So, I am the one that always blogs about advances in technology and how everyone should do their best to keep up with the changes. So this blog may come as a bit of surprise since I'm about to question the need for the newest technology gadget.
This year, Amazon.com has called the Kindle the "#1 Best Selling, #1 Most Wished For, and #1 most Gifted Product on Amazon". It is titled the ultimate gift. Don't believe me? Check out the homepage yourself and see the countdown rolling on "time left to order Kindle" to get free shipping for Christmas! It makes the book I bought my best friend (that I know she'll LOVE) look a little inadequate. Or does it?
I hate to say it, but doesn't it seem a little ridiculous? Are we really so advanced that the thought of reading a book that's not on an electronic screen seems outdated? Don't get me wrong, I definitely get the fact that it's flashy and convenient and much easier than searching through a line of shelves for the book you want. But when does convenience start disguising what might just be down-right laziness?
I guess that idea can be applied to many other types of technology. I'm not trying to attack all the advances that we have grown accustomed to (remember, I usually write my praises about them). I just thought for once I would sit back and take a different perspective on things. Newspapers, books, magazines, journals... they're dropping like flies everywhere. It really has become so much easier to find the information you need or want through simple technology. If you need proof, just go to newspaperdeathwatch.com to see for yourself. I don't even remember a time where I actually had to go to the library to write a research paper. Truthfully, I would write it with the information I found online in no time... then I would spend hours in the library trying to find a book to "reference" to fulfill my professor's requirements (Sorry, Professor Schuester J).
Don't ask me why I all of a sudden think the Kindle has taken things too far. I guess I just love reading a good old fashioned book. Snuggling up next to a warm fire with my Kindle just doesn't have the same feel. And on that note, the fancy shmancy Kindle can be destroyed in a fire (or water or any other damaging effect) just as easily as a book can. At least my book won't run out of battery.
Tara Young, Marketing Coordinator
Unified360
Unified communications has many applications and can streamline many operations. Few have considered the North Pole as needing this solution, but months ago we actually made contact with the North Pole, strictly by accident. They required an NDA, so our Legal Beagle sprang into action. Because of our results, they released us so that we may tell our story.
One of our business development representatives made contact with a group referred to as "Elf Central", thinking it was a holiday call center operation. Much to our amazement, it was, literally! The original one to be exact. So after several conference calls to arrange a visit to the North Pole, we finally got our Sales team on the ground to perform a review of the communication challenges and discover how Unified360 could improve the Jolly operation.
Cameras were not allowed, but we were truly amazed at the vastness of the North Pole city. Light poles lined the streets, and were adorned with ribbons and bells. Christmas music was heard from everywhere as if heralded from the skies above. Of course the Unified360 team was amazed at all the shops and thousands of Elves!
After getting into their communications center we were shocked to learn several things. Their communications system was several hundred years old, and extremely inefficient. It was a network of aging "Santalites" orbiting earth. No one ever suspected Santa of placing the first objects in orbit! Go figure.
Once we got into their operations center, we realized that they were failing to make contact with about 1/5th of the world's children because there database's were moving so slow. Millions of names were not making it to the naughty or nice list, which translated into an enormous gap of children not being accounted for. Santa was literally pulling his hair out with worry, and demanded that the head of Elf IT, (Aaron) get this problem resolved.
In turn they looked at their naughty and nice list and found a correlation that people on the Nice list had a Unified360 UC solution. So when our Business Development Rep called in, our call was flagged and sent directly to Aaron.
Besides missing about 1/5th of the children, the Elves had lost vital internal communications. They had created a mobile workforce but had not given them the ability to leverage communications mobility. Add that on top of the fact that an enterprising young Elf named Bean had opened 39 Starbucks in and around the North Pole. Elves absolutely love coffee, and were spending too much time in the coffee shop rather than the toy shop.
This was a recipe that could have derailed Christmas this year, but thanks to Unified360, BlackBerry's for the Elves have been provided as well as WIFI capabilities for all 39 Starbucks at the North Pole.
This allowed the Elves to stay in communications with the Primary Toy Assembly Line, improved accountability and increased production. We were also able to upgrade all their communications services, IT infrastructure, as well as provide a full range of managed services. This freed up over 1000 Elves that were able to get back into Toy Production.
As we were wrapping up our on-site implementation, it was realized that Unified360 had saved Christmas this year! While winding down our work, we were called to the city center. There, through the big doors right off the city square, the Big, Jolly Man himself showed up.
A towering figure, with bright red cheeks and a round belly. He invited the Unified360 Leadership Team over to thank us. As he gave a short but touching message to the entire population of the North Pole, we all noticed how appreciative the Elves were. Many of them became choked up by the big guy's words. I heard one Elf say he had not heard Santa so moved "since Rudolph saved Christmas all those years ago". Yes, we did it. Unified360 saved Christmas for millions of children and we feel privileged to have done so. So this year remember that in order for Santa to have gone full circle, Unified360 first had to bring his communications "Full Circle".
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!
Jeff Rothell, COO
Unified360
I usually contribute to the Unified360 blog because I want to provide something useful. Being a lawyer, I have tried to impart tidbits of legal knowledge and advice that might be germane to telecommunications or everyday life. Well its time to break from the mold.
With the year end holidays upon us and 2010 rapidly approaching, it is time to share some one liners that I have picked up over the years, and that you might find useful in a variety of social situations, from parties, family gatherings and meetings with your colleagues. I am sure that you can find them somewhere around the Web, but ... here we go ...
- Borrow money from a pessimist - they don't expect it back.
- Time is what keeps things from happening all at once.
- Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
- Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
- Few women admit their age; few men act it.
- Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
- He who laughs last thinks slowest.
- Always remember you are unique; just like everyone else.
- Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
- There are three kinds of people: Those who can count and those who can't.
- Why is "abbreviation" such a long word?
- I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.
- Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
- Out of my mind. Back in 5 minutes.
- A clear conscience is usually a sign of a bad memory.
- As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.
- Laugh alone and the world thinks you're an idiot.
- The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the ability to reach it.
- Okay, who stopped payment on my reality check?
- We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
- Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home.
- If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
- I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
- Eat right. Stay fit. Die anyway.
- On the other hand, you have different fingers.
- Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
- IRS Motto: "We've got what it takes to take what you've got."
- I'm out of bed and dressed. What more do you want?
- Honk if you like peace and quiet.
- The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
- What's another word for "thesaurus?"
- You don't know who is swimming naked until the tide goes out.
... and a personal favorite, 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year.
Matt Hutchins, General Counsel a/k/a Legal Beagle
Unified360
"Shoot a lawyer, and save a tree"