Microsoft losses a key UC exec to Cisco

Debra Chrapaty who was leading the infrastructure business at Microsoft is leving to Cisco. She was leading a good group of new technologies at Microsoft (Windowslive, Online Services, the Cloud,…).

Se is going to lead the collaboration Technologies at Cisco, which could include  from Telepresence to ToIP or Web-Ex.

In a way, Debra was holding a position in which whe was overlooking the next source of business and coherence of a new range of Microsoft services and products. Now she is going to do the same to with a key competitor and partner of Microsoft: Cisco.

The area of collaboration, as Cisco names it, is going to be the higher growing area of business of those that become key in the products and services of the new interconnected world

… Microsoft is a giant with many talented people, but this move by Debra is not a nice piece of news for the Seattle company

Will Cisco new Organization make a difference?

At the beginning of August, John Chambers in a Wall Street Intereview, announced deep changes at Cisco.
Cisco has been a model of management both in the relationship with clients and partners, and in the successful acquisition of companies. It is tru that the world changes and so Cisco does. It is true that most Chambers management ideas have been successful, but the deep changes introduced this time are of consideration.
They will affect the way channels are managed, they will affect who the analysts (Forrester and the like) name as their competitors, they will affect alliances with companies such as Microsoft, they will affect some of the very large, global clients,… they will even affect the general public, as they have become Cisco’s target as well.
There are a large number of discussions on this issue, I have included the ones I though more interesting
Major Restructuring At Cisco Emphasizes Technologies

Cisco’s Chambers on the ‘tipping point’

Silicon Valley Survivor

MIT continues with advances on cancer

A new carbon nanotube sensor developed at MIT is the first sensor that can reversibly detect nitric oxide. Monitoring nitric oxide levels in living cells, in real time, could help researchers figure out its role in cancer and other diseases.

New sensor could reveal nitric oxide’s role in living cells

Adroid’s Opportunity against Apple?

China Mobile, the largest worldwide mobile operator (measured by number of subscribers) is launching its 3G operations with the Ophone, which runs Android Operating System. On the mean time, China Unicom, is finalizing an agreement with Apple, and it will be an exclusivity agreement

China Mobile adds between 5 and 7 Million subscribers a month while China Unicom adds between 1 and 2 million subscribers (measured during the last six months).

Smart phones account for approximately 10% of the 2G subscribers (or 0,8-1 Million new smart phones a month!!!!!). But with the launching of 3G is expected to increase this percentage, as it did in western countries and Korea.

To have an idea of what this means, bear in mind that at the US, phones based on Android have reached 1 Million new phones over six months. In China, Android based phones could easily reach a million a month.

You could also read about Android and iPhone in China at Comment1 Comment2 Comment3

China could be the battleground of the new generation of US based mobile solutions

Spotify challenges Apple’s iTunes

Spotify is the company that most analists believe could challange the dominance of iTunes at the digital music business.

Today, Financial Times (FT) confirms that Spotify got a strong backing by a number of high profile investors.

You can learn more on Spotify at WordPress  and about some of its latest innovations at some other blogs (one and two)

Schmidt departure from Apple… more of Google into mainstream

Few days ago, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) started an investigation on why a Google application was blocked from working on Apple’s iPhone.  Few months ago the US FTC started an investigation into directorships, including the Board of Apple.

Yesterday, Schmidt, CEO of Google leaves Apple’s Board.

This is another confirmation that Google is coming onto the main street of Sw/Hw PC industry. The announcement of Android and then of Chrome OS operating system is placing Google in direct competition with not only Microsoft, but Apple and a number of other relevant players.

This is a challenge that could mean the beginning of a major dominance or the beginning of becoming a mature player not longer that aggressively innovator

Yahoo, Microsoft, Google Crhome, Bing …?

FT (Financial Times) opens today with the tittles
Microsoft and Yahoo close to partnership
Online Alliance could rival Google
This is related to many references and discussions that are increasing the boost of the two main rival trademarks Google and Yahoo, as discussed at http://tinyurl.com/kjkvbg
The final subject and result is not jet clear, even on the two companies. However, what is clear is that both are looking to build the next leading position in a market that will mix PCs, Net PCs, Web2.0, Mobile terminals in a way that is still to be created by leading users.

Keith, from Cisco, on twitter marketing

Keith Goodwin, Senior VP of Channels at Cisco is fully using Twitter as a marketing and comunication tool!.

Read his latest twitt:

RT @CSCOChannelNews: Questions for me? I’ll answer 3-5 on video. To ask use #ciscochannels or comment here: http://twurl.nl/lrtrpd

and the list is growing

Cayenne & Touareg – a merger like Porche and VW?

Those “aficionado” engineers debating on which one was a better solution: Porsche Cayenne or VW Touareg, may encounter an unexpected final.

Both cars, Touareg and Cayenne were developed together and in alliance. Then each company finished their own vehicle up to tailor it to their market audiences. But a good part of the engineering was developed together.

However, if you drive one or the other, you will feel clear differences in performance (and not only in engine performance). Their behaviour is different in the sands or the snow, at quick roads and on mointain roads. “Aficionados” have been discussing about the advantages of each vehicle.

Now that the battle between Porshe and VW is towards the beginning of the end, and given that the initial takeover of VW by Porsche is transforming itself into a VW takeover of Porsche, one should ask which model will prevail.

The subject is raising so much discussion that even Financial Times (FT) has just published an editorial on the matter

Cisco’s CTO Technology Vision

I was twitting when I discovered a post by Padmasree, Chief Technology Officer of Cisco. Se was anouncing she had published her Vision of Technology on Slideshare.
Any one lloking for an intereesting point of view of the future of communications and network could go to
 PADMASREE Cisco Technology Vision
I really enjoied