Dedicated Server Reviews

• Uplinkearth Adds SitePal Talking Avatar Tools
• Paralells Unveils Virtualized Data Centers

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This TV box has been staring me in the face --- I look at it often --- It turns on in the morning and I usually see it near bedtime. Between those bookends of life I stare at a computer screen. There is a break when I look at a smaller form with my Tilt phone. I am a communicator.

My e-mail saved me today when DTV4PC promised me 1,056 live channels on my PC. I have always wanted to watch live re-runs of the Mongolian version of The Price is Right.

If I owned a webhosting firm I would place one of my bets on TV, video hosting, streaming delivering or whatever...Adult purvayors (content providers) took the lead but now we are mainstreaming - streaming everything. This takes just what you want - people that want your stuff so you can deliver their stuff. Heavy demand on bandwidth, servers and everything else that generates revenues. Yes I would bet my bandwidth, technology, personnel, training, advertizing, reputation and all the cost centers to be a prime deliverer.

I want to test drive every car in a 3D, virtual world before I buy. Be able to look down and see where the cup holder is located.

You can either own content, or deliver content.

========== MORE ABOUT TOM ==========

New Commerce Communications

E-Mail Tom Direct

Last Wednesday morning’s domainfest 2008 keynote presentation was from the Internet Commerce Association (ICA).  The ICA represents the interests of domain name owners in congress.  My initial “initiation” into the hosting industry was at a 1999 gathering of hosts to discuss legal and regulatory issues that were affecting hosts at the time.  Amazingly, some of those issues remain.

What does the industry gain from participating in the political process?  The short answer is a voice in Congress.  Make no mistake, companies like Amazon, Yahoo, Google and Microsoft are making sure that their voice is heard, and that their concerns about legislation that may affect their hosting businesses are presented to decision makers. The interests of those companies are likely to be significantly different than yours.

I’ve beat the association drum for a long time.  Most hosts I’ve talked to about this issue have argued that nothing has affected their business so far.  To address this argument, I’ve set out four items in a “wish list.”

DMCA reform:  entities and individuals who use the DMCA process should be required to state, under the penalty of perjury, that they have a good faith belief that the material identified in the complaint is infringing.  Currently, many copyright owners shoot first and ask questions later.  This has led to a situation where legitimate websites are shut down, only to demonstrate to the copyright owner that they have a license to use copyrighted information.

Clarification of data retention requirements:  web hosts should not be required to preserve evidence, or potential evidence, in third party litigation without compensation.  Recent revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure create incentives for third parties to demand that web hosts and other Internet infrastructure providers preserve data without compensating them.  The cost of preserving backup tapes, without recycling them, is, in some cases, enough to significantly squeeze a company’s profit margins.

Privacy / Data Integrity:  any legislation or rulemaking in this area should recognize the rights of web hosts who collect data to use that data in their business, and monetize it, with the consent of their customers.  As the web develops, creative businesses have found ways to enhance the user experience.  Any privacy legislation should not unduly limit these business ideas.

ICANN:  changes to domain name registration policies don’t unduly discriminate against domain name resellers.  Many hosts use cheap domain names to drive business.  ICANN regulations should facilitate internet commerce, not establish a registrar cartel.

• Rackspace Webmail.us Becomes Mailtrust
• Paid Shipping Calculation Patent Awarded
• 1&1 Internet Utilizes Foundry's NetIron XMR Multi-Service
• JaguarPC Offers Lifetime Hosting Specials
• Netfirms Dot-ca Domains Debut
• Rackspace Corporate Brand Changes
• Pulse Hosting Plans Upgraded
• Host Gator Donates Revenue to Charities

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In 2007, the masses spoke and demanded access to their email from anywhere. No longer could email access be limited to the desk at the office, the computer at home or an executive with a BlackBerry/Treo. In 2007, 24x7x365 email access from any device became the norm.

In early 2007 in the US, we saw the success of the AT&T Blackjack, T-Mobile Wing and BlackBerry's Pearl become available in fashionable colors. In June, we had the blockbuster success of Apple's iPhone launch. Clearly, the masses had decided that access to their email and the Internet on the go was mandatory.

Our role as service providers should be to foster access to email in any way possible. 2007 might go down in US technology history as the last year that the wireless carriers dictated not only the device, but also the accessibility and affordability of email on the device.

2008 brings many changes to the mobile device world – from Apple's promise of an SDK for the iPhone, to further enhancements and more device permeations in the Windows Mobile world, to the excitement around the Google Android devices.

While some argue that the iPhone is not a "business device," momentum seems to be moving that way as AT&T has recently created "business plans" for the iPhone. With a secure IMAP connection, business owners and IT administrators should rest assured that their users' email is being transmitted securely to an iPhone. While push email is always preferable and always part of the BlackBerry/Windows Mobile/Good Mobile – Microsoft Exchange combination, a business that has their employees connected to their corporate email 24x7x365 sees a giant productivity boost.

All of this is disruptive to Web hosts, IT Administrators and wireless carriers. It is important that we all strategize to create an unhindered email-connected world and making hosted Exchange available to your customers is the easiest way to get started.