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Hill
Associates Telecom Newsletter
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Hello!
Here’s hoping that everyone submitted their taxes on time and that there were refunds for all! For the most part, our Vermont office has been enjoying a warm, sunny spring, but our Colorado office has had snow twice this month. Fortunately, summer is just around the corner.
We have been doing a lot of work related to security lately, and business continuance and disaster recovery planning remain a hot topic for us. Look for a new ExperTech 2.0 title on this topic later in the summer. Of course, we prefer you to use our stuff over any one else’s, but also look at one of the best free sources for security documentation that we have found: the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Computer Security Division (CSD) Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC). How did we ever get along without the Internet? See the related stories below.
Enjoy your spring, and we hope that you are taking advantage of all the new stuff we have been sharing. Let us hear from you, and tell us how we can be even better.
Paul
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| In
the News
President Bush signs agreement with European Union to foster RFID
President Bush has signed a transatlantic economic integration and growth agreement that states that the U.S. and EU will collaborate to develop best practices for RFID technologies and promote the interoperability of electronic health record systems. The full agreement is available here. To learn more about RFID technology, check out our new wireless ExperTech 2.0.
A 3D printing factory
What happens when a piece of paper is just not good enough any more? What if you could “print” the object you want, in three dimensions, NOW? And what if the cost were really affordable, like an HDTV? The reality may be closer than you think. Remember, not long ago, no one would have dreamed of having a laser printer at home, either.
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| Industry
Analysis
“Google it”: Not just for the Web anymore
Users can now “google” information on their phones. The completely automated, free service is available in its current test form by calling 1800-GOOG-411 (1800-4664411). Conveniently, mobile phone users can get the results in a text message.
Ever worry that Google is turning into Big Brother? Google certainly knows a lot about us. Why does the company continue to buy up dark fiber to support its search capabilities? Does Google have even grander aspirations? Read more here.
The Internet is changing the way (and where) we advertise
Advertising is now being modified specifically for the Internet. What was good for TV is simply too long for the Internet. Many of us are breathing a sigh of relief! NBC Universal is limiting advertising clips to 15 seconds, starting July 1. The 30-second clip is still allowed during online full-length television episodes.
In a related story, Bill Gates recently predicted that advertising will move to the Web in the next five years, so advertisers will have to change their business models. Will the printed newspaper disappear completely? Small town, local newspapers are actually growing. Listen to the full story here.
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| Tech
Talk
What is your techno type?
Do you cringe with the thought of using an iPod? Or, do you have your own blog? Answer a few questions on a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and find out your techno type.
Dial-up is all but dead
Ken Radio reports that AT&T is the leading U.S. Internet service provider with 12.9 million subscribers; Comcast is second with 12.1 million. Not for long! Comcast has just unveiled a DOCSIS 3.0 wideband modem, which can download an encyclopedia or a dictionary in mere minutes. The system is 20 times faster than current cable modems. Curious about how Internet access actually works? Check out our new TCP/IP ExperTech 2.0.
PBT, an alternative to MPLS: Squashed?
One of the themes at this year’s Future-Net (formerly MPLSCon) was “The Great Ethernet Debate,” which discussed alternatives to MPLS. It appears that there may be some huge hurdles to overcome for the likes of Nortel’s Provider Backbone Transport (PBT), now known as Provider Backbone Bridging-Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE). Now that’s a mouthful! Dave, Mark, and Trevor talked about alternative Ethernet access in a recent tHAWT. As best as we can tell, the only major success for PBB-TE is the BT 21CN initiative. For more information about Ethernet, check out our new Metro Ethernet ExperTech 2.0.
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| Hill Associates News
Hill Associates launches PodSnacks
Check out our PodSnacks, a podcast series that covers telecommunications terms, in bite-sized nuggets, perfect for your commute to work or your daily jog. Let us know of any terms or concepts you would like to hear about.
The Hill Associates Store continues to expand
The library of our new ExperTech 2.0 continues to grow. There are a variety of telecommunications topics, from the most basic overviews to more detailed examinations of technology areas, all available for preview at the Hill Associates Store. Titles can be purchased individually on CD or accessed online. Corporate licenses for AICC- or SCORM-compliant LMS systems are also available for individual titles or a variety of package options. If you have a special request for a topic, let us know. These can be customized for your particular needs.
Hill Associates develops customized content for partners
We want to thank the many former students and partners that regularly access our wiki, blog, and PodSnacks. Various industry players (both domestic and global) are interested in using a similar forum on their internal servers as part of a “Brought to you by (the National Training or Marketing) Organization” talent development program. Organizations often have limited resources to provide timely information, and this is where Hill Associates comes in. We can help your organization with product-specific podcasts, updates, or technology-related discussions with product offer managers. Give us a call to discuss how we can augment your content with ours.
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