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BISBEE’S BUZZ Dot.com
2nd Decade (2001-2010) is bigger & better than anyone ever
imagined. In 1969,
four research computers were connected to create the genesis of the Internet at
the blazing server speed of 56 Kb. By 1990, there were 313,000 servers on the
Internet. Today, Google.com by itself has more than 458,000 servers on line and
some servers can operate at speeds of 92 terabits/second (two (2) billion times
faster than the 1969 speeds). Some
experts estimate that 17% of the world population has used the Internet and the
hypertext World Wide Web (August 6,1991). We may see that user group swell to
50% in the next few years. Internet growth has not slowed. In 1994, the
Internet usage growing 2300% per year and Internet growth has not slowed. Shocking
statistics show the The systems are converging in
ways that offer improved efficiency and reduced costs. Using the newer
technologies isn’t just a choice it is a competitive imperative in both the
public and private sectors. Cabling is the foundation
highway at the termination point for this dazzling new information age. Folks, it ain’t getting slower. Cabling Changes in Store for 2008 By Bisbee,
Frank Fiber to
the desktop, Wi-Fi networks and copper prices affect plans. The enterprise
network is undergoing a major shift in emphasis that impacts cabling."
according to Jim Hayes of the Fiber Optic Association, the international
non-profit professional society for the fiber-optic industry that develops
educational programs and certifies fiber-optic technicians. "Users
expect mobility, demonstrated by the sales of laptops exceeding desktop
computers and the popularity of mobile platforms like the BlackBerry and
iPhone. Wireless has had growing pains, but with the advent of 802.11n, better
cell phone data systems and the likelihood of success for WiMAX, users now have
adequate wireless bandwidth practically everywhere and are not crazy about
being tethered to a patch cord. "The
network of the future is certainly not recabling every couple of years with
another UTP upgrade," he adds. "If 10-Gigabit Ethernet needs to be
delivered to the desk, it's probably going to be on fiber, not just for the
bandwidth, but also for the lower power consumption. But I'm betting on more
mobile applications, with a backbone of fiber connecting wireless access
points. That's how cell phone networks are built, as well as many metro Wi-Fi
networks. With most large enterprises already depending on fiber backbones,
adding adequate wireless access is easy, and, of course, upgrades are simply a
matter of replacing wireless access-point hardware." Zone
cabling with fiber to the zone hub is the first step to fiber to the desktop
(FTTD). Fiber has been a crucial part of the campus and riser solution for
years; now, fiber is reaching the horizontal plane in the structure with a host
of economic and functional benefits. Currently,
plenum-approved communications cable dominates new building installs in the Copper
continues to be a cost concern, as well as a supply issue. The most significant
supply weak point, however, is the fluoropolymer materials used to insulate
high-performance copper- based twisted-pair cabling for plenum-approved cable. There are
only two major producers of the fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP; commonly
known by their trade names: Teflon from DuPont and Neoflon by Daikin The NFPA
might open the plenum-approved cable exemption to include low-smoke
zero-halogen RoHS-compliant cable that is already approved by the European
Union. That would still take three years to approve, however. A shortage
of FEP has occurred several times in the history of plenum-approved (CMP-rated)
copper cable. During each shortage, the prices rose dramatically, and hybrid
constructions were introduced using a mix of other insulating materials to make
up for some of the material shortfall. Today, that may not be possible because
the higher-performance copper cables (Category 5e, Category 6 and soon Category
6a) cannot function properly with the resultant delay skew caused by different
insulation material properties. "Fire-safe"
fluoropolymer materials used in plenum-approved CMP- rated cables generate
toxic gases when the cables are exposed to various levels of heat. Since the
original approval of the use of CMP-rated cables in the return-air building
