WEB news and – Oops watch for lingering DOCS links

Posted on June 20, 2011 by GAFYDguy

Wow, almost a month since I’ve made a blog post.  One reason is because of all the major industry announcements and changes recently.  Here are a few highlights before getting to my post:

Hang on because things are just getting rolling for cloud computing! If you have not yet considered how your company can benefit from “cloud computing” please give us a call 303-932-8146.

In the meantime, here is a “word to the wise” to those using Google Docs with their @Gmail.com accounts.  Be sure to specifically clear any outdated “share links” you don’t want active.

Golden Web link -Using Google Docs is like having golden Web links.  As owner of a Google doc, via a simple Web-link (URL address) you can grant virtually anyone instant browser access to a doc, no fussing with email attachments, fear of multiple versions, use of memory sticks and other hassles.  You easily share and control who views it, who edits it and various other features.  This is allowed with word processing, spreadsheet or presentation files.  You can even do it for PDF files, a tremendous benefit for providing “secure” access to finished format docs.

However, remember that you must deliberately REMOVE those links also.  Recently I sent out a link to a PDF file stored in my Google Docs library. I later deleted that file from my library (placed it in the TRASH). I had created a new file with a new name I wanted people to use.  I thought deleting the file would make the link unavailable.

Well a few days later someone sent me the link for the old file and low and behold, when clicked the document showed up.  I double checked and searched my Google Docs directory for the file and didn’t see it any where.  How could this happen?  I didn’t want this document to exist any more!  I learned that a regular search doesn’t look in the TRASH and also that links to files in the trash stay alive until either: you empty the trash or specifically cancel all sharing for that file.

This is consistent with traditional use of TRASH being a holding place until specifically deleted but with sharing to other people (vs just on my PC) it can have unanticipated consequences.  So word to the wise, ALWAYS be sure to turn off “sharing” for any doc you no longer want anyone to access, even those docs you place in the trash

Posted in Anytime Access, cloud computing, Google Apps, Security | Leave a comment

Google IO – 2011 new Dessert for Android

Posted on May 23, 2011 by GAFYDguy

Android-IceCream-LogoA tech company tradition is to assign non-descript and often funny code names to future products. While comical, the true intent is to thwart competitors before formal release. A stoic type of humor in a very serious and ultra-competitive business.  This post outlines the Android OS “Dessert name” history and critical elements of the forthcoming Ice Cream Sandwich release.

  • Mobile Phone Oriented
  • — Ver 1 releases – Cupcake / Donut
  • — Ver 2 releases – Éclair / Froyo / Gingerbread
  • Tablet Device Oriented
  • — Ver 3 releases – Honeycomb (larger screen devices and multi-core processors)

Ice Cream Sandwich (announced 5/10/11 @ Google IO for release Q4 2011) is a combination of Gingerbread (Mobile Phone) and Honeycomb (Tablet) releases into a “cohesive whole”.  What’s sweet, is that Apps developers only have to create one code-base of their software to work on many Android devices: mobile phones, tablets and even future devices with new or similar form factors.

This is critical for assuring both developers and the buying public get the best ROI on their tech investments.  In early days of Microsoft Windows (mid-late 80’s) people screamed and hollered endlessly about how Windows based standards would kill and  stagnant the imagination. Yet to the contrary, due to a well documented high quality UI (User Interface) and certain operational standards, arguably made Windows one of the single greatest contributors to the PC’s global success.  Hundreds of millions of units could be designed, built and sold at affordable prices.

Developers must invest massive amounts of time and money to create quality Apps.  They want assurance their product (software App) will run on as many brands, models and formats of computers as possible – Microsoft Windows helped achieve that result for the PC.  Equally, once users get accustomed to a basic interface style (i.e. the mouse) they want assurance their new knowledge will apply to every App, again Microsoft Windows helped achieve that for the PC.

Smart mobile-phones, super-slim keyboard-less tablets and iPad style devices that are also Internet centric are shaping the new post-PC era.  The devices of the new era use a touch / swipe UI and other operational standards (similar condition to the early Windows days).

Android / Ice Cream Sandwich represents one key step Google must take to assure their OS becomes prevalent for running Apps  across a very wide-spectrum of new touch centric and WEB centric devices.  Some key elements of this next release:

  • Tech – 3D holographic UI for phones and tablets
  • Tech – Virtual Camera Operator for tracking motion
  • Tech – NFC chip (Near Field Communications)
  • Tech – will also be the base for Google TV
  • Tech – can be a foundation for the Chromebox
  • Business – One Apps store can supply all devices (phones, tablets, TV etc)
  • Business – Cell phone carriers can effectively manage over the air updates

Check out the recent post Defining future Web tech via Google IO – 2011 for insights on CHROME, Google’s WEB browser software and the new CHROMEBOOK.  These announced devices and software are fully compatible with www.GAFYD.net,  a Managed Services offering of Google Apps for Business.

