Communications News articles from December 2006

Communications News archives from December 2006

Fat or thin?(investments in workstations and security applications)(Conference news)(Viewpoint essay)
December 1, 2006... An estimated 400 million PCs are in line to be upgraded to Microsoft's new Vista operating system, at a potential cost of $3,000 to $5,000 per machine. Meanwhile, providing adequate network security seems to be getting more difficult,...

IT for kids.(SHORT TAKES)(Chicago Public Schools hired Mitel Corp. )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Chicago Public Schools has selected Mitel to deliver a $28-miilion K-12 communications deployment. The next-generation Mitel Networked Business Solution will enable the school district to improve overall communications and reduce costs. "This...

Data safeguarded.(SHORT TAKES)(Canaras Capital Management hired ConSentry)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Canaras Capital Management is using ConSentry's LANShield Switch to safeguard data on its corporate LAN in its New York City headquarters. "As a highly regulated asset-management consultancy, Canaras must prove that every user and every port...

New roles ahead for IT.(Trends)
December 1, 2006... What will business leaders expect from the IT organization of the future? According to consulting firm Gartner, the IT scenario is changing rapidly and IT managers need to understand the new business-oriented roles they will be asked to...

Product buzz.(Trends)
December 1, 2006... HOT Software that monitors employee Internet activities, including e-mail, chat, instant messaging, Web sites visited, keystrokes typed, and files transferred and printed. NOT Managed security services HOT IP...

Online instruction.(SHORT TAKES)(Marist College)(iLinc Communications)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., has replaced its hostedWeb conferencing solution with iLinc Communications Web conferencing software to reduce costs and to gain better Web conferencing functionality. The college paid a one-time fee,...

Better collaboration.(SHORT TAKES)(Gates Corp.'s usage of Genesys Enterprise Telephony Software)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Gates Corp., a large non-tire rubber manufacturer of automotive and industrial products, has implemented the Genesys Enterprise Telephony Software (GETS) platform to maximize communications efficiencies among its worldwide offices. Until...

Wireless use trending upward.(Trends)
December 1, 2006... Minneapolis is building a 59-square-mile broadband wireless network to cover the entire city, and while its deployment is perhaps on a grander scale than most, there is no denying that Wi-Fi and wireless mesh technologies are gaining greater...

Publications.(TRENDS)(Cisco Voice Gateways and Gatekeepers)(Book review)(Brief review)
December 1, 2006... Cisco Voice Gateways and Gatekeepers, by Denise Donohue, David L. Mallow and Ken Salhoff, provides detailed solutions for problems that arise during implementation of a VoIP network, www.ciscopress.com

Switch control.(SHORT TAKES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... ARINC, a provider of transportation communications and systems engineering, has deployed Dataprobe's K-16 redundancy switching solution to create a fault-tolerant, high-availability network for Narita Airport Terminal 1 in Japan. According to...

A backup plan.(SHORT TAKES)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... In late 2005, Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP) decided it needed one company-wide backup infrastructure. GlassHouse was called in to analyze the existing systems and business requirements, develop a strategic migration plan for an...

Events.(Trends)(Calendar)
December 1, 2006... 2007 BICSI Winter Conference, Jan. 22-25, Orlando, provides information transport systems professionals information, education and knowledge regarding low-voltage solutions, ranging from voice and data to security, controls and other building...

SMBs 'being left out'.(Trends)(small and medium sized companies)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The small and midsize business (SMB) market is the new battleground for converged communications solutions-at least according to research from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and Deloitte Consulting. Nearly one-third of...

Webcasting takes hold; Fortune 500 company Rohm & Haas is taking interactive Web communication and training to new heights.(Cover story)
December 1, 2006... In 2004, Alan Friedlander, the manager of Rohm and Haas' multimedia services group, began exploring new options for developing and expanding the scope of the company's media resources. "Traditionally, we would travel to a location with all of...

Managed service increases productivity; healthcare firm connects its various locations with VoIP technology.(Special Focus: MSP's/Integrators)
December 1, 2006... In the past, maintaining an efficient communications infrastructure was something of a challenge for IntegraMed America. Headquartered in Purchase, N.Y., the medical services company maintains 36 locations throughout the United States. Many of...

