Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

About 18 months ago, I asked Ralph de la Vega when I could control my AT&T U-verse^SM TV with my iPhone.  Well now, I can.  Sort of.  As long as you are away from home. 

AT&T has a free application from the Apple App Store to make scheduling and managing recordings on their DVR even easier when you’re away from home. 

The U-verse TV Mobile Remote Access App for iPhone and iPod touch lets customers record their content from virtually anywhere and is another example of U-verse TV applications and DVR enhancements that have been rolled out to customers at no extra charge.

The app allows users to easily search U-verse TV program listings from the full program guide, view descriptions of selected programs, schedule program or series recordings, manage or edit scheduled recordings, and delete stored DVR content.

The Mobile Remote Access App is available for free from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

The launch of the new U-verse TV Mobile Remote Access App follows several DVR enhancements that are currently being rolled out to U-verse TV customers, including an exclusive new Total Home DVR feature that allows customers to schedule and delete recordings from any U-verse receiver in the home — all from a single DVR.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Talari Networks has added the Mercury T200 appliance to its Adaptive Private Networking (APN) solution. APN solves reliability problems caused by heavy applications like VoIP

“Adaptive Private Networking’s unique ability to substantially lower IT operating costs without sacrificing reliability offers truly compelling ROI in today’s difficult business climate,” said industry analyst Dr. Jim Metzler of Ashton, Metzler & Associates. “With its APN solutions, Talari Networks is bringing Internet economics to business-quality WANs.”

According to the company:

Adaptive Private Networking (APN) leverages standard VPN technology for secure data delivery and uses end-to-end algorithms for dynamic, real-time, per-packet traffic engineering. It continuously measures loss, latency, and jitter and adapts network traffic flow almost instantly, delivering reliable and predictable application performance leveraging all available bandwidth sources. APN solves the reliability problems often associated with running VoIP and video-conferencing on shared IP WANs, and it can be added seamlessly to existing networks.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Source: www.voip-news.com

WatchGuard Technologies has unveiled WatchGuard Fireware XTM, a new operating system for WatchGuard security appliances, which work on a variety of technologies including VoIP.

“WatchGuard’s vision of extensible threat management means giving customers the ability to extend or add on to or augment their security foundation,” said Eric Aarrestad, Vice President, Marketing at WatchGuard Technologies. “With Fireware XTM, businesses gain a new and formidable tool that keeps their networks, resources and sensitive data safe and highly secure.”

According to the company:

The new WatchGuard operating system, Fireware XTM, defends networks by adding innovative security features, including full HTTPS inspection, VoIP security, and IM and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) application blocking. Furthermore, Fireware XTM integrates new networking capabilities, including clustering, load-balancing and other networking features. Additionally, the new operating system also extends management capabilities by adding role-based access control (RBAC), centralized multi-box management and enhanced reporting functions. The combination of this makes Fireware XTM the most powerful operating system developed by WatchGuard needed for today’s ever-growing threats and dynamic business environments.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Is Skype going to take a bite out of Apple? VoIP Watch ponders the question …

Zahir’s Blog talks about advantages to online fax services.

VoIP & Gadgets Blog reports that trixbox 2.8 is out in beta.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Verizon Business is launching a new managed service that is intended to help corporate users control their UC solutions easily.

Verizon Business Application Management for Office Communications Server uses the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 platform. Users have enhanced communication capabilities with real-time IM service, web conferencing, VoIP and more.

“Unified communications is a transformative technology that has the power to change the way people communicate and work together to be more effective, creative and productive in the office or on the go,” said Michael Marcellin, vice president of global managed solutions, Verizon. “By managing this leading software-based solution, Verizon Business can help customers take the complexity out of introducing unified communications across an enterprise while keeping their resources devoted to their core business activities.”

So, what are the key features? According to Verizon Business:

– On-Premises Web Conferencing: Users can create, join and modify Web
conferences in real time. The technology makes collaboration easy,
with the capability for IM, audio, video, application sharing and
slide presentations built in and simple to use. Users benefit from a
secure, stable Web conferencing platform running within the Office
Communications Server platform.

– Enterprise Voice: This VoIP-powered solution allows users to choose
the best way to interact with colleagues, either by phone or computer.
For instance, users can place a call by clicking on a contact in
e-mail or IM, as well as access voice mail from their computer and
e-mail on their phone. Verizon Business Application Management for
Office Communications Server provides full integration and support
with any Microsoft-certified PBX or SIP Trunk. The technology is
particularly beneficial for workers who are traveling or
telecommuting, as the VoIP functionality enables users to place a call
from their computer wherever an Internet connection is available,
without incurring additional long-distance charges.

– Enhanced Presence: Enables users to choose the most effective means
for communicating with other users by providing information on status,
location and availability.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

With Mobile Google Apps for the iPhone you can…

Search with your voice so you don’t have to type. New!
Search with My Location makes finding business, weather, and movie info easy. New!
Suggestions appear as you type to save you time.
Launch Gmail, Google News, and more from one place.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

AT&T Inc. today announced the public beta of VideoCrawler, an innovative new Web application designed to provide a better way for people to search for, organize and share online videos and other multimedia content.