Posted in AAA Computing, Android, Anytime Access, change in IT, Chromebook, cloud computing, Google Apps, Microsoft, mobility, Smartphone, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Defining future Web tech via Google IO – 2011

Posted on May 16, 2011 by GAFYDguy

Photo: Tom Krazit

Google IO – the company’s namesake annual event (held May 10-12th) is one many have never heard of!  That’s because its primary audience is “technology developers”.  A gathering of geeks, nerds and mystical genius types who actually create and build the Apps and tech products we all buy and use.

So if you want to spy on what the future of tech looks like – the best place to look is at the technology that developers are getting access to!  Lets take a peek at just a few of the highlight announcements at this year’s Google IO event (Hint: Microsoft and Apple are definitely paying attention!)

Angry Birds comes to Chrome: A quick reminder – “Angry Birds” is the wildly successful puzzle video game made famous on Apple iOS devices (including iPhone and iPad).  Near 15 Million copies have been purchased from Apple’s App Store since 2009. What is VERY significant about this announcement is NOT that Google now is selling a video game — but that a popular video game can run in their Chrome “browser program”. A gigantic departure from needing a brand and version specific stand alone computer device like Apple’s iPhone or iPad.  It’s also a major shift for the video game software market since Google announced it will be offering developers  95% revenue cut on Chrome Web Store apps. Microsoft and Apple offer their Apps store developers a revenue split in the area of 70% on product.

Chromebooks available in June, with subscription pricing for students and business users. Cloud Computing is a material departure from traditional computing in regards to pricing as well as technology.  It generally follows a “subscription model” versus the “capital expenditure and depreciation purchase model”.  This is significant to organization CFO’s that desire predictable and consistent budgeted expenditure for computing resources.  The Chromebook takes the subscription price model a giant step further.  Not just the software service but ALSO THE HARDWARE and its support will be available to students and business users for a simple per-month fee.  Announced as $20/mo for students and $28/mo for businesses – that is an extremely affordable price.

Chromebooks are laptop style devices (made by Acer and Samsung initially) that don’t require any effort by users to load, configure or update the underlying operating system.  The devices have near instant startup time (8 sec) and all-day battery life. They use Web apps exclusively via the Chrome browser and Chrome Web store. Will they replace Microsoft tablet PC’s or maybe Apple iPads?  Who knows, but regardless of that, schools and major corporations represent gigantic potential markets for this new pricing model and support approach.

Chrome OS: this is the non-operating-system OS that powers Chromebooks, that now does a lot of the things it couldn’t last year.  Unlike many tablets and iPads your can PRINT direct from a Chromebook.  It’s USB capability allow plugging in cameras, headsets, USB thumb-drive storage and all sorts of USB devices! It even has a built in music/video player! Sort of sounds like…. Windows, MacOS and Linux. Holy Batman!  But it is also addressing a key obstacle to the cloud computing world – what to do when you are not connected to the Web. It sounds like Google is going to provide offline access for Google Docs, Mail and Calendar (by the time the Chromebooks are shipping in June, it sounds like).

Microsoft has a major push into Cloud computing but still requires you to acquire and own license for all the regular hardware (Windows OS based device) and software (i.e. Office) that you’ve had before in order to process any data in offline mode.  This offline processing of cloud computing based data will be an interesting evolution – it’s not as simple as it seems.  Connectivity continues to spread and be more and more available plus offline tasks seldom demand the extensive sophisticated features found in Microsoft’s full size products.

Google IP 2011 offered many other major announcements, specifically related to Android, (i.e. Ice Cream Sandwich) the OS powering 100’s of new mobile smart phones coming out.  I’ll address those in a future blog post. The Mobile phone market may be super hot right now – but Google clearly has it’s sights set on redefining classic desktop computing of WEB connected PC’s and laptops via the Chrome browser.

Posted in AAA Computing, Android, Anytime Access, change in IT, Chromebook, cloud computing, Microsoft, Web 2.0 | 1 Comment

Google Groups – now “for Business”

Posted on May 2, 2011 by GAFYDguy
Small Group

Company Groups need Privacy

Over a year ago I made 2 posts (below) about social networks with respect to use with business groups. Facebook.com has since grown by another 10 Million users, Twitter.com continues to expand, LinkedIn.com now has 100 Million profiles and Meetup.com has added 1,000’s of new social events.