plenum spaces, there has been no official testing of the cables for any
incapacitation factor or toxicity of the gases generated in fires. According
to Chris Pezoulas, vice president of business development at Canadian wiring
systems manufacturer: Electec, "Engineers, consultants, specifiers,
building owners and contractors alike should look at the cable they are contemplating
installing in their air-handling spaces and consider setting a higher standard,
not only for themselves, but for anybody that may ever occupy the space they
are using. "With
all that we know today about the toxic nature of Teflon, FEP and PFOA, it
astounds me that the policy and code makers in "Fire-safe"
fluoropolymer materials used in plenum-approved CMP- rated cables generate
toxic gases. Frank
Bisbee is the president of Communication Planning Corp., Reprinted
with permission from Communications News Magazine Copyright
Nelson Publishing May 2008 (c) 2008
Communications News. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights
Reserved. This month,
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is meeting in Putting
Profits over PUBLIC SAFETY is deplorable. But that’s
just my opinion, Frank Bisbee ********************************* 3M Releases Improved Dynatel Modular Test Platform
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M
produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M’s
core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms –
often in combination – to a wide array of customer needs. With $24 billion in
sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 60
countries. For more information, visit http://www.3M.com. ********************************* Anixter International Inc. Announces Share Repurchase Program Anixter
International Inc. (NYSE: AXE - News) today announced a share
repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to 1 million of
its outstanding shares with the exact volume and timing dependent on market
conditions. Anixter noted that all previously announced share repurchase
programs had been completed prior to the end of the first quarter of 2008.
Anixter currently has approximately 35.7 million shares outstanding. Anixter
International is a leading global distributor of communication products,
electrical and electronic wire & cable and a leading distributor of
fasteners and other small parts ("C" Class inventory components) to
Original Equipment Manufacturers. The company adds value to the distribution
process by providing its customers access to 1) innovative inventory management
programs, 2) more than 400,000 products and over $1 billion in inventory, 3)
218 warehouses with more than 6 million square feet of space, and 4) locations
in 249 cities in 49 countries. Founded in 1957 and headquartered near ********************************* Anixter International to record $4.2 million charge for granting retiring CEO options Anixter
International Inc. said Monday it will incur $4.2 million in charges in the
second quarter because the communication products company agreed to let its
departing chief executive keep his stock options and restricted stock upon his
retirement. Chief
Executive Robert W. Grubbs is retiring at the end of June, to be replaced by
Robert J. Eck. Previously,
Grubbs agreed not to compete against the company for two years, and his stock
options and other grants would be terminated within 90 days of his departure. The company
said Monday it amended the agreement. Now, Grubbs agrees not to compete against
the company for the longer of five years, or two years beyond his retirement
from the company's board. In exchange, Grubbs will keep his options and they
will vest as scheduled. ********************************* Beast Cabling Systems Meets Market Need with New SPEED™ Solutions Beast
Cabling Systems, Inc. introduced new SPEED™ solutions as an enhancement to
their comprehensive line of Cabling Installation Systems (CIS) and components.
The offering includes the cost-effective SPEED Labeler, SPEED Patch Panel
Organizer, and SPEED Installation Services. “The
network cabling industry has been calling for flexible solutions that make
copper and fiber cabling installations more efficient and cost effective by
speeding up the pulling process, eliminating errors, reducing waste, and
maintaining proper separation of today’s high-bandwidth cables for maximum
performance,” says Greg Bramham, vice president of Beast Cabling Systems.
