Alberta Business Marketing

Welcome to the age of the Internet.  I think it is pretty safe to claim this now.  Just look around you and there is no doubt that our online world is just as important as the face-to-face relationships we have.  For some, online is more important.

Cloud Computing For Business

One of the biggest shifts has been in business.  Business is now starting to embrace “the cloud” and the power of online applications.  Need proof, next time you fly, how many printed boarding passes do you notice?  How many people are using the smart phone to store their boarding pass?  More and more everyday.  Big business and small business are leveraging the power of the Internet to run their day-to-day business applications.

Even Microsoft has started to take notice. Well, they have been for a long time, at least 4 years since the first time I heard “Software + Services”.  Businesses across North America are flocking to Microsoft’s Online Solutions.  Many of them are turning to the Microsoft BPOS solution or solutions delivered by Microsoft Partners each day.  The online solutions market is heating up and taking off at an extremely fast pace.

The reality of the market today is that many small businesses are turning to Microsoft BPOS now versus having a server sitting in the back room doing nothing but email.  The next versions of the Microsoft Small Business Server will have a version that is cloud-equipped.  My understanding is that it will do nothing but authenticate your users and store files.  Sounds like a Foundation Server.

Join us for a free webinar

Ulistic is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday to help you get answers to hosting your business applications on the Internet.

Join us on Tuesday, July 20th at Noon Eastern/9 AM Pacific for a no charge 60 minute webinar that is geared to help you get some answers on what online service you should turn to.  Is it Google?  How about Microsoft Office Web Apps? Do you need a CRM?  What sort of backup strategy should I have?

Lots of questions and our goal on Tuesday is to help you get some answers.  Real world answers and the facts about the best online solution for your business.  For the past 6 months, I have been doing my own research, testing out many different online platforms.  We have also installed many different solutions ranging from Google Apps, Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite and Hosted Exchange through one of our partners.  I have had my frustrations to say the least.

I will have these real life stories plus intelligence on what some Calgary business owners have been quoted recently and what you should expect to pay the service you choose.  The truth is this, everyone has an opinion, everyone has a favourite and everyone’s needs and tolerance for techy stuff is different.  What works for some, doesn’t work for others.

It is your decision, I can only share with you what I know.

Register for Is Your Business Ready For The Internet webinar on Tuesday.

Tags: Business IT, Business/Finance, Calgary, Cloud applications, cloud computing, Computing, day-to-day business applications, Everything as a service, Google Inc., Human Interest, Internet culture, microsoft, Microsoft Corporation, microsoft office, Microsoft Partners, North America, Office Web Apps, online applications, online platforms, online solution, Online Solutions, Online Suite, online world, smart phone, smartphone, Software plus services, Technology/Internet, web 2.0, Web applications, Web Apps, Web conferencing, Windows Server, Windows Small Business Server
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I find myself these days with three Apple products at the ready at all times and with our team at Ulistic growing, collaborating and sharing of information amongst our team members is crucial to our success.  Our MacBooks, iPhones and IPADs travel with us everywhere we go and this allows for keeping in touch with our clients when they need us.   Having instant access to our client data is crucial to our success but having this luxury within our budget is especially critical.

The Internet Cloud allows Ulistic to operate in a manner that meets all of our needs for access, security and affordability.

Enter another robust, secure and free/nearly free solution for business

I stumbled upon a great “free” application over the weekend and what is even more impressive is how seamless it works with all of our computers and mobile devices.  For me personally, one of my biggest challenges throughout my business career has been taking accurate notes of things that happen or are said in a meeting.  I just wasn’t one of those guys who took notes on everything that was said in a meeting.  But I think I just found a solution that can cure me of this challenge.  Sure I tried Microsoft OneNote but it didn’t have a solution (when I was using it) that worked when I didn’t have my laptop.  With this new application I learned about over the weekend I may have just finally found a cure for my challenges with keeping track of what happens in our meetings.

Notetaking Software that just works

Enter Evernote! Evernote is simply one fantastic service!  Evernote offers free and “nearly free” services to a busy guy like me who doesn’t have countless hours in a day to wrestle with technology.  Evernote’s simply interface and synchronization allows our team at Ulistic to have our notes with us whereever we go.  MacBook, iPhone or iPAD they all work like a charm.  Synchronization works virtually without any user interference to all of our devices without any headaches at all.  Need to start taking notes for an idea that pops into your head, no problem, just open Evernote wherever you are a make a quick note.

This includes pictures, movies, typed in notes and audio recordings.  Can you say SLICK!

The free version of Evernote allows for 40 MB of data transfer each month, not bad as a starter. Go Premium with 500 MB of synchronization traffic for only $5 per month or $45 per year – less than the cost of that memory stick you just bought.  When you combine Evernote with other great online services such as Dropbox and Google/Microsoft hosted email, why would you ever need a server or complex information technology solution for your small business?  It just makes technical and economic sense to choose robust, secure and efficient services such as Evernote and the others if are simply sharing files and sending emails.

Evernote also works on the Microsoft Windows platform and Android, Palm Pre and Blackberry mobile phone services.  I am giving Evernote two thumbs up and placement on my home screen of both my iPhone and iPAD.  Great tool for any size of business.

Something else that is cool, Evernote can also track where you were when you worked on a file and bring up that location on a Google map.

