Hill Associates Telecom Newsletter

Beauty is not always in the eye of the beholder
These ten smartphones should never have made it to the market, according to Information Week.  Seeing is believing, so check out the gallery view. Be forewarned!

The CIO role is definitely changing
The Society of Information Management held its annual meeting in October and determined that the CIO’s influence is fading. Get the facts here. On a related note, SearchCIO.Techtarget.com has come up with ten reasons CIOs should be thankful this year.

The ten worst IT disasters of all time
Eight years ago we were facing the Y2K crisis. This did not make the list, because everything turned out fine. So, what disasters did make the list?

Effectively dealing with e-discovery
In December 2006, the amended rules to the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure introduced new requirements for addressing electronically stored information (ESI).  ESI can now be called as evidence in legal matters, but how does a company produce its ESI quickly? Network World recently discussed a proactive approach.

The inspiration behind Google’s wireless manifesto
The inspiration is none other than Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu. Wu helped draft the first ever net neutrality rules attached to the AT&T/Bellsouth merger. Wu believes that wireless networks are like public utilities, free from corporate interference. This is the essence of the Google-led Open Handset Alliance and the basis for Android. View a list of eight technologies the Alliance will likely bring to a new handset next year.

The mobile Web; not there yet
We’ve come so far, but we have so much farther to go. Many estimate that 25 percent of mobile device usage is data, and that is expected to double by 2010. Plus, 162 million devices are navigation-ready. Business Week reported that this spring, wireless users spent nearly twice as much on navigation as they did on music.

Vulnerabilities in (wireless) security

This video of an interview with AirDefense’s CTO Amit Sinha exposes enough holes in the wireless world to convince many people never to use a WAP again. Check it out. On a related note, Symantec has released its list of Top 10 Internet security trends for 2008. McAfee has also predicted increased attacks on IM, virtualization, and VoIP software.  For more details on wireless and security, be sure to check out our ExperTech 2.0 series.

Hardware-based encryption
New hard drives use hardware-based encryption, and they are no longer just for large businesses or the government. Stephen Wildstrom of Business Week explains why it’s easier than ever to protect your stuff.

Long Term Evolution for 4G wireless
Verizon has announced its intent to use Long Term Evolution (LTE) for its 4G wireless devices. Sprint plans to use WiMax for 4G. LTE is endorsed by the GSM Association and part of the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) initiatives.

Planning for 2008?
Many of you are planning technical and strategic programs for 2008. Hill Associates provides unparalleled expertise in understanding the industry, explaining the implications of technological change, and positioning your marketing and sales organizations to compete in this crazy business. Give us a call and see what we can do.

What is your ETQ (ExperTech Quotient)?
Participate in a renowned Hill Associates program without leaving your computer. Nine ExperTech 2.0 titles are available at our online store. We can even customize these programs to meet your needs. Give us a call to discuss how these can be used to augment your initiatives. 

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