Businesses today demand more from their networks than in the past. Networks today now need to support all forms of media including video, voice and data. Access has also changed as thousands of new devices connect to the network via wireless and wired connections. A systems approach requires an integrated system and Cisco routers can provide this for all of your business needs. A systems approach combines packaging with intelligent services while putting in security, voice, application and routing services all in one. You end up with a more secure system and better use of network resources.
With its integrated services router, Cisco offers a comprehensive solution that minimizes network down time while allowing access to the most critical business needs. Regardless of the size of your business if you need fast secure access Cisco routers offers many features and benefits. To solve the many challenges of your business your network needs intelligence to play a big role in securing applications in a way that is easy to manage.
IP-based voice, wireless, and security are only the first in a new wave of advanced applications that are beginning to change the ways in which businesses operate. Organizations must consider how they can best enable their networks today so that their business can continue to take advantage of new applications quickly and securely to meet their goals.
The main point of preventing and responding to security threats from internal and external sources comes from an integrated strategy of multiple types of protection.
Voice, video, and other types of data are woven into a converged network. Tight integration into the infrastructure of your business means that each new application whether it is video, web, or telephony, is just another media type rather than an entirely different communications system. The applications themselves can intelligently communicate with the infrastructure to meet the constantly changing needs of the system. Wireless cannot be viewed as an isolated application. This is especially true when wireless access points scale into the hundreds or thousands. An intelligent network provides the framework that enables a wireless LAN solution to take full advantage of existing tools, knowledge, and resources of the wired infrastructure to address critical wireless LAN security, deployment, and control issues.
Unlike specialized niche products, Cisco Integrated Services Routers embed security and voice services as a single system for lower operating costs, simplified management and ease of deployment.
Cisco routers provide the secure communications solutions to thousands of businesses all over the world today. Why not yours as well.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Network Solution for Voice data
When you are deciding on a voice/data network solution for your business the obvious factors to take into consideration are bandwidth and cost. However if you base your entire solution on those factors alone you risk facing issues you could have easily prevented with just a bit more strategic thought and planning.
The article "Why Do Businesses Prefer T1 And T3 Bandwidth Connections" is a good attempt at addressing the business issues involved with the decision making process for a small or medium business with limited telecommunications / network connectivity needs.
But that is just a start.
For businesses, with more than rudimentary network connectivity needs, there really is much much more involved in driving these kinds of decisions. Also, there are several more technology options beyond T1/T3 (aka DS1/DS3) and xDSL. It's also important to understand that Bandwidth and cost, while important, are rarely the only drivers of solutions in this space.
The driver for solutions here is business problems.
What does your business need?
High volume public and/or private network throughput? Robust Availability with Substantial SLA (Service Level Agreement) guarantees? International reach? Flexibility? Cost Effectiveness? Consistent product/feature availability within a given geographic region? etc.
If a business' telecommunications needs are:
5 or less locations with Email, Web surfing and ~20 phones lines or less....than xDSL, Cable or a Mixed Services (integrated) Local DS1 are all on the table as options.
For larger businesses that may have a need for private connectivity between branch locations, to maintain a call center, host internet or external partner facing servers, or in anyway depend on network connectivity as part of their revenue stream...... xDSL or Cable are rarely options.
Businesses in this category need the reliability and "known quantity" of telco services, that tend to leverage DS1, DS3, OC3/12 etc as local access, as a component of availability of their larger solution. Additionally Metro Optical and Ethernet solutions, where available, are increasingly more cost effective and flexible alternatives to copper and SONET based local access services.
The bottom line when working through a decision on a voice/data network for your business is to look beyond just bandwidth and cost. You must also consider the requirements and impact for your existing AND future applications, infrastructure, volume, network stability, security/privacy, partner/customer interface, and supplier connectivity. Ensuring all these factors are considered will ensure your solution addresses all possible business requirements....... and prevents the potential for embarrasing or frustrating issues in the future.
The article "Why Do Businesses Prefer T1 And T3 Bandwidth Connections" is a good attempt at addressing the business issues involved with the decision making process for a small or medium business with limited telecommunications / network connectivity needs.
But that is just a start.
For businesses, with more than rudimentary network connectivity needs, there really is much much more involved in driving these kinds of decisions. Also, there are several more technology options beyond T1/T3 (aka DS1/DS3) and xDSL. It's also important to understand that Bandwidth and cost, while important, are rarely the only drivers of solutions in this space.
