Tag Archives: small

101 Guide To Cloud Telephony

The term cloud telephony is popularly used nowadays. But what is it? Cloud telephony is a very broad term with several definitions, but no definitive ones. Understandably this causes confusion and apprehension for businesses when considering cloud telephony systems. The simplest way to define cloud telephony is that it is a system that integrates applications, web services and IT infrastructure over the Internet.

Is Cloud Telephony Good for your business?

There are several computing models that can be used as a framework for cloud telephony that allows any type of business to scale their requirements instantly, be it an upscale or downscale manner. In other words, cloud telephony can be used practically by any type of business, small to medium to large businesses. (more…)

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5 Factors That SMBs Should Consider While Switching Over To Cloud Telephony

Today’s businesses are rapidly adopting new technologies.  One example is Cloud Telephony. To meet the demand for this service, multiple different providers have emerged in the market. While it may be beneficial to join the bandwagon and achieve your business goals, it is also very important to sit down and think of the factors that need to be considered while switching over to cloud telephony.

The following factors should be thought of in advance before making a decision. This consideration should be done by all types of businesses, including SMBs (Small and Medium Sized Businesses) and major corporations. After all, adopting a new technology may mean changing certain factors and functionality features of your company.

1.     The Size of Your Business

Why it this important? Nowadays, there are different service providers offering cloud telephony as one of their services. Each service provider also offers several packages. Thus, it requires the need for you to sit down and analyze your business. Is it considered a small business or a medium sized business? Is it even a large business? Your answer to these questions will help you match your requirements to the range of services offered, and choose the one that fits you best. (more…)

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Partner opportunity: Small and mid-size companies seeking an edge

Flexibility of Microsoft Dynamics platform allows for a spectrum of custom solutions across a range of industries.

HOUSTON — July 9, 2013 — In the information-age economy, technology can be a huge competitive advantage — particularly for smaller companies. As small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) gain a foothold in today’s markets, Microsoft continues to invest in ways to help them compete.

“Today, the Microsoft Dynamics platform can provide the flexibility and power to serve a multitude of business needs,” says Neil Holloway, corporate vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) Sales and Operations. “Windows Azure and cloud services are increasingly making it possible for smaller companies to have the same computing muscle as their larger competitors.” (more…)

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Small and midsize companies in the cloud reap security, privacy and reliability benefits

Microsoft study shows 94 percent of small and midsize companies gain security advantages — contradicting perceptions that hold others back from adoption.

REDMOND, Wash. — June 11, 2013 — A study released today reveals that, in addition to time and cost savings, small and midsize businesses (SMBs) in the U.S. that use a cloud service gain significant security, privacy and reliability advantages compared with companies that have not adopted the cloud. The study, commissioned by Microsoft Corp., shows that perceptions of the cloud held by nonusers directly contrast with the real experiences of cloud adopters.

“There’s a big gap between perception and reality when it comes to the cloud. SMBs that have adopted cloud services found security, privacy and reliability advantages to an extent they didn’t expect,” said Adrienne Hall, general manager, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft. “The real silver lining in cloud computing is that it enables companies not only to invest more time and money into growing their business, but to better secure their data and to do so with greater degrees of service reliability as well.” (more…)

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Small Asteroid to Whiz Past Earth Safely

The small near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass very close to Earth on February 15, so close that it will pass inside the ring of geosynchronous weather and communications satellites. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office can accurately predict the asteroid’s path with the observations obtained, and it is therefore known that there is no chance that the asteroid might be on a collision course with Earth. Nevertheless, the flyby will provide a unique opportunity for researchers to study a near-Earth object up close.

Asteroid 2012 DA14 will be closest to Earth on Feb. 15, at about 11:24 p.m. PST (2 p.m. EST and 1924 UT), when it will be at a distance of about 27,700 kilometers (17,200 miles) above Earth’s surface. Although this is close enough for the asteroid to pass inside the ring of geosynchronous satellites, located about 35,800 kilometers (22,200 miles) above the equator, it will still be well above the vast majority of satellites, including the International Space Station. At its closest, the asteroid will be only about 1/13th of the distance to the moon. The asteroid will fly by our planet quite rapidly, at a speed of about 17,400 mph (7.8 kilometers per second) in a south-to-north direction with respect to Earth. (more…)

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Cloud Computing Security Benefits Dispel Adoption Barrier for Small to Midsize Businesses

Cloud services reduce time and money spent managing security and increase protection against cyberthreats, Microsoft study shows.

REDMOND, Wash. — Research released today by Microsoft Corp. shows that small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are gaining significant IT security benefits from using the cloud, according to a new Microsoft study in five geographies.

The study shows that 35 percent of U.S. companies surveyed have experienced noticeably higher levels of security since moving to the cloud.1 In addition, 32 percent say they spend less time worrying about the threat of cyberattacks. U.S. SMBs using the cloud also spend 32 percent less time each week managing security than companies not using the cloud. They are also five times more likely to have reduced what they spend on managing security as a percentage of overall IT budget. (more…)

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Seed Size is Controlled by Maternally Produced Small Rnas, Scientists Find

AUSTIN, Texas — Seed size is controlled by small RNA molecules inherited from a plant’s mother, a discovery from scientists at The University of Texas at Austin that has implications for agriculture and understanding plant evolution.

“Crop seeds provide nearly 70 to 80 percent of calories and 60 to 70 percent of all proteins consumed by the human population,” said Z. Jeff Chen, the D.J. Sibley Centennial Professor in Plant Molecular Genetics at The University of Texas at Austin. “Seed production is obviously very important for agriculture and plant evolution.” (more…)

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