VOIP

From the FCC website: "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. Some VoIP services may only allow you to call other people using the same service, but others may allow you to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. Also, while some VoIP services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, other services allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter."

VoIP introduces flexibility with respect to the way we use phone communications and offers tremendous unified communication potential. There are generic differences, however, in the way businesses and consumers use VoIP - some fees apply differently, etc. The FCC has Frequently Asked Questions and other information about VoIP technology (http://www.fcc.gov/voip/).

At S.B. Stone & Company we are monitoring developments with this technology and can provide relevant hardware/software and technical support. Call us for more information.

Virtualization

VMWare provides robust virtualization software. From vmware.com: "In essence, virtualization lets you transform hardware into software. Use software such as VMware ESX Server to transform or "virtualize" the hardware resources of an x86-based computer--including the CPU, RAM, hard disk and network controller--to create a fully functional virtual machine that can run its own operating system and applications just like a "real" computer.

Multiple virtual machines share hardware resources without interfering with each other so that you can safely run several operating systems and applications at the same time on a single computer." Benefits of Virtualization (from http://www.vmware.com/overview/why.html)

• Server Consolidation and Infrastructure Optimization: Virtualization makes it possible to achieve significantly higher resource utilization by pooling common infrastructure resources and breaking the legacy "one application to one server" model.
• Physical Infrastructure Cost Reduction: With virtualization, you can reduce the number of servers and related IT hardware costs in the data center. This leads to reductions in real estate, power and cooling requirements, resulting in significantly lower IT costs.
• Improved Operational Flexibility & Responsiveness: Virtualization offers a new way of managing IT infrastructure and can help IT administrators spend less time on repetitive tasks such as provisioning, configuration, monitoring and maintenance.
• Increased Application Availability & Improved Business Continuity: Eliminate planned downtime and recover quickly from unplanned outages with the ability to securely backup and migrate entire virtual environments with no interruption in service.
• Improved Desktop Manageability & Security: Deploy, manage and monitor secure desktop environments that end users can access locally or remotely, with or without a network connection, on almost any standard desktop, laptop or tablet PC.

Virtualization is a mature and relevant option. You can run multiple virtual machines on any new computer (PC or Server). Reducing hardware, implementation time, and energy consumption are just the opening benefits of this technology.

Microsoft offers two free products, Virtual PC, and Virtual PC server, for customers interested in experimenting with this technology.

If you're interested in exploring virtualization, call S.B.Stone & Company for more information at 216-524-9055, or send us an email.