The driver for solutions here is business problems.
What does your business need?
High volume public and/or private network throughput? Robust Availability with Substantial SLA (Service Level Agreement) guarantees? International reach? Flexibility? Cost Effectiveness? Consistent product/feature availability within a given geographic region? etc.
If a business' telecommunications needs are:
5 or less locations with Email, Web surfing and ~20 phones lines or less....than xDSL, Cable or a Mixed Services (integrated) Local DS1 are all on the table as options.
For larger businesses that may have a need for private connectivity between branch locations, to maintain a call center, host internet or external partner facing servers, or in anyway depend on network connectivity as part of their revenue stream...... xDSL or Cable are rarely options.
Businesses in this category need the reliability and "known quantity" of telco services, that tend to leverage DS1, DS3, OC3/12 etc as local access, as a component of availability of their larger solution. Additionally Metro Optical and Ethernet solutions, where available, are increasingly more cost effective and flexible alternatives to copper and SONET based local access services.
The bottom line when working through a decision on a voice/data network for your business is to look beyond just bandwidth and cost. You must also consider the requirements and impact for your existing AND future applications, infrastructure, volume, network stability, security/privacy, partner/customer interface, and supplier connectivity. Ensuring all these factors are considered will ensure your solution addresses all possible business requirements....... and prevents the potential for embarrasing or frustrating issues in the future.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Network Solutions In The gaming Channels
Thinking about launching a white label gaming channel? Do you have a great brand and are wondering how online gaming fits in to your business model? Have you been approached by a white label games provider?
Well here's a checklist of 10 characteristics that your white label gaming network operator should provide:
Liquidity
When a player comes to your site, they want choice, entertainment and a large gaming community. Clients should be able to access a deep pool of player liquidity, ensuring that their customers will always be able to find a game to suit their requirements and their level of skill. They should also be able to play against players from all over the world. Operators like St Minver, who manage the International Poker Network (Europe's largest poker network) and the International Bingo Network, provide access to multi-language bingo, casino, soft games and sportsbooks.
Tight Regulations
Operators should have a gaming license. There are only a few countries who regularly give licenses but, you should ensure that the operator is in possession of a license issued by a highly regulated authority. Granting online gaming licenses exclusively to only 13 companies, Gibraltar is home to a majority of the largest online gaming companies, representing close to 37% of the market by revenue.
The Gibraltar license is highly coveted as European governments have begun to restrict marketing to their residents by any online gaming company outside the EEA. In addition, the rigors of obtaining a Gibraltar license remain high. St Minver partners benefit from the company's ability to offer gaming services that run off the most highly regarded gaming license without the rigors and the expense.
Tier 1 Banking
Clients and customers should require access to secure banking mechanisms. You should ensure you work with a client that enables you to leverage credit card merchant facilities with at least two premier banking institutions. Customers should be offered the ability to use mainstream payment mechanisms (including Visa, MasterCard, Switch and Solo), with immediate credit at competitive rates. Competitors without such banking facilities are currently only able to offer niche payment processors, such as NETeller, which only offers 3-4 days' delayed credit or an instant credit option where customers are charged higher fees.
Customisation
Operators should provide partners with the ability to create a product which is bespoke to each partner's brand requirements. The operator’s suite of games should enable a tailored product offering to better cater to specific audience demographics. In addition, the product offering should be tailored to comply with the specific look and feel of each partner's brand and site, to create an environment which is seamless to the end user.
CRM
The operators should work closely with you as a partner, to offer direct customer communication strategies and tools. The white label provider should have a team of knowledgeable CRM experts who bring together experience from a variety of leading online sites. Partners benefit from the economies of scale gained through the creation of a network. In addition, operators like St Minver offer partners special CRM tools on a more cost effective basis.
Best-of-breed games
The operator should create a highly scalable solution for its white label partners. In creating the integrated platform, you should be offered the best-of-breed games that are plugged directly into the platform offering customers a unique gaming experience that is tailored to the individual site's look and feel.
VIP service team
Your VIP customers should be given the opportunity to participate in special bonus and loyalty programs. The VIP program should be tailored to create loyalty for high consistency players, and offered on an invite only basis. Those customers who qualify for the VIP program should be entitled to receive cash back on all wins and losses incurred in the month. In addition they may receive special gifts at any time including flights, upgrades, hotels and concerts.
