Avaya one-X Mobile Dual Mode-Solution Architecture

On July 16, 2007, Avaya announced a new version of its one-X solution. Avaya one-X Mobile Dual Mode, now available worldwide, allows users to roam between cellular and Wi-Fi networks using Nokia E60, E61, or E70 smartphones. Bill Detwiler explores the products benefits and limitations in his blog post, “Avaya one-X Mobile Dual Mode is innovative but lacks carrier support”.

© 2007 Avaya Inc. All rights reserved.

ClarkConnect TCP/IP settings

Using an old Dell computer, a few wired and wireless network cards, and the ClarkConnect Linux distribution, Chris Torres, TechRepublic Mobile and Wireless blogger, built a custom wireless router that offered strong security, great management tools, and plenty of range.

Check out his blog post, “Build your own Linux wireless router with ClarkConnect,” for complete details.

ClarkConnect LAN settings

Configuring the LAN settings in Clark Point Networks’ ClarkConnect Linux distrobution

Check out our blog post, “Build your own Linux wireless router with ClarkConnect,” for complete details on ClarkConnect.

ClarkConnect Dashboard

From the ClarkConnect Dashboard, you can fine tune the interface, update the ClarkConnect software, add wireless support, and configure advanced features like a Web server, mail server, or FTP server.

Check out our blog post, “Build your own Linux wireless router with ClarkConnect,” for complete details on ClarkConnect.

Belkin Wireless G Desktop Card (F5D7000)

After migrating one of his computers to Linux, Chris Torres, TechRepublic Mobile and Wireless blogger, noticed that the operating system wouldn’t detect the machine’s Microsoft PCI Wi-Fi card. After scouring the Internet, he found instructions for making wireless cards work with NDIS Wrapper and similar applications, but no references to a card with Plug and Play Linux support. It took hours of effort and several trips to local hardware retailers, but eventually he found a Linux distribution and Wi-Fi card combination that worked–SUSE 10 and a specific version of the Belkin Wireless G Desktop card.

Check out his blog post, “Belkin Wireless G Desktop Card offers Plug and Play Linux support,” for complete details.

Belkin Wireless G Desktop Card (Part

Only the version 5100 of the Belkin Wireless G Desktop Card (Part

HD24613 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi-enabled wall jack

HD Communications has developed a small in-wall wireless access point. The HD24613 is an 802.11b/g access point that fits within a wall-mounted utility box–normally reserved for Ethernet jacks.

Check out Michael Kassner’s blog post, “Hide you wireless access points with HD Communications’ 802.11b/g-enabled wall jacks,” for complete details.

ThinkGeek Wi-Fi Detector Shirt

The Wi-Fi Detector shirt by ThinkGeek has to be the perfect gift for the Wi-Fi extremist in your family. Not only does it have a very high “coolness factor” and it actually works as a Wi-Fi signal sensor.

Credit: ThinkGeek

VoiceCon Orlando 2008 - Fred Knight's opening remarks

During his opening remarks at VoiceCon Orlando 2008, Fred Knight, GM/Co-Chair of VoiceCon, told the audience that:

1. UC improves personal productivity and transforms business process
2. UC will increased the decentralization of communication networks
3. UC changes what you buy and for whom

VoiceCon Orlando 2008 - Louis D'Ambrosio keynote

Louis D’Ambrosio, President and CEO, Avaya, urged conference attendees to focus on their customers through “the democratization of unified communications”–providing UC not just to the elite few, but the entire organization with IT governing the new democracy. D’Ambrosio explained Avaya’s three UC offerings–a role-based solution, a branch solution for banks, and a system for retail stores.

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

VoiceCon Orlando 2008 - Gurdeep Singh Pall keynote

Gurdeep Singh Pall, Corporate VP, Unified Communications Group, Microsoft, shared a vision for UC built around interoperability, integration, and impact (and Office Communication Server of course).

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

VoiceCon Orlando 2008 - Michael Rhodin keynote

Michael Rhodin, General Manager, Workplace, Portal and Collaboration Software, IBM, emphasized the need for UC solutions to be built on open, extensible platforms, such as IBM Lotus Sametime. Rhodin also stressed IBM’s commitment to keeping an open mind about how UC technology will evolve. To illustrate this point, he provided an interesting demonstration of Sametime integrated with a 3D virtual environment created with new partner Forterra.

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

VoiceCon Orlando 2008 - Michael Rhodin keynote

Michael Rhodin, General Manager, Workplace, Portal and Collaboration Software, IBM, emphasized the need for UC solutions to be built on open, extensible platforms, such as IBM Lotus Sametime.

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

Kevin Martin, Chairman of the FCC, at CTIA Wireless 2008

During his CTIA Wireless 2008 keynote, Kevin Martin, FCC Chairman, said it was premature to require any additional regulation, and said he would circulate a proposal among the four other FCC commissioners to dismiss Skype’s petition to apply Carterfone rules to the wireless industry.

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

Lowell McAdam, President and CEO of Verizon Wireless, at CTIA Wireless 2008

During his keynote, Lowell McAdam, President and CEO of Verizon Wireless and CTIA Chairman, explained that the “industry is at a critical crossroads.” He asked attendees to embrace new entrants into the market (Apple, Google, and others) and said the wireless industry must eliminate industry practices and policies that donu00e2u20acu2122t make sense for customers. Not only would this benefit consumers, but help avoid additional government regulation.

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

Dan Hesse, President and CEO of Sprint Nextel, at CTIA Wireless 2008

As customers expect instant access to data-intensive applications, the wireless industry must respond. Dan Hesse, Sprint Nextel’s President and CEO, said data was the wireless industry’s future.

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

Forterra Systems and IBM demonstrate 3D meeting room within Lotus Sametime

During his VoiceCon Orlando 2008 keynote, Rhodin demonstrated a 3D virtual meeting room complete with conference phone, presentation screen, and faux leather chairs. Partnering with Forterra Systems, a developer of virtual environments, IBM plans to integrate Forterra’s On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment (OLIVE) 3D platform with Lotus Sametime.

Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic.com

CTIA Wireless 2008 - Goes Green

Beyond getting attendees involved, CTIA touted their own green initiatives, such as printing materials on recycled paper, switching to a single-piece badge instead of a three-piece design, encouraging exhibitors to deliver material electronically, and even asking the convention facility to use biodegradable materials in the concession areas.

CTIA Wireless 2008 - Recycling Centers

At CTIA Wireless 2008, conference attendees were asked to join the green effort by placing old show badges, unwanted show materials, and even old cell phones in collection bins placed around the Las Vegas Convention Center.

CTIA Wireless 2008 - Show Program and Directory

I’m glad CTIA is making an effort to reduce wastes and recycle, but I think theyu00e2u20acu2122re missing at least one opportunity to lessen their environmental impact–stop printing the massive CTIA Show Program and Directory.