I am rushing… couple of travel plans this week and then to KL, Malaysia for the exciting event - TechEd SEA 2007. So, this could be my last call to you for TechEd SEA 2007.
Promotions!
Grab promotions for this premier & largest annual conference in the South East Asia region – which will be held from 10-13 September 2007 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Malaysia. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so by 31st August, 2007 in order to take advantage of the 999 RM.
4 Top reasons why must one attend TechEd and what keep them coming back?
I can’t think of missing a TechEd in my area ever since I attended the Singapore TechEd 2005. Few reasons are:
Great Speakers - The majority of speakers who appear in the TechEd lineup are from the Product Groups at Microsoft Corporation (the masterminds who build the software and those who know it best) & top industry gurus like subject matter experts, MVPs, recognized industry gurus etc - they are at your disposal to meet, connect with, share the experience and get answers from.
Breakout Sessions – For example, if you are keen on Messaging & Collaboration, check out this link and block your time accordingly.
Networking with Microsofties & your peers – As you spend time and walk around TechEd SEA venue, all you can see are positive energy and 2000 enthusiastic likeminded folks (mostly IT pros and developers). TechEd crowd is like no other…
Live FEST – Last but not the least, get ready for Live Fest. According to Microsoft. “LIVE Fest is the playground and party for delegates to let their hair down, and mingle in a fun and casual atmosphere after a long day of conference. LIVE fest will kick start TechEd SEA 2007 with a galore of interesting activities with lots of attractive prizes to be given away. So gear in your fun side you have not LIVE till you experience the LIVE Fest.” Read more here.
Overall, this is going to be a great learning time, knowing more latest Microsoft products, technologies & its envisions, networking opportunities, get to know the true geeks, industry gurus, MVPs and lot more….
Who attends TechEd?
Mostly IT pros & developers – they continue dominating such events to seek priceless knowledge & get exposed to the latest Microsoft Products & Technologies. Since I am an IT pro, I am more interested in highlighting below some of IT pro tracks:
Improve the management of your existing IT infrastructure with the latest management technologies in Microsoft System Center.
Increase infrastructure and user security with Microsoft Forefront products.
Upgrade to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and learn in depth how you can unify your company’s communications.
Prepare to take advantage of all that is new in Microsoft Windows Server code name “Longhorn.”
Prepare to deploy Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system.
Install an end-to-end enterprise collaboration solution with Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Groove 2007.
Why one must attend TechEd?
IT pros & Developers get more exposure, new products awareness, get to know the latest Microsoft cutting edge Technologies on various business scenarios and priceless networking with fellow IT pros, developers, Microsofties, partners and many more. A rare event which happens once a year in selected cities.
What is the Agenda of TechEd SEA 2007?
4 days are packed with full of creative & knowledge brain storming activities. There will be breakout sessions, Hands-on lab, trade-shows at TechEd expo hall where Microsoft partners showcase their solutions and some fun activities such as Live FEST, and get connected with other likeminded folks around. I am stretching most of the days with packed schedules which get extended to late evening with activities such as MVP gathering & other Microsoft get together. For detailed agenda, download it from the following link:
With the following 7 tracks, TechEd SEA 2007 going to be the biggest ever sofar. Here are the tracks details and I will be mostly attending Track#2 & Track#1
As per Microsoft site, the above agenda is subject to change. So keep watching on the following link:
Where will I be in TechEd SEA 2007 & what would I like to do?
Unfortunately not at the speaker’s podium L - Hope to make that happen in next year TechEd. For this TechEd, I will be keen on attending Messaging & Collaboration Track, then little bit on Windows server 2008.