Tags: android, Apple Inc., blackberry, Business IT, cellular telephone, Computing, Dropbox, Evernote, free solution, Google Inc., Google/Microsoft, information technology, information technology solution, iPad, iphone, Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft Windows, mobile devices, mobile phone services, notetaking, Notetaking software, onenote, Palm Pre Smartphone, secure and efficient services, Technology/Internet
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It has been a while since I found out about the company I founded alongside Rob Hay and Tony Mah decided to merge with IT Services firm ES Willams out of Grande Prairie.  I don’t know much about ES Williams other than I know a guy here in town who works for them.  Well recently, IT Matters is no longer part of the Calgary business landscape and has fully taken on the ES Williams brand.

Back in October 2009, I first learned of Rob and Tony’s intentions to merge IT Matters with ES Williams and build an IT consulting firm with a complete Alberta-wide focus.  I am proud of what we accomplished during our time together serving the needs of the Calgary Energy market and small business in general.  Rob and Tony were great to work with and as a team, we accomplished many wonderful things.   It has been a year and a bit since my departure and today I am very proud to still have these guys as great friends.

Congrats Rob and Tony, it was a great run…and yes, I know Rob…I still need to make lunch plans with you.

Tags: Business IT, Calgary, Congrats Rob, ES Willams, I T MATTERS, M&A, Rob Hay, Tony Mah
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Some news from my Kiwi friends at Naverisk. From time to time I help friends of mine with a little PR about their business.  This solution for many of you is something you need, talk to your IT guy today about how they are looking after you…ask them if they are using Naverisk?

Naverisk Ltd, the leading Australasian based provider of Remote Management and Monitoring (RMM) automation software for the MSP and SMB markets has today announced the public availability of Naverisk Version 3.0 Beta:

“Easily our most powerful release to date, Naverisk V3.0 has several new features as well as enhancements to existing core functions, such as patch management.  One of the key features of Naverisk V3.0 is the “Zero Touch” Cloud based Email Security.  Our partners can now deliver annuity based Email Security Services to their clients via the Naverisk platform”, says Jon Kalaugher, founder and CEO.

“The automation improvements and Cloud based Email Security Services offer immediate tangible benefits.  Not only can we increase the quality of our current service offerings whilst lowering costs, but we can now add value in new areas for our clients, whilst increasing our monthly revenues”, says Trevor Fowler, Technical Director at Intelllium, a leading New Zealand based MSP.

“One of the strengths of the Naverisk development model is the continual input andguidance we receive and seek from the user community on features and enhancements. V3.0 is another strong step towards our goal of making Naverisk the global platform of choice for SMB IT Service providers to deliver both Managed IT Services and Managed Security Services to their clients” says Mark Checksfield, Naverisk Sales and Marketing Manager.

Naverisk is a web-based RMM automation software platform that enables IT Service Providers to deliver automated Managed IT Services and Managed Security Services.  Differentiated by its ease of use and a strong value vs. price proposition, Naverisk is available as either an on-site installation, or via the Cloud.

For more information, or a free trial of the Naverisk Platform, please visit http://www.naverisk.com/contact-us

Stuart’s Note:  Naverisk and their team are good friends of mine and from time to time I help my business colleagues share some of their great news.

Tags: automation software, automation software platform, Business IT, Business/Finance, CEO, Cloud storage, education, Email Security Services, Intelllium, Jon Kalaugher, Mark Checksfield, marketing manager, MSP Partners, Naverisk 3.0 Beta, Naverisk Ltd, Naverisk Version 3.0 Beta, New Zealand, patch management, Product Release, SMB S.A., spam filtering, Technical Director, Technology/Internet, Trevor Fowler
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Have you considered Google Docs for your small business? You may want to revisit Google’s online cloud strategy if did in the past and just didn’t like what you saw.  Google announced on Monday via their blog some great new enhancements coming soon to their cloud-based document and spreadsheet programs.  Here are some of the highlights from their blog which you can read in depth at http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/next-generation-of-google-docs.html.  You can find examples and a pretty cool video (see below as well) on how Google Docs work.

New document and spreadsheet features
We’ve responded to many of your requests for features you’re used to in desktop software. In documents, we’ve added a margin ruler, better numbering and bullets and easier image placement options. And in spreadsheets, you’ll now find a formula editing bar, cell auto-complete, drag-and-drop columns and other features not possible with older browser technologies.

Stuart’s note – still no page break though…disappointing

Higher fidelity document import
We’ve made big improvements to our document upload feature so moving files from your computer to the cloud is easier now. Imported documents retain their original structure more accurately, so you can hit the ground running editing in the browser without having to fix formatting like bullets and text alignment.

Speed and responsiveness
New browser technologies like faster JavaScript processing have made it possible for us to speed up Google Docs significantly. Even very large spreadsheets are fast to work with in your browser now. Applications that run this fast feel like desktop applications but have the unique advantages of being in the cloud.

Faster collaboration
We’ve extended Google Docs’ collaboration capabilities too, with support for up to 50 people working together at once, and in documents, you can now see other people’s edits as they happen character-by-character. And now you can also collaborate on flow charts, diagrams and other schematics in real time with a new editor for drawings on Google Docs.

Tags: Ajax, Blogger, browser technologies, Business IT, collaboration, Computing, desktop applications, desktop software, Editor, google, Google Docs, Google Inc., JavaScript, online cloud strategy, Online spreadsheets, Spreadsheet, Technology/Internet, web 2.0, Web applications, web development, World Wide Web
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