Should you consider outsourcing?(Special Focus: MSPs/Integrators)
December 1, 2006... Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) need their core communications services to not only be reliable, but also to be available anywhere and anytime. They also need to be able to archive their key business data to meet stringent and complex...

Cut costs, simplify network operations: a managed network services provider can offer flexibility and reliability, as well.(Special Focus: MSPs/Integrators)
December 1, 2006... A managed network service (MNS) offering for an enterprise customer generally consists of a flexible best-of-breed solution comprised of a customized bundle of services that can include all or some of the following: network design,...

Manage e-mail archive risk.(Special Focus: MSPs/Integrators)
December 1, 2006... Although e-mail has helped the business world by improving employee communication and increasing productivity, it is also a substantial risk factor for many organizations. The key to mitigating these risks rests with a sound e-mail policy,...

Buyers guide.(Special Focus: MSPs/Integrators)(Directory)
December 1, 2006... Companies listed in this Managed Services Providers/Integrators Buyers Guide can assist you in selecting the products and services that work best for your organization. BUSINESS CONTINUITY SERVICES ADVA Optical Networking ...

New roles for media converters: small form-factor pluggable transceivers expand uses of media conversion.(Cabling Infrastructure)
December 1, 2006... Not many years ago, media conversion sat at the lowest level of the optical transport solutions pyramid--the physical layer. Different layers were clearly separated, with distinct platforms serving each main optical application, including media...

Battery monitoring.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The Liebert Battery Monitoring Service combines state-of-the-art battery monitoring technology with proactive maintenance and service response to achieve high network availability, increase useful battery life and eliminate downtime. This...

Wire manager.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... E Series Horizontal Wire Managers are engineered to make installation and rework of cables faster and easier, expediting installation and rework of cables on a standard 19" rack. Extra-wide spacing between fingers and smooth edges allows for...

Media converter.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... Optolinx 10/100/1000TX to 1000FX media converters allow the customer to upgrade its fiber-optic network to gigabit, but still support a 10/100 Copper network. Aaxeon offers both managed and unmanaged media converters, standalone and 19"...

Cable management software.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... MapIT IM Infrastructure Manager software brings IT pros an economical and user-friendly way to manage networks, improve documentation, enhance security and reduce downtime. IT managers can monitor and record connections in data centers and...

Trunk cable assemblies.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The Plug & Play Universal System Integrated Trunk Module is a trunk cable stored in a module and pulled out and deployed to meet length requirements, so precise pre-planning of cable is not required. The module eliminates one mated pair in the...

Cabinet enclosures.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... Optima EPS cabinets employ gaskets with a soft foam core and a mesh nickel-plated nylon exterior, with a tin-plated copper gasket tape on the door forming a tighter seal for both EMI and cooling considerations. The attenuation level is designed...

Heavy-duty patch panel.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... QuickPort 1RU/48-Port Patch Panel merges maximum port density with improved strength and cable management. The die-cast aluminum construction can withstand the bulk and weight of a large number of cables. To help manage connectivity, it...

Communication cabinets.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... Net Series cabinets are designed to economically house 19- or 23-inch LAN, WAN, phone and voice mail rack equipment and servers. Features include increased cabling space on side panels, common fasteners, flush-mounted locking handles on front...

Power distribution.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The T982F3 Series rackmount power distribution unit (PDU) is configured for 208V 30 amp power input, making it ideal for today's power-hungry applications. The T982 can power up to 12 devices with power output delivered via "computer type" or...

The key to secure remote computing: ultra-portable technology allows users to access their enterprise applications.(Mobile Computing)
December 1, 2006... The issue of secure remote connectivity has always been a particular challenge for enterprises. Over the years, organizations have relied heavily on virtual private network (VPN) infrastructures to allow secure remote access, but as the...

UMA in the enterprise.(Mobile Computing)
December 1, 2006... Enterprises have been awaiting the arrival of dual-mode (Wi-Fi and cellular) handsets that can potentially replace the traditional PBX phone. These dual-mode handsets can make voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls over Wi-Fi, while retaining the functions...

Load-balancing appliance.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The LM-2500 is an advanced load-balancing and Layer 7 content-switching appliance with 1,000 TPS SSL acceleration capability. The appliance performs distribution of Web traffic among Web servers. With throughput of more than 350 Mbps, the...