We continue to “expand our public social exposure” sharing all type of data via these group services – but how can we reap the benefit of group dynamics while maintaining privacy and avoiding exposing proprietary organization data that must be shared by executives, employee groups and project teams?

Social Networking with Maximum Privacy (1 of 2)

Social Networking with Maximum Privacy (2 of 2)

Internet based Social Networking gives convenient worldwide 24×7 access to  individuals and social groups.  A key value of Facebook is instant exchange of rich media data (messages, photos, videos, web links etc).  Twitter gives the value of broadcasting brief text messages (140 characters) instantly to large groups across the globe.  While Meetup seeks to establish in person “face to face meetings” between people with common interests in a world becoming more virtual all the time.

These “group dynamic” methods have equal value within a single business or organization. Leveraging the Internet’s inherent power and cost effectiveness for connecting PC’s, mobile devices and smart-phones one can gain competitive advantage.  However, use of the above public services creates significant liability exposure, when organizations start to share proprietary, confidential or unique intellectual organizational data.

Interesting, the public social-networks are actually adding “grouping” features to allow reducing (filtering) your audience’s size, but still lack the crucial element for business privacy – “an electronic container or bounded perimeter” that satisfies physical, legal and compliance needs demanded by private organizations.  GAFYD.net (Google Apps For Your Domain) now provides such a “container” mechanism for private group exchange.

By combining native Internet control systems (i.e. DNS system and advanced two factor authentication servers) with Google’s newly released “Groups for Business” many elements of social networking can be achieved WITHIN THE PROTECTED BOUNDARY of a privately managed domain.

You gain a social network process, usable for confidential and proprietary data absent of the fear of exposure that could result on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In via a simple inadvertent share or friend request.  A properly configured and administered Domain naturally defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, and control – crucial for effective privacy.

GAFYD Logo

A managed services approach to using Google Apps.

GAFYD.net (Google Apps For Your Domain via Net) places the power of Google Apps within the native protections of a Private Domain.  Add in “Google Groups for Business” to your Google Apps deployment to obtain the 5 common attributes of Internet based tools while establishing Maximum Privacy. Additional info available at 303-932-8146.

Posted in Anytime Access, cloud computing, CRM, Google Apps, Legal, Privacy, Web 2.0 | Leave a comment

“Please & Thank You” in 58 languages via Google Android

Posted on April 20, 2011 by GAFYDguy

GoogleTranslate-logoAny international travel club will tell you that much power exists in knowing how to phrase and communicate just 3 words of a foreign language. Correctly expressing “Please” and “Thank You” in a person’s native tongue can be one of your greatest aids when traveling in foreign lands.

As of Apr 14 2011 Google Android 2.1 based phones or tablets (with the Translate app) can help you learn the magic “Please and Thank You”  in 57 other languages.  Plus actually speak the words for you in 24 languages, a huge advance from just 2 years ago when Google announced instant translation for 41 languages.

Text-to-speech is one of the most popular features of this mobile interface. Whether you’re learning how to say one word, an entire foreign phrase, or trying to share information with someone in their language, simply tap the Speaker icon after doing a translation and you’ll hear the difference.  This latest app release:

  • dramatically improves the quality of spoken translations in over 15 languages
  • which now include Russian, Chinese and Portuguese
  • and has ability to listen to three new languages: Japanese, Arabic and Korean.
  • Watch the following video to see it in action.

Please remember, world wide cloud computing accessible language translation is a fantastic aid – but not a perfect science. Be sure to incorporate patience, humility and appreciation that the other person may be equally challenged in communicating to you.  Even with computer based translation apps – your most powerful tools may be: a smile, relaxed body language and abundant use of PLEASE and THANK YOU. Happy Travels.

Posted in AAA Computing, Android, Anytime Access, cloud computing, Free, Google Apps, IP, mobility, Smartphone, Solo Practitioner | 1 Comment

Google Voice goes Mainstream Wireless via Sprint

Posted on April 4, 2011 by GAFYDguy

Sprint & Google Voice LogosWOW! Google Voice has raised its flag in the land of traditional telephony.  March 21, 2011 it was announced existing Sprint wireless customers will be able to get full Google Voice capability via their Sprint phone number if they want.  And any existing Google Voice user can port their Google Voice phone number to their Sprint wireless service.

