iTechSpeak :::...

The "Wi" in Wibree stands for wireless, while Bree is a reference to a city in the epic fantasy series "The Lord of the Rings." Go figure . . . click here for Wikipedia's Wibree history and technical details.

Nokia developed Wibree back in 2001. Today there appears to be an update as news periodicals stir up the buzz.

In AMNY, Peter Svensson's article "Bluetooth Links Up With Rival Technology" provides a few simple incites. . . . "The technology, called Wibree, opens up the possibility of a host of small wearable gadgets, like watches, heart rate monitors, pedometers and pill boxes that communicate with Bluetooth-equipped cell phones or computers. A watch could display the user's incoming text messages, for instance, or an action figure toy could sense the presence of other toys." Read more . . .

DotGizmo states "Wibree and Bluetooth play nice Mathematically speaking, Nokia's Wibree technology is now a subset of the Bluetooth realm." Read more . . .


John Blau reports in Infoworld with his article "Nokia's Wibree joins Bluetooth": Ultra low-power technology to connect button-cell battery power devices to users

"In October 2006, Nokia's research arm announced the development of Wibree and establishment of an industry forum, including Broadcom Corp. and STMicroelectronics NV, to define a specification.

But after forming, the companies -- many of them members of Bluetooth SIG -- favored having ultra low-power devices supported in Bluetooth, according to Harri Tulimaa, head of Nokia Technology Out-Licensing. "They didn't want to complete an entirely new technology," he said. " Read more . . .

Reuters reported today: "HELSINKI, June 12 (Reuters) - Mobile handset firm Nokia's (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile , Research) ultra-low-power short-range wireless technology is to be developed as a new version of Bluetooth to connect devices such as watches and heart monitors, the company said on Tuesday.

Nokia's agreement to offer the technology as the basis for an ultra-low-power Bluetooth standard should help to speed its adoption and encourage acceptance -- rather than be a competing technology, the Bluetooth industry interest group said." Read more . . .

If business is a little sluggish or you need an idea for a new profit center, Entrepreneur Magazine has a no investment solution. AmeriVault is looking for partners and consultants to provide referrals for their data protection services.

A recent article in The Journal of New England Technology talks about a recent tactical strategy, with AmeriVault adding another data center in Chicago.

Although I'm not making an endorsement, this is still worth considering. AmeriVault has been around since 1998. It started its dealership program in 2005.

Data protection is better than buying insurance. Insurance replaces tangible items. Company information is priceless. These days, many companies are looking for alternative back up solutions. The best data protection solutions are those where the distance of stored data should be far away from the source of a disaster.
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In the mid 1980s I was laughed out of the room by mainframe COBOL developers; not once, but several times. My crime was spouting blasphemy about personal computers being a good marriage for mainframes via local area networks. I suggested my peers adjust their skills accordingly to ramp up for personal computers. I wonder how they made out in IT their careers? I hated programming in COBOL. It was like kicking a dead whale across the beach. I saw it as a dead end. I took my own advice by plunging into the PC arena with both legs and arms. You know what happened in the 1990s. Next . . .

Laugh, if you will. History will repeat itself. Blogs will create very profitable opportunities on an even larger scale. The November/December 2004 issue of Foreign Policy struck a nerve to clue me in. Their article Web of Influence By Daniel W. Drezner and Henry Farrell gave the media fair warning way before the Dan Rather episode.

If 35,000 people say it can't be done and 1 person accomplishes it, who's right? The "Blogs to Riches" article in the February 20, 2006 issue of New York Magazine mentioned AOL purchasing Peter Rojas' blog Engadget for $25million. Everyone will not become a millionaire blogging. There is a potential for people to make 6-figure incomes blogging.

The explanation of the long tail theory in the same Blogs to Riches" article is definitive proof of what the future holds.

Grab on to the Tail . . .
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June 4-6, 2006 is the Home Entertainment Show at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.