Antispyware.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... SpyNoMore enables programmers to protect against computer spyware infections. Custom Fix enables live technical support personnel to remotely examine an infected computer, and then issue a fix to remove that specific infection. SpyNoMore is...

Conferencing software.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... Bridgit 3.1 helps users connect quickly and easily to share real-time data, audio and video without making reservations, installing software or uploading presentation materials in advance. The software can be purchased and installed on an...

Centrally managed antivirus.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... McAfee Total Protection for enterprise includes antivirus for all tiers of the network, antispyware, antispam, desktop firewall, host intrusion prevention and a complete network access control system--all managed by a single console. The...

Enterprise security gateway.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The CSM 3200 is a comprehensive gateway and desktop threat-protection device that allows IT administrators to streamline network security management. The CSM 3200 delivers precise control over Internet usage in conjunction with real-time...

Video switches.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)(ATEN VS0202 video matrix switches, ATEN VS0204 video matrix switches, ATEN VS0404 video matrix switches)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The VS0202, VS0204 and VS0404 video matrix switches boast high resolution levels of up to 1920 x 1440. The switches are appropriate for classrooms, training centers, trade shows, retail stores, security and control centers. Additional ports on...

Video recording.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The DMR-160 features recording of two simultaneous video feeds, record to CD-R, on-screen menus with remote and up to 1,500 hours of recording time. The solution also features front control panel, live playback, download and network streaming,...

Cable router.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The EZ Connect SMC8004-BCM router has static IP support via RIP v1 and v2, and offers remote troubleshooting with CLI and GUI to eliminate truck rolls. With dual ports-USB and Ethernet--it supports up to 16 users simultaneously in the default...

Conferencing service.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)(Free Conferencing Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... SimpleEvent is a reservation-less service that provides customers with a forum to conduct conference calls--anytime, anywhere. Features include unlimited call duration, a private moderator sub-conference line, an online account-management tool,...

Collaboration platform.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The Genesys Meeting Center has a low bandwidth requirement and uses an economical 10-Kbps data stream. Travelling and remote employees can connect to online meetings easily and affordably from home, a hotel, a Wi-Fi hotspot or any other...

Web conferencing software.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The RHUB 400 allows users to share their computer screens containing documents, spreadsheets, presentations or any PC application. The proprietary appliance-based software features a simple-to-use browser interface and invites attendees via...

Remote-access controller.(GENERAL PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... The Aventail ST2 is a VPN remote-access platform that detects the identity and security of the endpoint, protects applications through access controls and connects users securely to applications. Features like quarantine zones and device...

Desktop management.(Product Spotlight: Testing & Monitoring)
December 1, 2006... Managed Desktop Service provides problem management for hardware repair, desk-side problem diagnosis for operating systems and software applications, and assistance with installations, moves, adds and changes. Additional managed services...

Device management.(Product Spotlight: Testing & Monitoring)
December 1, 2006... Enterprise View Version 2.1 allows users the ability to manage multiple Sentry cabinet power distribution units in multiple data centers all at once. It also provides a central location where all alarms can be viewed and logged for reporting,...

Network simulator.(Product Spotlight: Testing & Monitoring)
December 1, 2006... The VE Network Appliance STN model includes new features that support enterprise-scale voice over IP (VoIP) solutions. The appliance creates an exact replica of any production network environment in a pre-production environment. Users can fully...

Filtering software.(Product Spotlight: Testing & Monitoring)
December 1, 2006... Network Composer Version 7 provides computer and network security by giving companies control and visibility of their Internet connection. The solution includes such features as application shaping, spyware blocking, antivirus, P2P blocking,...

KVM switch.(Product Spotlight: Testing & Monitoring)
December 1, 2006... The Model 4875 Remotely Controllable KVM A/B Switch allows access to two servers from a single set of KVM devices. The switch position can be controlled manually from the front panel pushbutton, or remotely by a simple contact closure connected...

Console switch.(Product Spotlight: Testing & Monitoring)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Console Switches with Virtual Media ease management of datacenters, providing both local and remote access to a variety of devices from inside and outside the data center. The switches require no software be installed on the target servers....