“…the biggest news about Google Voice since the company behind it, previously called Grand Central, was acquired by Google in 2007.” Michael Arrington Techcrunch Mar 21, 2011

Google Voice has always been a bit of a mystery to people because unlike a traditional phone number it is not tied to just one address or device.  It is actually like having your own miniature phone company.   Traditionally phone companies had:

  • telephone numbers tied to one specific street address (i.e. home or business)
  • cell phone numbers tied to just one specific cell phone device.

Google Voice Feature ListA Google Voice number, when called can be directed to ring any phone(s) that you have control over, landline, wireless or other.  Additionally, Google Voice has a fully integrated voice mail system that will allow voice mail to be obtained via any phone, the web, by email or even via text message.  You can be half way around the world, and without your cell phone and still access voice mails instantly via an internet connected browser.  Google Voice is like VoIP on steroids  – simply amazing.

Click on the image to the right to see a dozen short videos about various Google Voice features. Then imagine having all those features available directly via your existing Sprint number. Plus it is NOT limited to just smart-phone models.  The features will work across almost all Sprint phones, except for some corporate accounts and pre-paid services like Boost.

Advances in telephony in the last 30 years have provided an abundance of features but often they were device dependent.  Just a decade ago you might get a realtor’s business card, that had 5-6 phone numbers on it;  Office ph#, Home ph#, Car phone ph#, Voice Mail ph#, Pager ph#, Fax ph# – seems silly now but it was true.  Today we can have “Unified Communications” in the palm of our hand as we are driving down the road if we want it!

Yet “feature rich” integrated technologies, can be a bit tricky to configure so they work reliably and predictably – it takes planning and some skilled guidance.  A professionally deployed Google Apps implementation can be an excellent way to tie the telephony and email components into a truly neat corporate package.  If you are interested in having Google Voice ability for all your personnel, while still retaining corporate domain control consider GAFYD.net (Google Apps For Your Domain).  As a “managed services” offering of Google Apps it provides critical centralized admin control, privacy and disaster recovery features needed to avoid mobile device chaos.  But in the manner that the Apple iPod changed how we listen to music, Google Voice will change how we use telephones, it’s really that cool!

Posted in AAA Computing, Android, Blackberry, Google Apps, Google Voice, iPhone, mobility, Smartphone, Text Messaging, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Microsoft inflicts “visible hit” on an “invisible invader” – Rustock Spambot

Posted on March 18, 2011 by GAFYDguy

Raid on Spambot Servers Unlike many conflicts occurring around the globe today – the war in Cyberspace between “Spam bots” and billions of everyday web uses typically goes on silently behind the scenes and unreported. On March 17, 2011 – via a combined legal process and organized raid on hosting facilities one of the largest “Spam Bot” systems in the world went silent.

As reported in the press on Thursday March 17, a lawsuit by Microsoft that resulted in a series of coordinated raids (by U.S. Marshals) targeting systems identified as being integral to the botnet’s command and control network.

…However, no single company or group can accomplish this lofty goal alone. It requires collaboration between industry, academic researchers, law enforcement agencies and governments worldwide. In this case, Microsoft worked with Pfizer, the network security provider FireEye and security experts at the University of Washington.

The effort resulted in the infamous spam-spewing Rustock botnet being taken down.  Anti-spam firms were taken by surprise by the abrupt cessation of junk mail from zombie clients in the Rustock botnet network on Wednesday afternoon.

This is a major accomplishment, but time will tell if the reduction remains permanent. Botnet systems are notoriously self-reliant and since the “infected PC’s” still exist, if the command and control systems is re-established then spamming by the Rustock system could start again.

The numbers related to SPAM are often hard to grasp, some examples to give perspective:

  • “DCU researchers watched a single Rustock-infected computer send 7,500 spam emails in just 45 minutes – a rate of 240,000 spam mails per day,” said Richard Boscovich, Senior Attorney at the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit.
  • Using just 26 separate “command and control” servers, sending instructions to over 1,000,000 worldwide computers infected by Rustock “bot software”, the system could send 240 billion spam messages per day.
  • Symantec revealed in Aug 2010 botnets were responsible for 95% of the Internet’s spam, 41% of botnet spam came from the Rustock botnet. Dismantling the Rustock botnet could reduce global spam by 39%–at least for a little while.