Products manufactured for the audio/video home entertainment market, make it easier for people to reproduce movie theatre quality experiences. Many products require specialized knowledge to setup and operate. Something as simple as tuning the right TV picture coloration, may not be that straight forward.

In walks many opportunities for home entertainment professionals. There are various aspects to installing the home entertainment, which may not be obvious. Setting up a system requires consideration for room layout design, correct cabling as well as engineering skills. A project manager may need to be hired for elaborate home entertainment systems, which can cost upwards to over $200,000.

Long term analytical and problem solving skills also come into play. This insures a continuous source of referrals. The key is to design home entertainment systems which are scalable. How can the current system be expanded or modified when new technology comes out, with a minimal amount of expense?

This is a profitable niche market for "inspector gadget" types, who have a solid skill level in operating various audio/visual equipment. Training owners of home entertainment equipment means extra money, after the design and setup. Make sure you enjoy working with people, before making the plunge into this market. Your clients may not get it as easily or quickly as you. So, patience is a big plus to making this business profitable.

I would recommend bolstering your skills with some formal training. A starting point can be CNET's Home Entertainment Clinics. As with any industry, people who specialize always make more money, than those who generalize. Identify which products are in big demand, but few people have the required knowledge to setup and operate them.
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With almost 25 years of IT experience I have never wasted time tinkering or learning a new technology, unless I saw a profit potential. Oh I'm inspector gadget just like any other red blooded guy. I'm addicted to my Blackberry. Playing with my Blackberry and learning all aspects of it, including implementing the Blackberry Enterprise Server for Lotus Notes, has paid huge profits in consulting assignments.

I've seen many IT professionals get their feelings hurt and become disappointed , when they tried to sell technology skills that were not in demand. It's marketing 101. Meet a customer at their need.

Don't forget your geography lessons when considering a skill transition. Do your homework to make sure your new skills are in demand. One of the best indicators is being able to decipher "want ads" in a local area. If you trend want ads, this built in radar system will help you decide what direction to learn new technology skills.

Want ads should be used as indicators for where to adjust your skills. They are not necessarily good vehicles to apply for jobs. Using your network of contacts is your best bet for landing opportunities. Click here, if you don't have a personal network.

Keep in mind companies are getting more savvy in their technology staffing requirements. They want more specialty skills. Just like doctors and lawyers, specializing within a technology area still dictates earning potential and minimizing competition. Identify technology skills where the demand is high, but not many people have that skill set (i.e. Linux administrators). This sky rockets income. When you see the market starting to saturate (i.e. MCSEs), change skill gears again.

With IT budgets opening up, 2006 is the year for four hot skills. A recent survey by Computer World indicates the 4 top areas in IT expansion are (in order of survey ranking):

Developers
.Net and Java will continue to be the preferred golden children of skill sets in demand.

Technology Security Specialists
With an increase in identity theft, viruses and the potential threat of terrorists crippling society with computer network infiltration, skilled security specialists can write their own ticket.

Project Managers
There is a back log in projects due to economic factors over the last couple of three years. Companies are demanding PMs have their PMI certification. Specific areas of specialties are Health Insurance portability, Sarbanes-Oxley and accounting compliance. Disaster recovery planning is another hot area.

IT Helpdesk
As the back logged projects swing into high gear along with application/system rollouts from 2005, helpdesk staff are still required to perform more support. There are specialties in the helpdesk arena.
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Before you watch or get involved with FiOS TV, I recommend you put your seat belt on. This technology is the Autobahn of lightening fast broadband services.

Wikipedia seems to provide the most accurate definition as "FiOS (Fiber Optic Services, though the carrier denies this is the source of the acronym in published news stories) is a fiber to the premises (FTTP) telecommunications service offered in the United States by Verizon."

According I4U News, outstanding user reviews indicate FiOS TV is delivering, as promised.

Before those of us who are savvy technology professionals get all dreamy eyed about the employment or consulting opportunities for this new technology, do your homework. Run your career like a business and perform "due diligence". Research the market. Verizon appears to be the only FiOS TV player. Check with the The Fiber Optic Association for referrals to certified training schools.

