IBM confirmed Thursday its acquisition of video conferencing service Ustream. It will join three other IBM acquisitions to form the company’s new cloud video unit. Fortune said the deal was worth $130 million, though IBM has not confirmed the amount. Ustream will become one piece in IBM’s new cloud video unit, which features three other […]
As many of you may know, B2B NN is curating the first-ever 2015 B2B Influencer Index, thanks to many of our readers submitting nominees they deemed worthy of this auspicious honour. We are looking for the top B2B professionals who are impacting their field and winning acclaim for successful accomplishments in 2015, and we will […]
You’re on a B2B site and suddenly a Web chat window pops up. “How can I help you today?” the window asks, and you can now learn more about the B2B company’s services, products, website. Customer service just went from you trying to contact someone to the company contacting you immediately via a live-chat tool. […]
Private corporate networks (i.e., intranets) and their applications, such as SharePoint, Microsoft’s enterprise collaboration software, do not optimally serve mobile users, or so the premise goes. This keeps businesses from addressing the needs of an increasingly on-the-go workforce, which can lead to employee disengagement. According to a Gallup poll, employee disengagement can cost B2B companies […]
As one of the latest communications technologies, software-defined networking (SDN) has the promise to revolutionize the way B2B firms deploy and manage business networks with full centralization, greater automation, more flexibility and reduced costs. However, there are also security, congestion, latency and SDN typology concerns to address. This primer looks at some of the key […]
The use of cloud computing in business has flourished over the past decade with exponential growth in adoption rates over the last several years. Enterprise cloud subscription revenues are forecasted to reach $67B by 2018, attaining a compound annual growth rate of 17.3 percent in the forecast period. Despite its undeniable popularity, it is the […]
Automation is transforming the IT sector, and a new study by Tech Pro Research called “The Future of IT Jobs: How to Beat the Machines” shows the scale of this evolution. The June 2015 study surveyed 353 respondents in the IT field asking them about where, why, and how they’re automating business process in their companies. The […]
Introducing a new regular profile series on B2Bnn: Women in B2B, sponsored by SqueezeCMM. With these profiles, you’ll learn about the careers and business goals of inspiring female leaders in the B2B industry. “Biz tech chameleon.” That’s how Sandi Jones, AVP of Global Infrastructure Systems-Network Services at Manulife Financial, describes herself. In her current role as network […]
Microsoft announced Tuesday that it will be opening two cloud data centres in Canada, in Toronto and Quebec City. The tech juggernaut stated that Azure, Dynamics CRM Online and Office 365 will be delivered from the two cities, which will enhance the company’s presence in the country’s cloud economy. According to Microsoft, the new centres […]
“DevOps” is one of the hottest trends in software because of four main things: It improves the frequency of software deployment, and works to ensure a lower failure rate for software releases. Thirdly DevOps reduces both lead time to release, and the need for manpower to make adjustments through the production phase. All of this is great news […]
New research from Gartner’s annual report card on the public infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) cloud computing market reveals there is one main leader – Amazon Web Services – and another clear challenger – Microsoft Azure. Also, the Gartner report found that “global spending on IaaS is expected to reach almost US$16.5 billion in 2015, an increase of 32.8 percent […]
Tesla, best known for its electric car sales, is heading into the energy business with its Internet-connected Powerwall and Powerpack batteries. What’s most intriguing about this move is how the innovative batteries can influence data center technology. Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the new batteries recently as he described the company’s new product line, Tesla Energy. […]
If you haven’t heard about the latest innovation to power cloud technology, get ready for an important lesson. If you’re not familiar with the terms Dockers and containers, then to start it might be worth revisiting how full machine virtualization works. Virtual machines (virtual versions of a device or a resource, like data or memory) are […]
Network and systems security issues? Everyone has been exposed and, as counter-intuitive as it might seem, the best protection may be sharing what you know about your own vulnerabilities and the threats you face. Last week, IBM announced the release of a massive information-sharing tool that at least one security expert is comparing to a […]
There is an interesting movement happening within the technology industry that has many of its big players—Google, Microsoft, and IBM—abuzz and excited for the future. It is also being touted as the next step for the Internet of Things. Learn more about why the Net is all hyped for blockchain. What is blockchain and why is […]
What’s the best time to send an email? Whenever there’s less competition. According to Yesware’s analysis of over 500,000 sales emails sent in Q1 2014, email open and reply rates are higher on the weekends. Why? It could be because there’s significantly less email being sent on weekends. Think of it as the Late Night […]
Sony felt the sting. It happened to Home Depot. Target, as well. The Canada Revenue Agency, too. And of course, Microsoft. Security breaches and hacking exploits and bugs can dirty a business plan like a mudfight at a wedding. Whether you run a startup or a hefty SMB or a Fortune 500 firm, security has […]
Canada’s federal telecommunications regulator initiated the final policy review late last month as it attempts to implement a balance to allow consumers to gain access to new Internet and wireless services at an affordable rate while also abiding by federal regulations. The purpose of holding the hearing was to determine if the major cable and […]
What is cloud computing, really? If you are confused by all the talk about moving to “the cloud” and having trouble pinning down what that actually means, there’s a reason for that: Cloud isn’t a technology, it’s a metaphor. At one time, users had no fancy software on their computers, just simple programs […]
Cloud-based technology has changed the way we do business in the modern world. Cloud services are enabling the workforce to become more mobile and more flexible while increasing compliance, uptime and quality of service. For small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), this offering is invaluable when it comes to streamlining business operations, managing remote workers and […]
