Roketix Ltd

American Red Cross now Googled

News — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:04:11 +0000

The American Red Cross is now apparently 131 years old, but in all that time has never stood still.

What’s more, when the organisation found that its ability to operate effectively was becoming difficult with the systems used, the management had no hesitation in looking for something better. It chose Google, and I believe has never looked back.

The reason they decided to switch to Google was because of the fact their systems were becoming slow and couldn’t cope. For instance, while ordinarily the website gets up to 200,000 hits on any one day, this swells massively if there is a tragedy. As the Red Cross is the foremost non profit organisation looking after victims of disasters it needs to ensure it can offer a good service.

According to Ivan Chou, Web Applications Engineer for the American Red Cross, switching to Google was a smart move.

In an interview with googleenterprise.blogspot.co.uk Ivan said that they joined Google via one of the latter’s business partners, Fig Leaf Software. Ivan said: “…We began evaluating our options and calculating the costs and benefits of deploying a new search solution… After substantial evaluations, our outsourced data centre deployed two GSAs (Google Search Appliance): one for production and the other as a backup – we wanted a redundant solution so that people could reliably find information in the event of emergencies.”

It seems that the new system has been very successful without any glitches. What’s more, they have reduced their costs at the same time.

New website builder launched

News — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:56:58 +0000

Zoho website builder apparently helps businesses design their own websites simply and easily, and are also mobile app ready.

I am unsure whether this particular program is something that has to be installed on your computer or whether it is an online or cloud version. However, whichever it is, Zoho appears very comprehensive. Moreover, it apparently integrates easily into Google Apps; it’s also available at the Google Marketplace.

Features of Zoho include the ability to create dynamic websites that can be optimised for mobile devices. Users can automatically be re-directed if necessary.

There is also a powerful form builder allowing you to create a variety of user-friendly forms from managing a contact database to support requests. What’s more, you don’t even have to know how to write code. Now as someone who hasn’t a clue about how to write source code, this aspect certainly appeals to me.

As mentioned above, Zoho integrates easily with Google Apps plus social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; all by a drag and drop mechanism.

If I am right that this particular application is cloud-based then you can also collaborate with colleagues in the creation and maintenance of the website.

There is only one downside for me and that is any sites created, I think, also have to be hosted on the Zoho site – this may appeal. Certainly it is what Zoho management want. Raju Vegesna, one of the people behind the project told eon.businesswire.com: “We want our users to run their entire business on Zoho.”

Could cloud spell the end of the desktop?

News — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:42:24 +0000

That’s the view of Professor T.R. Gopalakrishnan Nair who spoke at a recent seminar held at a Middle East University. The seminar was titled “Advances in Cloud Computing and Business Security.”

Speaking with asiantribune.com Professor Gopalakrishnan Nair said: “Cloud is the ideal case to make computing capability a universal utility. Very soon big desktops would vanish with the arrival of intelligent devices supporting high capacity computing available from cloud.”

The seminar focused on those cloud computing technologies that are starting to make an impact on business development, and which have helped solve business problems.

Cloud is still relatively new, but computing scientists really do believe as I do that it is likely to become a greater force in the coming years. Whether the humble desktop is finally binned, I somehow doubt. Certainly as far as corporate business is concerned this may well happen, but most businesses are either one man bands or small affairs.

What’s more, it costs proportionately more money for these sorts of firms to switch away from their current hardware infrastructures.

Then again Gopalakrishnan Nair never mentioned laptops or tablets. As I use a laptop rather than a desktop he could be right in his assertion.

Another focus of the seminar was that of security. Cloud has been criticised by some as not being as secure as it could be. However, Mr. Othman Al-Kharaz from Saudi Aramco, one of the visiting companies said “[The] future of cloud computing among Saudi Industries is very prospective as people are ready to move to better business models.”

Web-based systems are invariably more secure than offline structures.

US water company under pressure to switch

News — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:39:03 +0000

The US water company, American Water, is apparently under pressure to switch away from Lotus Notes to some other system.

The reason is more economic than administrative, I believe. Like all corporations, companies are expected to compete effectively, but as water in the US is also a regulated private industry as it is in the UK, regulators are applying pressure to provide customers with water that is as cheap as possible.

