New StratumTech Blog Launch

The tech team at Stratum has launched a new blog aimed at discussing tech topics and providing cool technology announcements.

The initial launch of the StratumTech Blog has posts categorized by Application Development, Back Office Solutions, Backup Solutions, Blog Hosting, Cool Technologies, Data System Development, Exchange Hosting, FTP Hosting, Help Desk Support, Internet Solutions, Intranet Solutions, Off-site IT Support, On-site IT Support, Reporting & Analysis Solutions, SEO / SEM, SharePoint Hosting, User Interface, Web Hosting and Wireless Technologies.

Visit the StratumTech Blog at http://techblog.stratum.net and feel free to jump in the discussions.

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New StratumTech Blog Launch posted by KP on March 13, 2008 @ 10:25 AM
Tags: blog, Stratum, StratumTech, technology
Filed under: Technology

Firefox 3 beta 4

The 4th beta of the Firefox 3.0 browser was released Monday and includes more than 900 enhancements over the previous beta.

Mozilla said the new beta includes improvements to performance and memory usage, fixes for stability, and platform-specific enhancements. Some of the enhancements include a new download manager to make locating downloads easier; a full page zoom feature that allows you to zoom in and out of pages more easily; and integration for Vista, Mac OS X, and Linux that features platform-specific icons, buttons, and other user interface elements.

Get the beta 4 download here.

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Firefox 3 beta 4 posted by KP on March 11, 2008 @ 9:04 AM
Tags: Firefox, Mozilla
Filed under: Technology

iPhone and Exchange Integration

This is the first positive step I've seen taken by Apple towards making the iPhone a possibility in the secure world of the business enterprise. The rumors have been flying for a while that Apple had licensed Microsoft's ActiveSync so the iPhone could function on Microsoft Exchange.

The introduction of the iPhone SDK this week verified those rumors. We can't get too slap happy yet though. Apple has only licensed the protocol. The functionality is not there and won't be for a couple of versions later in the iPhone. That means at least mid - 2009. But this is a good first step for iPhone enthusiasts.

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iPhone and Exchange Integration posted by KP on March 7, 2008 @ 4:10 PM
Tags: ActiveSync, Apple, Exchange, iPhone, iPhone SDK, Microsoft
Filed under: Technology

A Connected World and how important is it?

CIO.com recently stood up an interesting survey - BlackBerry Users Vote: How Tethered Are You?

I think a more important question for company decision-makers would be, How Tethered Should My Team Be?

My world is very interesting and overall I think unique. Not unique for the tech industry but unique as compared to the work force as a whole. I require myself to be electronically connected at almost all hours of every night and day. Yes, 'every' night and day. My tech team is nearly the same and during their disconnected times there should be another connected person capable of filling the needs of the organization.

Let's move to other member (sets) of the organization's team. Should the Operations team be consistently connected? Should the Creative team be consistently connected? Should the Sales team be consistently connected? Should the Marketing team be consistently connected? (I'll stop there but there are other teams just a critical such as HR, Finance / Accounting, etc.) Within each of these teams an evaluation of senior management, team leads and team members should also be weighed. Should they, or at least their role, be consistently connected?

Here's my answer - YES! Yes, they absolutely sure should. Each of these teams occupies a vital role in the decision-making processes that are important to the organization's success. A senior member of each of these teams should be always available, reachable and able to communicate at any given time as dictated by the real-time needs of the organization.

So how do we make this connected state happen? Smartphones. Smartphones that are reliable, (platform) stable, secure, usable, functional and yes, okay attractive. Smartphones that put email, SMS, MMS, Internet access, IM and phone calls at your fingertips. RIM's BlackBerry tops the list of recommendations from leaders of most top organization around the globe including myself. Nokia (the N95) makes fine smartphone products as does Palm (the Treo series) and HP (the iPAQ series).

CIO.com's Survey Results for "How Addicted to Your SmartPhone Are You?
5% - My phone is for business. I put it away at night, unless I'm traveling for work.
2% - I check messages every few hours after work and on weekends. But I'd never bring my smartphone on vacation.
19% - I'm more productive because of my smartphone, and it doesn't negatively affect my work/life balance. I wouldn't call it an addiction.
67% - My smartphone never leaves my side. At work, rest, play, vacation, you name itmy best electronic friend is with me.
7% - IMHO That's NOYB. BB4N. EOM. (In my humble opinion, that's none of your business. Bye bye for now. End of message.)

Where do you stand? Do you make yourself available to be a vital piece of your organization?

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A Connected World and how important is it? posted by KP on March 4, 2008 @ 1:44 PM
Filed under: Technology