CGNET's Tim Haight recently visited Lagos, Nigeria, to consult for a couple of clients. While he was there, he discovered what he believes is the world's strongest argument for hosted Exchange, or something like it. Here's his story:
Blogs
Why We Believe Our Version of Hosted Exchange Is Better than Gmail
OK, let’s get the transparency thing over with first. We offer hosted Microsoft Exchange, and we’d love you all to buy it. We have reasons, however, why we believe Exchange, backed up by our personal service, is a better way to go. After all, even folks with an interest in an issue can be right. So here’s our take on Gmail versus hosted Exchange with our service, in the context of a nonprofit looking for the best hosted solution to replace Exchange on their local server.
Cloud Archiving Now Supports Personal Folders
Click to enlargeA client of ours saw the benefits of moving Exchange archiving into the cloud, but one issue was holding things up. Her users really liked their current LAN-based system's ability to reproduce their personal folders in their personal archive. Until recently, no online archive did that, so she was sticking with an application that was expensive and difficult to manage. Now, however, things have changed.
Estimating Bandwidth for the Cloud
When you move an application onto a platform in the cloud, you will be paying utility-style prices, which are "pay as you go." Thus, you need to estimate those costs up front. In addition, you'll need to estimate whether the additional load on your connectivity will require a bigger pipe. Here's how to do it.
TAS provides Roaming Wi-Fi Access for iPads
TAS for iPadIf you're an iPad or iPhone owner, you can now use CGNET's TAS to get Wi-Fi access while you're on the road. There's a free app you can download and set to use your TAS ID when looking for a Wi-Fi access point. It's provided by iPass, the network of more than 260,000 Wi-Fi hotspots that support CGNET TAS.Feet on the Ground
We are beginning to tire of all the discussion of cloud computing's "big picture." As always in IT, the devil is in the details, and it's the details we need. This is particularly true as we move to trying to estimate the real costs of what the big picture folks tell us is an inevitable move.
This "Feet on the Ground" series of posts will therefore address the blanks in the cloud formula that you may be hesitating to fill in. We'll start with how to estimate costs, and then dig deeper, into how to estimate bandwidth, storage, CPU and the costs of extra services offered by cloud vendors.
Skype Access vs. TAS: What to Use When and Where
Recently, one of our customers asked us to list the reasons why our roaming Internet access service, TAS, is superior to Skype Access. Several good reasons exist, but the best Wi-Fi roaming solution is to have both. Here's why:
The 5 Best Uses of Cloud Computing Today
Although the full promise of cloud computing is not yet realized, you get a lot of benefit from it today, with very little risk, in some areas. Our top 5 best uses of the cloud today are these:
From All of Us
Happy Holidays
Selcuk Moving On
Selcuk has had an amazing career so far, and we are 
anxious to see where it goes next! Below is the message we received with contact details, and be sure and check out his website. It is very cool!
anxious to see where it goes next! Below is the message we received with contact details, and be sure and check out his website. It is very cool!Dear Friends and Colleagues:
After 27 years of continuous service, as Management Adviser and consultant, I will be leaving the CGIAR Secretariat/Fund Office at the end of 2010. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be associated with the CGIAR over the years and work with scores of wonderful people. I thank all of you for your friendship, support and encouragement.
