Telecom in the News!

Each month NWMAP Telecom likes to feature Telecom events that made it in the news or pertinent info to your need-to-know Telecom info. We haven’t updated this in a couple of months now so we’d like to start anew this month by sharing WHERE we get our news from.

Many sites have frequently updated Tech and Telecom info in abundance, but not all of it is pertinent to everyone. We focus on widespread news that benefits or affects many people. Lately we’ve been focusing on business, sales approach, and other aspects within the Telecom industry itself.

Some great daily info for CIO’s and even CEO’s is at the Harvard Business Review site under the “Blogs” section: http://blogs.hbr.org/ There is a lot of info here from leadership, sales approaches, innovation, and all the other buzz words of the day. Some of it is based largely on opinions, making it subjective in nature, However, there are some gems here so keep on the lookout. Our favorite this month was: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/07/want_to_raise_prices_tell_a_be.html

We also like our Telecom carriers’ blogs. NWMAP has over 40 carriers we represent. These are specific to the needs of our agents at NWMAP and people in the industry. We like Intelysis Blog and Telecom Channel Blog:http://www.intelisys.com/press . Another good one is 8×8: http://www.8×8.com/AboutUs/8x8Blog.aspx

For the daily grind: http://www.networkworld.com/topics/unified-communications.html and http://www.infoworld.com/news. Oh, and one more:http://www.fiercetelecom.com/news . You’re going to find company specific news here and news on the big ones like Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, and Google, etc.

 

Selling The Cloud

Recently I ran across an article about Cloud Serivce Brokerages. If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past couple of years, Cloud technology is beyond emerging, it is in the spotlight. We’re all still figuring it out, where it fits into, how it’s best utilized, troubleshooting any issues, while businesses are weighing the pros and cons. Just as NW MAP does for Telecom services in general, there will be professionals needed to help businesses navigate the Cloud for consumers.

This article (link below), and others like it, predict that Cloud Brokerages will be a $100 billion dollar industry/third party assistance/integrator business. Those of us in Telecom have long known about how big a deal this will become. In fact, at NW MAP we are one of the first Telecom agencies to offer some unique services and products utlizing the Cloud. We figure we’ve been in the business for several years, and while Cloud Brokerages will be popping up seemingly overnight, we’ve been there all along and want others to cash in on this too.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/121012-cloud-service-brokerages-emerge-as-264947.html

Businesses can get low prices for the specialized services they need, not to mention be more efficient with or without an IT Department. For some smaller businesses, marketing can be an issue- lack of funds and people for an IT Department so these services are ideal. If you’d like to get a head start take advantage of these services, find out more from one of our agents: https://nwmap.com/contact-us

You can also take advantage of this for a selling opportunity as well- putting money in your pocket. We’re currently looking for talented sales agents to help get the word out and cash in on this opportunity: For more info: https://nwmap.com/contact-us/become-an-agent

Related info: https://nwmap.com/nw-map-offers-innovative-marketing-tools-businesses-can-harness-the-power-of-cloud-technology

BYOD; The Good, The Bad, and The Divided

Almost as dramatic as the 1966 Clint Eastwood western (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly) is the talk and opinions about the BYOD (Bring your own device) revolution. I think the lesson learned, as in the western, is to be ahead of the game… at least 10 steps ahead. As a business leader (perhaps CIO, entrepreneur, and otherwise), certainly knowing the benefits and risks of BYOD is key. For Telecom Agents, being knowledgeable is always profitable.

With the Smartphone/ iPhones, tablets, and laptops, people can do business any time, from anywhere. In fact tablets outsold PC’s or desktops last year. Website visits are coming from mobile users.

Similar to the Cloud, a business really needs to have a strategy in place before adopting BYOD practices, evaluating the pros and cons to determine (and deal with) security risks. Basically, the benefits must outweigh the risks.