24/7 multi-language customer service
Operators should provide 24 hour customer service in multi-language. St Minver provide service in English, German, Spanish and Turkish (restricted times). More importantly, providers should offer online chat support in multiple languages. Customer service on three levels: online chat, email and telephone are a huge advantage in showing customers that you can provide a secure and safe gaming experience.
24/7 monitoring for fraud/security
Games and gaming operators should offer real time fraud security monitoring. The white label games operator should have a team of individuals who actively monitor the games for scams such as collusion, chip dumping and other fraudulent behaviour. With regard to Casino and Bingo, the company should implement the necessary precautionary processes to restrict underage gaming and gaming from non-legal jurisdictions such as the US. The company should also follow ethical gaming principles as set by associations like Gamcare, the industry leading player protection association.
Player education
Player education is a major part of obtaining and retaining customers. The operators should be able to provide an established mechanism of player education and tutoring. Networks like St Minver operate an interactive and live chat room poker school for all partners, with significant rookie player pools. The school is offered to beginners and to those who wish to take their skills to the next level. The school is offered in English, German and Spanish.
Written for St Minver Ltd, White Label gaming operators
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Collins
Morgan Collins - EzineArticles Expert Author
Well here's a checklist of 10 characteristics that your white label gaming network operator should provide:
Liquidity
When a player comes to your site, they want choice, entertainment and a large gaming community. Clients should be able to access a deep pool of player liquidity, ensuring that their customers will always be able to find a game to suit their requirements and their level of skill. They should also be able to play against players from all over the world. Operators like St Minver, who manage the International Poker Network (Europe's largest poker network) and the International Bingo Network, provide access to multi-language bingo, casino, soft games and sportsbooks.
Tight Regulations
Operators should have a gaming license. There are only a few countries who regularly give licenses but, you should ensure that the operator is in possession of a license issued by a highly regulated authority. Granting online gaming licenses exclusively to only 13 companies, Gibraltar is home to a majority of the largest online gaming companies, representing close to 37% of the market by revenue.
The Gibraltar license is highly coveted as European governments have begun to restrict marketing to their residents by any online gaming company outside the EEA. In addition, the rigors of obtaining a Gibraltar license remain high. St Minver partners benefit from the company's ability to offer gaming services that run off the most highly regarded gaming license without the rigors and the expense.
Tier 1 Banking
Clients and customers should require access to secure banking mechanisms. You should ensure you work with a client that enables you to leverage credit card merchant facilities with at least two premier banking institutions. Customers should be offered the ability to use mainstream payment mechanisms (including Visa, MasterCard, Switch and Solo), with immediate credit at competitive rates. Competitors without such banking facilities are currently only able to offer niche payment processors, such as NETeller, which only offers 3-4 days' delayed credit or an instant credit option where customers are charged higher fees.
Customisation
Operators should provide partners with the ability to create a product which is bespoke to each partner's brand requirements. The operator’s suite of games should enable a tailored product offering to better cater to specific audience demographics. In addition, the product offering should be tailored to comply with the specific look and feel of each partner's brand and site, to create an environment which is seamless to the end user.
CRM
The operators should work closely with you as a partner, to offer direct customer communication strategies and tools. The white label provider should have a team of knowledgeable CRM experts who bring together experience from a variety of leading online sites. Partners benefit from the economies of scale gained through the creation of a network. In addition, operators like St Minver offer partners special CRM tools on a more cost effective basis.
Best-of-breed games
The operator should create a highly scalable solution for its white label partners. In creating the integrated platform, you should be offered the best-of-breed games that are plugged directly into the platform offering customers a unique gaming experience that is tailored to the individual site's look and feel.
VIP service team
Your VIP customers should be given the opportunity to participate in special bonus and loyalty programs. The VIP program should be tailored to create loyalty for high consistency players, and offered on an invite only basis. Those customers who qualify for the VIP program should be entitled to receive cash back on all wins and losses incurred in the month. In addition they may receive special gifts at any time including flights, upgrades, hotels and concerts.
24/7 multi-language customer service
Operators should provide 24 hour customer service in multi-language. St Minver provide service in English, German, Spanish and Turkish (restricted times). More importantly, providers should offer online chat support in multiple languages. Customer service on three levels: online chat, email and telephone are a huge advantage in showing customers that you can provide a secure and safe gaming experience.