A huge thanks to Microsoft’s and the organizations it coordinated with to help put a “visible hit” on one of the internet’s largest “invisible invaders”.  Wikipedia definition of SPAM and its associated costs;

indiscriminate sending of unsolicited bulk messages via electronic messaging systems (email being just one type).  In the year 2011 the estimated figure for spam messages is seven TRILLION. The costs, in the form of lost productivity, wasted resource, over-worked networks, fraud and even danger to the public (i.e. selling unlicensed pharmaceutical drugs) etc, are all borne by the public – you and I.

Posted in eMail, IP, Legal, Microsoft, Security, Text Messaging | Leave a comment

The CLOUD: it is My PC and My Server

Posted on March 9, 2011 by GAFYDguy
Personal Cloud Computing

"The Cloud: Battle of the Tech Titans" Businessweek Cover Story March 3, 2011

Cloud Computing, a giant and complex topic, defined in a multitude of ways.  Everyone is asking – is it the answer?  Will it solve all computing needs and be the greatest thing ever –or– is it just a passing fad?  To me it sits in the middle of those extremes, but I do believe it is destined for gigantic success.  Why?

It simplifies a major issue that has been with us since the first PC, I’ll explain. I’ve been in the hi-tech and application software field for 30+ years.  I’ve had the privilege to experience massive evolution in computing technology.  I have personally worked on everything from very small (Timex Sinclair) to the largest (IBM mainframe) of computers.  And for all the 100’s of variations I’ve seen I still categorize them into one of two camps – the PC (Private or Personal computer) and the SC (Shared or Server computer).

The PC was born of advances in technology miniaturization, but also convenience – the desire to have direct personal access to computing power. Anyone willing to invest the time to learn could use computing software or even create their own. The PC was for exclusive use of one person and served only their needs. In return for instant anytime access, the person only had to commit to its simple care and maintenance.  The SC (all the non-PC’s) by definition has the role of sharing its resources, that is its job.  Its purpose in life is to manage resources for serving others!

What played a very large part initially in defining what was a PC versus an SC, was where the computer could be physically located. PC’s could literally sit on your desk, be in your house or used anywhere that you could get  standard household electricity. Available on-demand, simple (or no) security and absent of concerns for special environ­mental infrastructure typical Servers require.  That doesn’t mean users didn’t want the benefits and advantages of a Server, they just didn’t want the inconvenience, costs and complexity.

Relative to PC’s, the SC’s are not convenient, they have special “care and feeding” requirements.  Depending on who is sharing its resources, it may have to be located in special facilities with access to advanced communications gear etc. Security issues are far more complex and new learning is required for administration of its software and hardware.  It can take a team of expensive certified experts to maintain it on a routine basis. Still, many of us want access to its additional power, additional apps, ability to share work and gain instant access to the data of others.

The Internet (Cloud), broadband connectivity and wireless communication have radically changed the access, location and power issues.  Now via any desktop, laptop, tablet computer or pad, smart-phone, game console etc (any kind of stationary or mobile IP computing device) I can have the benefit of a SC.  The Cloud has only SC’s – but they can act like and are perceived as PC’s.  Meaning a user has on-demand access from virtually any location and the experience is totally personalized for that individual.

Cloud computing is so successful because it plays both roles with ease – being a PC and/or SC as necessary at a given moment without the user having to care. And since the user is connected to not just one server but literally1,000’s of them, he has near “super-computer” power in his hand. As an employee, my perception is the Cloud is my PC.  As a business owner my perception is the Cloud is my company SC – everyone’s needs are met and cost is low and predictable – people like that a Lot!

Certain management and administration tasks still exist when using true Server computing for the company.  So it remains wise to use professional help to build the “strategy” when using and migrating to Cloud computing. GAFYD.net (Google Apps For Your Domain) offers a professional “managed services” approach to using the now popular Google Apps cloud computing solution.  A human being to oversee and perform required admin tasks so that your piece of the Cloud is configured for your company in the way you want.

For additional information contact the blog’s author at 303-932-8146. For additional reading see the extended Bloomberg Business Mar 3, 2011 article The Cloud: Battle of the Tech Titans

Posted in AAA Computing, Anytime Access, change in IT, cloud computing, Google Apps, IP, Uncategorized, Web Presence | 1 Comment

Google Apps and CRM Application Solutions

Posted on February 24, 2011 by GAFYDguy

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is an “often used and sometimes confused” marketing term of the software industry.  We all know intuitively some level of CRM is as critical to companies as having financial accounting.  You may get by without it for a bit, but ignoring it will cost you in the long run.  So, if CRM is so useful and needed by essentially all companies why doesn’t Google Apps have a CRM application?  What is Google (Apps) going to do to address that issue?