As you may aware, I am running the following sites for Microsoft communities. Those who are interested to know my online community activities, feel free to approach me. If you can’t search me at the TechEd venue, drop by at the MVP booth in the Exhibition hall (I guess there will be a booth) and pass your contact. I will surely get back with you…
MessagingTalk.org (I have been running this site with my friends for the last one and half years, this is where we would like to share some tutorials, research articles)
DigWin.com (A Social Networking site for those who work in Microsoft Technologies, share interesting news/stories and rate them to the home page if they are good – a recent initiative from MessagingTalk.org Team)
MessagingBlogs.com (Along with MessagingTalk & DigWin, we started an exclusive blog site to write about Messaging & Collaboration trends in the industry. In future, I also would like this platform to be a “Group Blogging” site – where a group of bloggers share the same site (platform) for blogging on Messaging & Collaboration. So far, I am the only one…)
And lot more to do….See you at TechEd SEA 2007, KL - Malaysia.
I do not prefer Google Apps for small business organizations if their email and other applications are business confidential (e.g., docs, sheets, calendar & IM). Especially, if they are dealing with intellectual properties, mega deals with government agencies, doing patents related work etc..Following are my five key reasons why those companies never prefer Google Apps.
Trust - Companies are not comfortable with storing confidential documents on Google Public Server.
Wireless Email Service - No Push mail Support for PDA users.
Appliance - Google Apps does not have appliance concept. Appliance concept will be good to attract companies who does not have any trust in Google’s Public Server.
Support - Support is not based on any SLA (Service Level Agreement). Use it on your own risk
Interoperable - No proper interoperability with other commercial application and no guarantee that it will exist tomorrow.
There are very many other things that Microsoft office does better than Google Apps. We haven’t heard that enterprises are using it with confidence except testing and long term piloting here and there. If you are more keen to see the demo of Google Apps, here you go:
The fundamental idea of Grand Central is “Have one phone number for all your phones, for life.” Generally, when you change jobs, homes, relocate to new cities and change cell phones, you will need to let others know your recent phone numbers and it cost in many ways.
So the Grand Central comes into this picture to solve your problems whereby you can provide a single phone number and let rules handle all your phone numbers. In other words, whenever a person calls your “one number”, the call will reach based on the person’s relationship you set in the rules and the your “presence” at that point in time. There are so many other features they are offering, check this here.
I guess the following demo gives a better picture of understanding how Grand Central service works, click below on the YouTube from the founders Craig & Vincent
Sounds cool..! Great innovation..and no wonder why Google behinds this most exciting startup. You can count on Google as they begin to integrate Grand Central with Gmail & GTalk. Eventually, Google presence in small business sector will get strengthen to next level.
After all, this innovation will simplify the users life by having a single phone number and handle the calls based on the rules.
TechEd SEA 2007 is coming back.This time in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 10-13th, 2007.You may want to check Ed Quek’s blog here for more details - http://edteched.spaces.live.com/
Everyone in the enterprise knows that Instant messaging or IM is a form of real-time communication between two or more people based on typed text. But less people in the corporate realize key benefits of enterprises of using IM and even lesser people follow the IM etiquette. My attempt is to jot down at least few points of IM usage in enterprise perspective.Below are few key points where enterprise thinks its key benefits of implementing IM in the organization.
To activate rapid communication & collaboration
systems requirements are very minimum to implement. It does not require big network bandwidth
So majority of the users can be enabled without impacting the existing network infrastructure no matter where they are
Reduce the telecoms bills
Great benefit, you can easily gauge the telecoms savings by comparing the pre-IM and Post-IM usage.
Cost effective alternative for audio conferencing
Helps remote staff get connected
Provide “presence’ services
it will help you see the people on-line who are not in your list of IM. For example, if you receive an email with large distribution list and suddenly you have a question on that mail broadcast. With the “presence” enabled in the outlook, you can point the mouse over to the distribution list and then you will be able to see who is online. Target the one whom you would like to engage in an IM conversation.
However, there are some IM etiquette enterprises require its users to comply. I have listed few below:
IM is ideal and it works better for quick questions. But if you have a complex message to convey, it is suggested that you drop an email and call them.