The debates continue:

  • Employee
    chooses device versus controlling the types of devices and uses.
  • Going mobile versus chained to a desk.
  • More productive versus more risk.
  • Effectiveness versus costs of networks and other cost for usage.
  • Employee empowerment and choices versus lack of IT support

How to decide:

  1. First question is…’Is it doable?” Find out from a Telecom Agent at NW MAP if BYOD is manageable and appropriate for your business (type of business and/or size).
  2. Employee surveys- finding out who would use them and what they think about it. Some research has shown employees would accept a lower paying job if able to use their own devices.

How to do it:

  1. Talk to your Telecom Broker or Agent.
  2. The current thought and what many businesses are allowing is BYOD but with limited support. Issues with this is of course security but also employee satisfaction with limited support. Allowed with full IT support is optimal, but your choices are not allowing it, allowing with minimal support, allowing with full support, and allowing with no support.
  3. Check and evaluate network capacity. Most people using BYOD have 2-3 devices.
  4. Money! Realize BYOD will not eliminate costs, but rather place them in areas of support functions rather than devices.

With BYOD, it seems employee satisfaction varies – employees either love it or hate it. Truth is, companies want, no need, their employees to be connected, especially to what is
happening now…information and communication at the speed of light. Employers are equally on the fence as about 40% of companies allow it.

Contact a NW MAP Telecom Agent: https://nwmap.com/contact-us

 

With BYOD, it seems employee satisfaction varies – employees either love it or hate it. Truth is, companies want, no need, their employees to be connected, especially to what is
happening now…information and communication at the speed of light. We’ll see how it all unfolds.

Notes on Success for the CIO, CEO, and Entrepreneur

I flipped open the latest issue of Success magazine and found some inspiring stories. I don’t usually read something like this because success seems elusive during tough times. Such a broad term. Everybody’s chasing after it, right? Just like the American Dream, does it even exist anymore? But I think what we need right now is exactly what I found in the magazine- inspiration. We’ve been in a recession and will be for a while, but innovation and re-invention seem to be key now. People who used to work for others are now working for themselves. Times are changing.

Reading through the editor’s note at the beginning I picked a quote that I enjoyed. “Now, because of technology, every ambitious individual has direct and immediate access to a global market of resources and customers.” (Darren Hardy- SUCCESS magazine Publisher and founding Editor). He also states technology as being the foremost reason for the current ‘entrepreneurial revolution’. Anybody and everybody can get ahead and really be in control of their professional destiny. Personally, I don’t have a 401k anymore but I do work for myself and do what I enjoy. Even Steve Jobs didn’t have it easy at the get-go…sleeping on his friend’s floors after he dropped out of college. The key is we’re desperate enough now and there really is opportunity for the right kind of person.

Another key to success is defining what success is to you personally. My definition is doing what I love. Yes, I’m one of those people who believes if I’m doing what I love, the money will follow. So far, so good. I also believe people should  consistently train for success. Find what motivates you- some people need money in their pockets and food on their table, others want freedom and power over their life. Research what gets you there. Take lessons from others who ARE there. Sometimes setting yourself up as your biggest competitor is a more rewarding challenge than always comparing yourself to the “other” competition and their numbers.  People who succeed felt they never had a choice otherwise.

After skimming some great articles in the latest Success issue, I realized inspiration and technology are our fighting chance in this economic climate. Use it to your advantage.

Written by: Contributing Blogger, L. Izett

Need extra money in your pocket? Contact NW MAP and learn how to be a Telecom Agent: https://nwmap.com/contact-us/become-an-agent

 

CEO Slip-ups: Have you Ever Made a Big Mistake at Work?

When CEO’s explain or recall their business blunders of the past, they usually state they learned something and at the very least learned to survive what could have been a pure nightmare.  Some business CEO tips for surviving are as follows:

  • try to learn from something bad or else the experience was useless.
  • don’t be afraid to show your true self to the world, it may give you the world.
  • Don’t be afraid of not being liked ALL of the time.
  • be a great observer…try not to jump into things without spending some time observing first.
  • realize you are less likely to notice your own errors so double, no, triple check yourself and your work.
  • There is a quote by famous Director, Paul Weitz…”If you’re worried about being perfect, you’ll never come up with anything good”. Accept and adapt to your imperfections.
  • be knowledgeable about things around you and your business and be prepared for at least two different scenarios for everything you do.