Lets first consider a key element, CRM software can be as varied in scope, complexity, cost, ease of use and purpose as financial accounting systems.  Everyone would agree that Intuit’s Quicken Home and Business package (costs $99 – $120) and Oracle Financials (costs $50,000 – $1 Mil) are both accounting systems.  Each has a chart of accounts, various registers, reporting system etc – yet there’s an enormous difference between them in cost and feature set.

A very unique element of Google Apps, is its ability to scale.  That means the same exact apps (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sites, Video & Talk) are used regardless of whether it’s a 2 or 20,000 person organization using them. This is unusual in the software industry, where traditional software (i.e. accounting) packages varied dramatically based on the organization size, it’s complexity and type of business.

While Google likely could afford to buy a successful “cloud computing” CRM offering to call their own, such as Salesforce.COM (assuming they would want to sell), they are content to stick to their knitting as one says. Consider the words of Google Enterprise President Dave Girouard in reply to an industry analyst asking, “Will Google Enter the CRM Market?” (late 2007 by Clint Boulton, author of eWeek’s – Google Watch Blog).

Girouard replied: – I think we’re smart enough to realize we’re not the guys to build everything. The things that have consumer analogs make a lot of sense for us. We learn a huge amount from what consumers do and how they interact with our products like Gmail. We wouldn’t have the advantage or that insight for CRM. We’d have the infrastructure to do it. But I think Salesforce.com is very good at what they do, so I think we’d be much more inclined to work with them and others like them.

Yet creativity and adaptability go a long way, and Google Apps for Business can provide a good bit of CRM related capability. One rather creative use was demonstrated to me by NOKERO.  A Denver based start-up with only a hand full of employees who are promoting and distributing the WORLD’S ONLY SOLAR LIGHT BULB™ worldwide.  Using only the Gmail, Calendar and Docs apps, combined with some agreed upon office procedure, they’ve assembled a dynamic, fast response, use it from anywhere CRM  solution.  It meets the demand of servicing and tracking 100’s of PR requests and demo deployments per week.

The Google Marketplace (it’s like an iPhone Apps store, but for Google Apps) is a source of Google Apps compatible pre-packaged CRM software.  Complexity and cost will vary and the best package depends on what the needs of the company are. So while Google Apps does not have a built in branded CRM app, it can work in conjunction with some some very good ones. And by taking a “managed services” approach, such as GAFYD.net (Google Apps For Your Domain) the administrator can deploy and manage an entire CRM roll-out to company personnel without having to load a single piece of software on any of the desktop PC’s.

Posted in AAA Computing, cloud computing, CRM, Google Apps, Salesforce.com | 1 Comment

Is CLOUD COMPUTING safe? Yes says Apple (iTunes) and Verizon (Google Apps)

Posted on February 9, 2011 by GAFYDguy

New technology often comes with large doses of “rational and irrational skepticism”.  It often takes change by established companies to fully break the inertia – and overcome resistance born of skepticism.  The result is like releasing a parking brake on a hill, creating uptake and large scale adoption momentum that grows fast. I see that point being reached for “cloud computing”.

When industry giants like Apple (iTunes) and Verizon (Internet / Voice divisions) adopt new technology – which if it failed, would result in lost $Millons, plus losing customer good will, they are very careful.  So decision to move to new technology that directly impacts their customer’s experience, expresses high confidence in that technology.

Consider these articles about Apple iTunes (typically10% of Apple’s total sales) TechCrunch 1/20/11 by MG Siegler – “… Buried all the way at the bottom of the Wall Street Journal’s latest piece about the Apple Tablet is a very interesting nugget of information. Apple is apparently gearing up to launch a cloud-based iTunes replacement called iTunes.com as soon as this June…”

Verizon’s expression of faith is even more significant.  On 1/26/11 Verizon announced Google Apps (a SAAS / Cloud Computing offering) would be a primary component of their main-stream Internet / Phone bundle sold to Small / Midsize Business customers.  Why would Verizon place a $BILLION market at risk by placing “un-safe or unproven” technology in the hands of customers who represent a key growth market for them?

If you don’t have Verizon available in your area of the country, no problem!  You can get a full “Managed Services” version of  Google Apps for Business via GAFYD.net – that can be deployed anywhere in the country using any internet service.  If you’re a current Verizon customer and are using their new Google Apps offering, but need additional support or private customization, that too is available via GAFYD.net (Google Apps For Your Domain).

Posted in AAA Computing, cloud computing, Google Apps, mobility, Web 2.0 | Leave a comment