Most businesses don’t benefit from speedy wireless networks

You may bemoan the speed limits on Canada's highways. You may look to Germany's famous autobahn, with virtually no speed limit, and wonder, "Why not here?" But if the government increased the limit to 200 kilometres per hour, how much would you really benefit? Could your vehicle take advantage of the increased speed, or would you be puttering along at, say, 160 kilometres per hour? This is where businesses and enterprise increasingly find themselves today. Data speeds are increasing, but few can actually leverage this increased speed.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?

Could one-per-genre rule go the way of the dodo?

By all accounts, the scope of the CRTC's newly launched review of the regulatory framework for BDU and discretionary services is impressive. And by embodying chair Konrad von Finckenstein's philosophy of a more compact and market-geared regulatory environment, it also promises to shake up the status quo.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?

Powerstar changes CFO

Emerging digital signage and hotspot provider Powerstar International Inc. has announced that Patrick Delisle will replace Larry Podrasky as CFO. Delisle previously worked in PricewaterhouseCooper's Calgary corporate income tax practice. Podrasky is returning to Australia for personal reasons.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?

Talkster names new president

Jim Ferguson has been appointed president of Talkster Inc., a mobile communications company based in Toronto. Prior to joining Talkster, Ferguson was president of sales and marketing at Mpower, a business telecommunications service provider. He held the position from 2003 until 2006 when it was acquired by TelePacific. Ferguson also worked at Global Crossing, Frontier Communications, and Cable and Wireless.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?

CRTC expands scope of VoIP LNP proceeding

The CRTC has determined that it would be better to look at local number portability for both access-dependent VoIP services as well as access-independent VoIP. Originally the commission said that it would only look at access-dependent VoIP services, but after a number of inquiries and comments from interested parties, the CRTC determined that it had to review LNP in both scenarios.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?

Mobile BWA not dead after all

The death of the proposed mobile broadband wireless access (BWA) standard 802.20 – a direct competitor to mobile WiMAX or 802.16e – has been greatly exaggerated, and changes in balloting have breathed new life in the standard.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?

Anyone for UM? Anyone?

IT, telecom and network managers are waiting to hear the call from users for unified messaging (UM) and unified communications (UC) before rolling out the services – but so far the crowd is silent, says In-Stat. Regardless, the Scottsdale AZ research firm predicts that global UM and UC client shipments will reach 19.5 million in 2011, and traditional voice mail port shipments will decrease to zero by the end of 2009. UM refers to the commingling of various messaging options, including voice mail, email, fax and instant messaging, so all messages arrive at a single user interface. UC encompasses UM and adds presence and mobile devices to the mix.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?

Cisco ex virtual machina

Cisco Systems Inc. says it's purchasing a US$150 million stake in VMware Inc., which makes virtualization software and is owned by EMC Corp. For the price Cisco will own 1.6% of VMware's outstanding common stock. According to a press release, VMware is also considering appointing a Cisco executive to the board of directors. Cisco says it wants to create stronger ties between the virtualization company's wares and its own networking equipment. The news follows information from Info-Tech Research Group in London ON that technologies such as VMware's Virtual Desktop Infrastructure are poised to become the next big thing in PC management.

To keep reading, get a free trial.

Already a Subscriber?