24/7 monitoring for fraud/security
Games and gaming operators should offer real time fraud security monitoring. The white label games operator should have a team of individuals who actively monitor the games for scams such as collusion, chip dumping and other fraudulent behaviour. With regard to Casino and Bingo, the company should implement the necessary precautionary processes to restrict underage gaming and gaming from non-legal jurisdictions such as the US. The company should also follow ethical gaming principles as set by associations like Gamcare, the industry leading player protection association.
Player education
Player education is a major part of obtaining and retaining customers. The operators should be able to provide an established mechanism of player education and tutoring. Networks like St Minver operate an interactive and live chat room poker school for all partners, with significant rookie player pools. The school is offered to beginners and to those who wish to take their skills to the next level. The school is offered in English, German and Spanish.
Written for St Minver Ltd, White Label gaming operators
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Collins
Morgan Collins - EzineArticles Expert Author
Internet Money Marketing Network Solutions
Marketing is an art that combines the dance of the offer and the sale, with the science of ascertaining a client's needs and wants, not necessarily in that order, without having to ask the question. As a marketer it is your goal to provide your client with the solution to a perceived need, real or imagined, and sell her or him on the idea that only you, your business, or by extension your website will be able to adequately meet the need. Does this sound cold? Perhaps so, but this makes the reality of marketing no less compelling to the savvy individual. Similarly, it will not dissuade a client from doing business with you.
To make Internet money marketing network solutions you will first need to understanding what kind of network solutions you may offer. Computer users are always on the lookout for that bit of code that will make the machines run faster or more efficiently while at the same time protecting them viruses or hacker attacks. Similarly, those using databases always look for the software that is more germane to their actual business rather than broadly applicable as the usual database software that comes as part of a bigger package. Therefore anyone wanting to market network solutions will do well to address the needs of a niche rather than the wants of the market as a whole.
Understanding the concept of Internet money may be a little harder to grasp. Many a company has an advertising budget which also includes marketing their product online. In the same way, many a company has a hardware and software budget, that to a certain extent also includes Internet related aspects such as service contracts, subscriptions, and even the standing order of toner that is done via the 'Net every 60 days. This kind of money is considered Internet money because it is either spent on something purchased on the Internet, via the 'Net, or for the company's 'Net presence.
To make Internet money marketing network solutions you need to find out where your potential clients' Internet money is spent and then offer to provide the same or a similar service. In essence the goal is for the client to transfer the money that was paid to vendor A to you instead and have you take over as vendor A's substitute. This is easier said than done if you do not know your way around the network solutions business. Those who are computer savvy, however, and who know how to cultivate the right contacts and contracts in order to operate for a business in lieu of vendor A, even if it means outsourcing the job or service at a lesser price that will still allow you to make a healthy profit on the deal, will find that there is no limit to the profitability that may be found in this business.
If you are still unsure of the entire business concept, consider the term "reseller" and you will come to understand how - even without an inventory or a specific IT skill set - you can make Internet money marketing network solutions.
To make Internet money marketing network solutions you will first need to understanding what kind of network solutions you may offer. Computer users are always on the lookout for that bit of code that will make the machines run faster or more efficiently while at the same time protecting them viruses or hacker attacks. Similarly, those using databases always look for the software that is more germane to their actual business rather than broadly applicable as the usual database software that comes as part of a bigger package. Therefore anyone wanting to market network solutions will do well to address the needs of a niche rather than the wants of the market as a whole.
Understanding the concept of Internet money may be a little harder to grasp. Many a company has an advertising budget which also includes marketing their product online. In the same way, many a company has a hardware and software budget, that to a certain extent also includes Internet related aspects such as service contracts, subscriptions, and even the standing order of toner that is done via the 'Net every 60 days. This kind of money is considered Internet money because it is either spent on something purchased on the Internet, via the 'Net, or for the company's 'Net presence.
To make Internet money marketing network solutions you need to find out where your potential clients' Internet money is spent and then offer to provide the same or a similar service. In essence the goal is for the client to transfer the money that was paid to vendor A to you instead and have you take over as vendor A's substitute. This is easier said than done if you do not know your way around the network solutions business. Those who are computer savvy, however, and who know how to cultivate the right contacts and contracts in order to operate for a business in lieu of vendor A, even if it means outsourcing the job or service at a lesser price that will still allow you to make a healthy profit on the deal, will find that there is no limit to the profitability that may be found in this business.
If you are still unsure of the entire business concept, consider the term "reseller" and you will come to understand how - even without an inventory or a specific IT skill set - you can make Internet money marketing network solutions.
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