These and other pressures are putting a strain on the administration side of things, which I understand can no longer cope as its IT systems are antiquated. In other words, Lotus Notes no longer fulfils an adequate function.

So what is the best alternative?

I am unsure whether the management at American Water are even contemplating moving or even looking at Google’s cloud system. What I do know is the company is looking at communications systems offered by two other companies – Cisco and Avaya. They are also looking at what IBM (the owner of Lotus Notes) and Microsoft have to offer.

Furthermore, despite the external pressures, American Water isn’t prepared to make a rash decision. “I don’t want us to have to switch twice – now, and then in three or four years, when this unified communications thing matures,” Emily Ashworth, American Water’s CIO told blogs.wsj.com.

Until the decision has been made, the company are using a stop gap. The company has installed an application that allows employees to more easily share Lotus Notes files.

However, the company will have to make a decision at some point.

Perhaps Google Apps for Business is the answer?

Is this Scotland’s loss?

News — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:28:17 +0000

Recent talks between the Scottish Government and Google broke down after the latter pulled out.

I believe Scottish education currently makes use of a website that links all Scotland’s schools. However, the Scottish education ministry hoped that by also using Google’s cloud-based system the world-leading website would be enhanced. Now its future could be in jeopardy.

Google pulled out of any potential arrangements as the Scottish Government’s position on the website was at odds with Google’s own policy that all schools are independent of any national procurement policy.

Speaking with the Scotsman.com, William Florance, Google’s Head of Enterprise, said: “Although a single, common platform for collaboration would be preferable, we feel it is important to provide local authorities with the option of deploying Google ‘Apps for Education’ independently of the national procurement process and on a timescale of our own choosing.”

The reason for the devolved government contacting Google was because the contract for Glow, the national intranet site for school pupils was nearing its end. So rather than have to either renegotiate or stop it altogether, it was hoped the link up with Google’s own education infrastructure system could secure Glow.

The Scottish education ministry did insist recently that a note be put on the Glow website to the effect that the latter would not be suddenly switched off once the current contract finishes. However, experts are nevertheless concerned that that might just happen, as the government also admitted that it was constrained by its own procurement process.

Many schools across the globe are now reaping the benefits of using Google’s system. This is a setback for all concerned.

A hidden benefit of cloud

News — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:18:50 +0000

While the benefits of cloud are numerous – low cost investment, little or no in-house maintenance, and so on, there is one hidden benefit that is often overlooked.

Well, I am not surprised it’s overlooked as it isn’t a direct benefit to users. In other words, it’s more of a collaborative process between different businesses that hope to develop new initiatives that help users get the most out of cloud computing.

An example of this collaboration is the recent partnership formed between Telx, a leading provider of cloud services and ContinuityX Solutions, a provider of business services, in particular something called disaster recovery.

Speaking with sys-con.com, Kathy Godwin, senior vice president-operations for ContinuityX said: “Telx has long been an industry leader in helping enterprises easily and quickly connect to entities in the cloud that meet their core business needs.”

Kathy added: “Their strategically-located, carrier-dense cloud connection centres provide us with optimal ability to meet all of our current and future customer’s application and infrastructure outsourcing needs, from security and disaster recovery to VoIP.”

What this gobbledygook means is that the partnership hopes to offer a better range of services to cloud users.

Both companies also hope that by developing closer cooperation it can start to attract new customers who are looking for something different and innovative.

Telx and ContinuityX both recognise that cloud computing systems are now becoming much more than just virtual storage units where businesses can backup their data.

By forming a partnership they can design something that offers greater flexibility.

Nine campuses cut to just one

News — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:44 +0000

The University of Monash in Australia is the latter’s largest higher educational establishment with around 60,000 students.

Interestingly, many of the students are based not just in Australia but in other far flung destinations including Italy, Malaysia and South Africa.

Now trying to administer such diverse campuses was probably something of a nightmare until the Monash University authorities made the decision to use Google Apps for Education. This brought all nine separate campuses under one virtual roof.

It took some time for all the students to be brought into the new infrastructure. In fact the university started the process in November 2009. However, by July 2011 all nine campuses were fully covered by the new cloud service, when the old system was then put out to retirement.

