workplace customer zone, where you will be able to download the whitepaper in full.
Presence & Collaboration in IP Communications
Presence
Presence is not merely a technical capability – it actually changes the way things are done. Understanding the impact of changes in behaviour explains why some of these technological developments take time to mature. It’s not the technology that is difficult; it’s the cultural and behavioural change they require or enable that takes time.
In a presence-enabled context communication (whether it is voice or data-centric) is only initiated when the various parties are available. This represents a fundamental change in the way calls are made and is similar to how Instant Messaging (IM) applications are used. Voice systems have traditionally shown the current call state of an extension on the system. What was not provided was information about whether the person was actually at their desk even when the phone was idle. IM applications provide presence information based on keyboard strokes or mouse movement. This information can be linked to the user’s calendar and geographic location to deliver more meaningful information: “In a meeting”, or “Don’t call he’s in Japan where it is currently 3am”. Combining this functionality with the telephone is a natural next step and the SIMPLE protocol (see later section and glossary for more detail) is currently being worked through the IETF to support both instant messaging and presence. This in turn changes the model for how telephony services are charged. The prevailing model is likely to involve personal subscriptions (i.e. a per user charge) rather than a line or extension charge, plus a call charge for calls that go off net. This is similar to how mobile phones are charged which in turn reinforces a “personal handset” model where the users most commonly used numbers are stored as part of the subscription or on the handset itself. With Voice over Wireless handsets the form factor and styling is likely to echo mobile and users will carry them around the office or when they go out and about. Dual function phones with both Voice over Wireless and true 2G/3G capability will be available in identical form factors and styling options to the pure mobile handsets they replace.
Identity
As organisational boundaries change, become transparent or disappear, the ability to assess whether another party is someone one wishes to initia
te or even permit communication with becomes even more important. There will always be organisations and individuals who want to restrict their visibility and these tools will enable this as much as they will improve visibility. It is key that the individual has control over these parameters for these tools to become accepted. With identity comes security to protect organisations and individuals from illicit or damaging behaviour.
Although this may seem to reduce the opportunities for making new contacts, and clearly has a benefit in screening nuisance calls, it does also allow the opportunity for people to broadcast when they are open to contact. As these applications get more sophisticated and the networking interface improves people will put more effort into developing their online identity and further improving communication.
To continue reading, download the whitepaper in full here
Presence is not merely a technical capability – it actually changes the way things are done. Understanding the impact of changes in behaviour explains why some of these technological developments take time to mature. It’s not the technology that is difficult; it’s the cultural and behavioural change they require or enable that takes time.
In a presence-enabled context communication (whether it is voice or data-centric) is only initiated when the various parties are available. This represents a fundamental change in the way calls are made and is similar to how Instant Messaging (IM) applications are used. Voice systems have traditionally shown the current call state of an extension on the system. What was not provided was information about whether the person was actually at their desk even when the phone was idle. IM applications provide presence information based on keyboard strokes or mouse movement. This information can be linked to the user’s calendar and geographic location to deliver more meaningful information: “In a meeting”, or “Don’t call he’s in Japan where it is currently 3am”. Combining this functionality with the telephone is a natural next step and the SIMPLE protocol (see later section and glossary for more detail) is currently being worked through the IETF to support both instant messaging and presence. This in turn changes the model for how telephony services are charged. The prevailing model is likely to involve personal subscriptions (i.e. a per user charge) rather than a line or extension charge, plus a call charge for calls that go off net. This is similar to how mobile phones are charged which in turn reinforces a “personal handset” model where the users most commonly used numbers are stored as part of the subscription or on the handset itself. With Voice over Wireless handsets the form factor and styling is likely to echo mobile and users will carry them around the office or when they go out and about. Dual function phones with both Voice over Wireless and true 2G/3G capability will be available in identical form factors and styling options to the pure mobile handsets they replace.
