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Jan 29 2008   6:26PM GMT

Hyperconnectivity: Accessing the Internet Anywhere From Everything



Posted by: Tony Bradley
Internet2, Mobile, 802.11, BlackBerry, iPhone, Mobile device, wi-fi, WiMax, Wireless, Broadband

At some point in the future, maybe the next generation will simply see the rate of evolution of technology as a given. A normal way of life. On a day to day basis, I don’t think that much about it, but when I look back and realize just how much has been invented, and developed in just the past 10 or 15 years, and the rate that technology changes, it is somewhat mind-boggling. It wasn’t that long ago that 56Kbps modems were considered to be blazing fast. But, the extent of most users access to the Internet was from their employer’s network, or via dial-up on a 56k modem from home. Now, there are still some stubborn stragglers using dial-up, but broadband access with 24/7 connectivity is becoming the norm instead of the exception for home users. Notebook computer sales, even for consumers, have skyrocketed. Cell phones are PDA’s and mini-computers all rolled into one. From my cell phone, I can surf the Web, look up a phone number, click the linked phone number, and automatically initiate a call. While I used to have to be in my home or at my office desk to access the Internet, now I can access the Internet from almost anything and almost anywhere. This article from Computerworld takes a mort in-depth look at the trend of “hyperconnectivity” and what it means for the future of technology and communications.

Dec 31 2007   12:38PM GMT

Consumers Emerge as Driving Force Behind IT Strategy



Posted by: Tony Bradley
Development, Microsoft Windows, Networking, Broadband, Cisco

Consumers typically play 2nd Fiddle to the Enterprise customers when it comes to IT strategy and development. Microsoft used to have separate operating system platforms for enterprise and consumer desktops with Windows NT Workstation and Windows 98, but that has evolved into one operating system platform, with variations to fit the enterprise and consumer desktop markets. Toward that end though, Microsoft seems to still build for the Enterprise, then strip out some features and functionality and repackage it for the Consumers. The Windows Vista operating system was released to business customers prior to its general release to the public. This same behavior has played out on the network side with companies like Cisco focusing research and development on the Enterprise, and letting new technology more or less trickle down to the Consumer market. End users are becoming more technically advanced and they are demanding more advanced tools and technology though. Companies like Cisco have to examine this trend and refocus their development strategy to ensure they don’t get left behind as the market shifts. Take a look at this article from SearchNetworking.com to learn more.


Dec 31 2007   5:13AM GMT

Determining and Optimizing WAN Bandwidth



Posted by: Tony Bradley
WAN, Networking, Broadband, Ethernet, IP

If you have to connect multiple sites that are not physically in the same building or campus, it can be a little tricky establishing the kind of connectivity and throughput you need for remote sites to work effectively with the primary servers across the WAN connection. Dividing the file size by the projected network bandwidth can give you a theoretical data transfer speed, but factors such as packet loss or the protocol used can add significantly to that time. Take a look at networking expert David Hughes answer to How do I calculate the time taken for a file to be transferred over a WAN link? to learn more about the factors that may impact your rate of data transfer and some tips to help you optimize your WAN connection.


Nov 26 2007   2:49PM GMT

Cisco Jockeying To Lead IP Video



Posted by: Tony Bradley
IP communications, Broadband, Cisco, IP, YouTube

You may have heard of this quaint site that lets users create and share videos with one another. I think it is called “YouTube”. OK, if you haven’t heard of YouTube, you are new to the planet or something. YouTube is just one example of the recent explosion of IP video on the Internet though. Movie studios and television networks are expanding their online presence and the result is an ever-growing library of movies and TV shows available to be watched as IP video as well. Combine that with initiatives such as IP video surveillance, and you have the makings of a hot new trend. Cisco has made some recent acquisitions in the area of IP video that appear to be a maneuver to get ahead of the competition and try to corner the IP video market. Check out Is Cisco Becoming the IP Video Giant? for more about this story.


Aug 26 2007   8:32PM GMT

Cisco Forecasts Exponential Growth of IP Traffic



Posted by: Tony Bradley
IP, peer-to-peer, P2P, YouTube, Broadband, Cisco, Internet, IP communications, Networking

Cisco has released a report detailing their forecasts and predictions for the world of IP communications. In a nutshell, they see the continued adoption of broadband Internet access, and the growth of online video (for business use as well as consumer / social sites such as YouTube.com) and peer-to-peer (P2P) networking as driving forces that will cause the total volume of IP traffic to roughly double every 2 years through 2011. You can read the report from Cisco, or check out this Networkworld.com article for an analysis and summary of the report forecasts.