Developed in collaboration with Divvio, VideoCrawler indexes hundreds of millions of video clips from thousands of sites, with new sites and millions of clips added every day. Enter a search term and you’ll receive consolidated results from across this vast index. From there, you can organize your favorites into collections, which you can choose to keep private or share with others via the VideoCrawler site or social networking widgets.

The Phone Company is Embracing Social Media – A Hint of Where U-verse is Going?

The VideoCrawler public beta is the latest example of AT&T initiatives to enable customers to get the most out of social media and networking applications. The company has introduced multiple social networking and media applications in recent months for its mobile and Internet customers, and it also delivers the blue room, an online sports and music destination.

VideoCrawler is a free Web application, supported by banner advertising. The site features a modular, customizable layout that includes a video player window, a collection of some of the most popular videos among VideoCrawler users and a view of search results, including content thumbnails. Users can organize VideoCrawler’s layout to best match their individual preferences.

VideoCrawler’s unique and powerful combination of features allows consumers to search across the entire Internet index or within the public collections of other VideoCrawler users to find relevant content that has already been identified by others as "the good stuff." People have full control over their collections, so they can keep them private or share them with friends, family and other VideoCrawler users. The site even enables portability of collections, so users can create and share them across multiple social networking sites via VideoCrawler widgets.

VideoCrawler does not host content; it quickly traverses the Internet to organize results and enable consumers to view content streamed directly from the source. The site offers a "safe search" feature that helps users avoid objectionable content.

The public beta continues AT&T efforts to develop and deliver new social media and networking applications. The company recently announced a strategic investment in Zvents, a local search engine and advertising network that enables users to find, contribute, share and promote local businesses, entertainment, sports, restaurants, events, performances and sales and weekly specials. Zvents currently provides this search service for the popular YPmobile iPhone application that was developed by YELLOWPAGES.COM, a subsidiary of AT&T.

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

I recently read a story in the UK Edition of CNET about Jason Calacanis’ prediction that Apple was working on a networked television.

The key word here is networking.

If it was a networked TV, then it would need a truly networked IPTV platform.

The use of the iPhone as a true rem0te control for your AppleTV and TV in general could come into play.

Imagine, if you will using your current MacBook or MacBook PRO as an adjunct TV receiver off of your U-verse TV Service. 

AT&T is the only only true IP-based provider in the U.S.  Verizon’s offering is not true IP.

Apple could join forces with AT&T Labs and further disrupt the TV broadcasting space.

Comments?

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

AT&T’s retail operations have the chance to take its innovation to the retail level, yet all they can see to come up with is Microsoft Surface P.O.P. displays.

Here is a case of where Apple is now developing "field trips" for school kids to the Apple store.


Why isn’t AT&T doing the same thing at their Experience Stores?

Think about bringing in a child to teach them about:

1.   911
2.  What is IPTV
3.  What you can do with a home network
4.  How to be the tech support guru in your home
5.   How to program Mom and Dad’s U-verse preferences
6.   How to get Mom and Dad to shut off the TV and pay attention to the kid.
7.   How to develop good texting behavior.
8.  How to protect yourself online.
9.  When to "friend" or not "friend" a stranger.
10. The history and life of Alexander Graham Bell

If you could send your child to an AT&T store for an "educational experience," what would you want them to learn?

Comments:  alan at weinkrantz dot com

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

This is NOT a slam against the AT&T stores or BestBuy, who is now selling the iPhone.

My local AT&T store in San Antonio has a great crew.  They are nice people, very helpful, and back in the good old days when I had a BlackBerry or when my kids would lose one of their low-end phones, you could run over to WalMart, buy another cheapo-phone and the folks at the AT&T store would gladly give me a new SIM card, program the phone again, and smile at my son or daughter, and then thank us for being an A&T Customer.

The reason you should buy your iPhone at an Apple store is because you can really learn to use the phone in ways never though possible by asking questions that often times I have found the AT&T reps just don’t know the answers to.

Another reason:  maybe you’ll switch to the Mac (unless you have already done so) and totally integrate your iPhone with your Mac in ways that you just can’t do with a Windows PC.

Next?  Buy the $100 per year One to One training program from Apple.  For $100 per year, you can have a private session with an Apple consultant once a week.  That comes to about $2 per session. 

I am learning more about my Mac, my iPhone, and how to be more productive in my personal, business and family life than ever before.

Where did you buy your iPhone?  Or if you are planning to buy an iPhone, where are you planning to buy yours?

email me:  alan at weinkrantz dot com.

Source: www.voip-news.com

With the new Apple iPhone SDK giving developers a chance to craft and create all sorts of applications for the iPhone 3G, it’s no wonder that VoIP applications are popping up left and right.

What does that mean for AT&T? Not a whole lot. The company will get their monthly dues, regardless if the user is hooking into Wi-Fi to make some calls.

According to PC World:

The main reason for AT&T’s equilibrium, Frommer says, is that it’s already locked iPhone users into 2-year service plans with bundles of the domestic calling minutes you’re already planning to use. “The worst that could happen: You bump your calling plan down to a cheaper one,” Frommer writes.

I think he meant “the best that could happen.” Frommer doesn’t seem to think such a change is a big deal, but I’d really be interested in seeing if anything like that actually happens: users opting for minimum plans because 1) they do plan to make VoIP calls and 2)they want the iPhone mainly for mobile Web surfing and related stuff — data.