Identity
As organisational boundaries change, become transparent or disappear, the ability to assess whether another party is someone one wishes to initia
te or even permit communication with becomes even more important. There will always be organisations and individuals who want to restrict their visibility and these tools will enable this as much as they will improve visibility. It is key that the individual has control over these parameters for these tools to become accepted. With identity comes security to protect organisations and individuals from illicit or damaging behaviour.Although this may seem to reduce the opportunities for making new contacts, and clearly has a benefit in screening nuisance calls, it does also allow the opportunity for people to broadcast when they are open to contact. As these applications get more sophisticated and the networking interface improves people will put more effort into developing their online identity and further improving communication.
To continue reading, download the whitepaper in full here
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
The Broadband Imperative
Broadband is one of the most exciting markets imaginable. Service and content providers can touch people's lives in new ways, bringing new forms of entertainment to the consumer and enabling huge new opportunities for small and medium sized businesses who have yet to fully exploit Broadband technologies. Most importantly it can also offer market players a highly profitable business opportunity.
Statistics show that, globally, over 25 million Broadband connections exist, so this is clearly an opportunity worth tracking. Yet because of the recent downturn in the world economy, and the stigma attached to enterprises involving the Internet or Internet technologies, raising capital to exploit some of these opportunities has been tough. Even established companies have found it difficult, if not impossible, to raise money for new ventures.
However, Broadband's greatest advantage is that it enables many of the promises that the Internet appeared to deliver but singularly failed to do. It does so simply by making that technology work at acceptable speeds. And speed is critical. Internet addicts and early adopters have already got Broadband where they can, and are complaining loudly where they cannot - i's a clear indication of demand when people set up consumer web sites and pressure groups.
However, although speed is important it is simply the beginning of the story, the starting point. The rest of the market needs more stimulation than fast, always-on Internet access to convert them into customers, and they are not getting that from the current providers. Without content for consumers, or services and applications for businesses Broadband is just as fast, always-on connection to the Internet and, for most users, that is not enough.
The growth in Broadband markets will be driven not by downloaders of MP3 files and the 'adult' market, but by real Internet based applications and by content. When those offerings become compelling, so will the Broadband proposition. If the telecommunications and IT industries do not exploit Broadband's ability to transform the way we use communications and deliver new compelling applications and services at revolutionary prices to previously poorly served markets, it will be seen as another technology which failed to deliver.
For more information, visit wiredworkplace.net/broadband where you can find more information about the Broadband services currently offered, and how they can benefit you!
Statistics show that, globally, over 25 million Broadband connections exist, so this is clearly an opportunity worth tracking. Yet because of the recent downturn in the world economy, and the stigma attached to enterprises involving the Internet or Internet technologies, raising capital to exploit some of these opportunities has been tough. Even established companies have found it difficult, if not impossible, to raise money for new ventures.
However, Broadband's greatest advantage is that it enables many of the promises that the Internet appeared to deliver but singularly failed to do. It does so simply by making that technology work at acceptable speeds. And speed is critical. Internet addicts and early adopters have already got Broadband where they can, and are complaining loudly where they cannot - i's a clear indication of demand when people set up consumer web sites and pressure groups.
However, although speed is important it is simply the beginning of the story, the starting point. The rest of the market needs more stimulation than fast, always-on Internet access to convert them into customers, and they are not getting that from the current providers. Without content for consumers, or services and applications for businesses Broadband is just as fast, always-on connection to the Internet and, for most users, that is not enough.
The growth in Broadband markets will be driven not by downloaders of MP3 files and the 'adult' market, but by real Internet based applications and by content. When those offerings become compelling, so will the Broadband proposition. If the telecommunications and IT industries do not exploit Broadband's ability to transform the way we use communications and deliver new compelling applications and services at revolutionary prices to previously poorly served markets, it will be seen as another technology which failed to deliver.
For more information, visit wiredworkplace.net/broadband where you can find more information about the Broadband services currently offered, and how they can benefit you!
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