You will have to crawl (learn standard cabling technology) before you learn how to run (learn fiber optic technology).

For any Spanish speaking IT professionals in New York City, I know a school in the area that provides Free fiber optic classes only in Spanish, if they are a member of LISTA.
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I have the contact information for a person interested in investing in this technology. If you are interested in making contact and presenting your business plan for first round funding, post a comment.

Can your team develop a system using cell phones and PDAs to definitively ID the person holding the credit card, as they make a purchase? If so, I can put you in touch with a person who is serious about investing in this fraud prevention security technology.

Why would someone want to invest in this technology? Think about it. Credit card fraud is more rampant than ever. Consumers aren't the only ones getting frapped by fraud. Banks are taking great losses due to credit fraud; to the tune of $2 billion in 2004. Using the equivalent of the SecureID system, software embedded into a cell phone creates another layer of security. When a person makes a purchase using a credit card, the merchant sends an email or text message for the person to reply back with a security code, from their mobile device. This extra step would save consumers and banks hundreds of $millions.

If you are serious, have business plan and the technical resources to develop this technology, then post a comment. I'll contact you with the next steps.

Cheers!!

C.E. Reid
Savvy Intrapreneur at your service
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Updated 3-24-2006: This Blackberry Center is CLOSED

This just came across my desk from Yahoo! Financial News. It's an excellent opportunity for the right investor. Located in New York City, Break Through Wireless is the 1st RIM endorsed Blackberry Center in the United States. Founded by 2 savvy Latino Entrepreneurs Manny Garcia and Darwin Valencia, Break Through Wireless offers full service solutions for Blackberry Enterprise Server implementations. In addition to complete solution consulting services, this only Blackberry Center offers customized Blackberry handheld training and all Blackberry accessories, as part the corporate package.

With corporate contracts in place and some additional funding, this Blackberry Center is positioned to make handsome profits while providing a value added service that no other wireless carrier currently offers. For example, T-Mobile sells the Blackberry Enterprise Server software, but they provide no consulting services for planning, installation or production rollouts. Break Through Wireless insures their clients get the full Monty for complete and smooth Blackberry implementations.

Investing in this Blackberry Center is a ground floor opportunity. I am personally meeting with Manny and Darwin today to explore investment opportunities in their Blackberry Center. If you are interested in participating with me, send me an email at MyCompass@Success4U2.net

I do not and cannot not give investment advice. I'm just providing information for an technology opportunity. It's up to you to get investment advice from trained and licensed professionals.

Click here for more information on Blackberry handheld technology. RIM boasts 6 million thumbs (3 million subscribers) and counting. There must be something to it, if every wireless carrier on the planet sells Blackberrys.
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Who cares? What's important is the fantabulous opportunity for those who learn Linux or invest in "killer" software applications that run on Linux while the market is in its infancy.

This opportunity is simple "supply and demand" economics. Right now the demand for Linux skills is slowly, but steadily increasing. The availability of people who know Linux is a short supply. So are software applications for Linux. Ka-ching Ka-ching !!

Linux does have a lot going for it these days. Forget the fact that it's an open source operating system or that it has made major head way in acceptance by corporations and municipal organizations around the world. Last year a $36million software deal, which included a well known operating system, was cancelled by a European municipality. Instead, Linux and applications that run on Linux were were implemented at a much lower cost.

Now is the time to get in on the ground floor with developing Linux skills. The demand is going to increase for Linux skills. Opportunity will abound for IT people with these skills.

Why? Considering IBM and Hewlett Packard / Compaq have embraced Linux based applications into their product offerings, I would say it's just a matter of time for others to jump on board to make Linux mainstream in giving people other choices with a stable operating system.

More software applications are needed for Linux to soar. And they will come.

Money can definitely be made to those who invest time in learning Linux - even now, there is opportunity. Large profits are always made by those who specialize, not the "jack of all trades".

Do it NOW, before the market saturates - like it did for Novell and other operating systems.
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