When asked why Monash University decided to migrate to Google, Susan Zolezzi, Manager of Communications & Change said that Google allows the university staff and students to collaborate and work much more closely together.

Ms Zolezzi added that it also made life much easier when dealing with administration, including collecting important evaluative information and data, as well as facilitating lab assignments.

As far as the students were concerned, going Google also helped them improve their note taking and file sharing as well as helping lecturers understand better students’ needs and experiences. Feedback is important in higher education and anything that makes life easier in this direction has got to be welcomed.

Last, but not least, as Monash University is spread across four countries, using Google has improved efficiency, while at the same time cut costs drastically.

From little acorns

News — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:44:41 +0000

The old adage from little acorns grow mighty oaks is a very apt saying for one Google app creator.

Appsbar created a free app builder that has become one of the most popular programs in the world. So much so that the number of downloads grew from 100 to over 100,000 in just one year of beta testing.

“We want to give people the power to build and create to empower people to use and enjoy this easy tool,” said Appsbar founder and CEO Scott Hirsch, when speaking with bostonherald.com.

The application apparently allows users to create mobile apps for both Apple’s iOS platform and Google’s Android operating system.

However, from what I gather the company doesn’t want to stop there. Instead it wants to be able to offer something on all platforms. I assume this may also relate to integrating with Google’s cloud infrastructure as well as computer and mobile platforms.

Since the company started in 2009 Appsbar has also managed to become the number one provider for applications on Google Play.

Yet, the app itself remains free to download and use, which begs the question how on earth does the company make money? Particularly since it allows app creators that use the product to set their own prices for their creations.

“We don’t want to become Big Brother,” Hirsch said: “We want to leave the power in the hands of our members and let them make their own decisions. We act as a tool and a coach along the way.”

Recent research also found that around 25,000 businesses are using Appsbar creations for their sales and marketing.

Training is key to the future of cloud

News — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:35:26 +0000

It is also important, apparently, for the retention of workers and company competitiveness.

This is the considered opinion of the CEO of one business, which specialises in information technology services who recently told usatoday.com that the IT industry is changing at such a fast pace nowadays that it is all too easy to slacken and fall behind competitors. This invariably means that talented staff will look elsewhere if they feel another company can offer something better.

These remarks come on the back of recent research that found that worldwide 80,000 jobs were added to 11 businesses where cloud was a significant part of the business model.

The same research also found that in the next five years this figure could rise substantially to around 472,000, where businesses embrace cloud computing systems.

So why has there been a sudden upsurge in web-based structures?

Seemingly it is thought that social networking sites are probably the major driver. Twitter and Facebook would not be possible without cloud. Furthermore, with a rapid increase in mobile applications allowing access to the internet and social networking sites, this is only going to effect growth. An estimated 98 billion application downloads are thought to take place by 2015.

Furthermore, online resources are also growing in variety and scale. One such resource is a virtual academy offering no fewer than 3,000 courses to help improve knowledge and skills of employees.

Offering employees the chance to do these courses helps to retain them.

Billing goes cloud

News — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:35:16 +0000

Cloud computing is certainly finding its feet in all sorts of businesses. While most people think of storage and file sharing together with low cost as being prime benefits, it seems it is being used in other beneficial ways.

For instance, for those businesses that need to track sales and invoicing in real time, then Bill4Time, an online program, could be just the ticket.

Bill4Time is one of a growing number of applications that use the SaaS (Software as a Service) infrastructure to help businesses and organisations get the best out of cloud. Like all the other similar web-based software available on the market, Bill4Time allows you to make use of the outsourcing offered at relatively low cost without the associated hassle of maintenance that accompanies offline programs.

Although I don’t use Bill4Time, I do use a similar web-based service that allows me to keep my invoices in one place along with customer and supplier details.

Now I know there are still lots of offline programs available that I can use, but online versions have another benefit that offline versions don’t. The former is more easily and regularly updated by the service operator. This in itself saves so much time. If I was to do the same with a program installed on my hard drive then it is likely to cost me a small fortune just to ensure I have the latest version.

On a personal note, I have been slow to convert to cloud-based solutions but rather than having to pay out for a new laptop and software, I no longer need to worry.