Make short and precise - Meaning, keep your IM messages simple words and be understood. The best is no more than two sentences. You can reserve longer conversations for your conference calls or face-to-face meetings.
While you presenting with a power point slides, make sure you logged out from IM. Otherwise, it will display the IM messages to those who see your PowerPoint slides. Also, it distracts and sometimes disturb the audience.
IM is not a medium to convey shocking or major official announcement. So be kind enough!
IM is not a medium to propose and negotiate a contract and assign jobs as it should be in writings and through some tools respectively.
The field of Web conferencing service growing and is increasignly a popular choice amoung the corporates which enables you to communicate and collaborate with colleagues, customers, and partners, anywhere using a PC with an Internet connection. It can handle from small collaborative meetings to large presentations. This is great solution for your online presentation and meeting requirments.
There are many solutions out in the market, and I would like to take LiveMeeting as example here to explain the top eight benefits from using this tool for meetings without the expense of traveling.
So why waste time for preparing the business trip. Let you your bags rest and start using Web Conferencing tool. No need to wait in long queue at the airport anymore, conduct your business meeting from the comfort of your own office or home.
Most of the effective web conferencing tool can help you participate in meetings around the world in quick notice and with a minimum cost. Here are the some ways Web Conferencing Tools can help you be more productive.
Minimum Travel - Reduce travel substantially by communicating and collaborating online and in the real time. What that means to you is no need to leave your desk to conduct meetings with others. By doing this, tremendous amount of time and money will be saved. Last but not the least, get rid of all the difficulties of a business travel.
Improve productivity - Creating more time by spending your time wisely. Meaning, you can eliminate the delay while getting to and from your meetings destinations while meeting your customers, colleagues, partners more frequently. This will increase your business efficieny in the same amount of time.
Cost Effective - Start online meetings, online training, and online events becuase any effective web conferencing tool will offer you dramatic return on your investment compared to the expense of doing business face-to-face.
Collaborate easily - Most of the web conference vendors offer easy-to-use and familiar user interface. So all you need is a computer connected to Internet to begin your online meetings. For example, if you use Live Meeting, it works directly with your other applications, for instance Microsoft Office and Live communication messenger.
Standardised for all type of online meetings - Most of the web conferencing vendors offer a standardised user interface which can support all types of online meetings ranges from small team meetings, to training, to mega events with thousands of participants.
Deliver effective online presentations - You can deliver remote presentations with the same effectiveness as being in person. Most of the Web conferencing tools support Microsoft Office PowerPoint animations and transitions, and the ability to receive real-time feedback from your audience, you can successfully get your point across without having to be in the same room.
Extend & Expand your customer base - There is no geographical limits, start expanding your client base. Access people are easier irrespective of where they are. Increase your people reach in short span of time with a very minimum of cost compared to being there in person.
Real time Collaboration - You can share, collaborate, and brainstorm your projects in real time. Achieve a rapid positive results. Time is a precious commodity now and no one wait for everyone to be in the same place at the desired time. So, using an effective web conferencing too will help make critical business decisions in real quick with stakeholders, irrespective of their geography.
Here are some of the vendors who provides web conferencing services in the market.
Collaboration can occur between multiple people that share a common goal of mutual value – the outcome of which is new, blended information. Technologies such as team rooms, chat and whiteboarding are samples of technologies, which can be used to support human collaboration.
However, the term “collaboration” is a buzzword that has never been, nor will ever be, succinctly defined. Collaboration is an abstract term through which the goal is to create tangible value.
Defining collaboration is irrelevant. The exercise creates no value. However, measuring the degree of “valueness” resulting from human collaboration can be aligned to business imperatives. Vendors would be wise to remember this in their marketing.
We are starting messagingblogs as a group. Our weblogs will cover messaging technologies, trends, industry news from various messaging & collaboration platforms.
This blog will also complements the news coverage and reports at Grey Consulting & MessagingTalk.org