“Through recent R&D efforts, we’re please to offer a new line of
lightweight and significantly lower-cost SPEED solutions that respond to the
market need and appeal to a broad range of network cabling installers.” The SPEED
Labeler is a lightweight, portable tool that acts as an Extra-Hand™ to maintain
order and allow technicians to quickly and accurately label cables for the
rough-in pulling stage of a network infrastructure installation. Easily
positioned in front of up to 24 boxes of cable, this ergonomic tool enables
application of color-coded labels on both ends of each cable in a fraction of
the time as conventional processes while eliminating errors, keeping kinks out
of pathways, and reducing technician fatigue. The SPEED
Patch Panel Organizer is a convenient, labor-savings sorting board that
eliminates the tedious task of cable sorting when routing into racks in the
telecommunications room. This lightweight Patch Panel Organizer features a
Lexan® dry-erase writing surface mounted on foldable legs with left-right
sorting locations for sorting up to 384 cables by patch panel location. SPEED
Installation Services delivers fully trained Beast SPEED Technicians to the job
site to help meet compressed schedules or heavy workloads that exceed available
staff. Available on short notice and for extended hours, these SPEED
Technicians install a significantly greater volume of rough-in cable in shorter
periods of time using Beast SPEED solutions and CIS for maximum efficiency and
reduced cable usage. About Beast
Cabling Systems Headquartered
in ********************************* Beast Cabling Systems Enters European Market Beast Cabling Systems,
Inc. (BCS) is proud to announce the first product sale of their innovative
Cabling Installation System (CIS) into the European Marketplace. CIS and its
components are designed to bring systemization and control to the various tasks
required to properly install network cabling. CIS enables consistent, efficient
installations that conserve time and material, reduce errors, and enhance
industry best practices for overall better network performance. Denmark-based T.J.
Transmission A/S, provider of voice and data infrastructure solutions,
purchased CIS, and the company will first deploy the technology at a Computer
Sciences Corporation data center project in T.J. Transmission A/S
has plans to introduce CIS to the Danish market as they deploy the system on
many future cabling installation projects. “While there is no committed sales
effort to the European market, we’re very excited about this sale and the
growing interest in our products,” says Greg Bramham, vice president of Beast
Cabling Systems. “The installation market in Europe has the same concerns and
issues that we experience here in the With CIS, Joergensen
plans to easily pull 24 to 48 horizontal communications cables at a time, a process
that he says previously required more space, wasted approximately 3 to 5 meters
of every cable, and resulted in more errors. “We’ll be able to now pull cables
right to the patch panel without having to cut down lengths and move labels,
which created the potential for mistakes. I believe we can reduce waste by 50%
with CIS, which is great for the environment and the bottom line,” says
Joergensen. “Documentation is the one thing that everyone talks about but many
don’t care enough about. With CIS, there’s no reason whatsoever to not properly
label the cables, and we now have a greater possibility of ensuring good
documentation throughout the installation process.” About Beast Cabling
Systems Headquartered
in ********************************* Belden's CEO Pumps Up HIS PAY - Enters 10b5-1 Program Belden
(NYSE: BDC - News) announced today that John
Stroup, the company's Chief Executive Officer, has established a pre-arranged
stock trading plan to sell shares of Belden stock. This plan was established as
part of his individual long-term strategy for asset diversification and
liquidity. The plan was adopted in accordance with guidelines specified under
Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Belden's
policies regarding stock transactions. The
transactions under the plan will be disclosed publicly through Form 144 and
Form 4 filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. About
Belden Belden is a
leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of signal transmission
solutions for data networking and a wide range of specialty electronics markets
including entertainment, industrial, security and aerospace applications. To
obtain additional information contact Investor Relations at 314-854-8054, or
visit our website at http://www.belden.com. ********************************* Berk-Tek Hires Fiber Optic Product Business Manager Copper and
fiber optic cabling technology and solutions leader Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company,
is pleased to announce the addition of Mike Connaughton, RCDD, as the Fiber
Product Business Manager. Reporting
to Todd Harpel, Director of Marketing, Connaughton is responsible for managing
all Berk-Tek optical fiber LAN product activities, as well as participating in
the global Nexans Operational Product Management team. Before
joining Berk-Tek, Connaughton spent 15 years at Mohawk, a Belden Company,
focusing on fiber optic product development and support. He has held various positions in technical
support, sales, marketing and product management. Connaughton has his Bachelors of Science in
Electronic Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology in “Mike
brings a wide variety of experience in the industry and a unique perspective on
our company,” notes Harpel. “Combining his technical expertise with his
reputable industry relations, I am sure he will be an asset to Berk-Tek.” About Berk-Tek, A Nexans Company For
more than 45 years, Berk-Tek has been a leading manufacturer of more than 100
different network copper and fiber optic cable products. The company has led in
the development of high-performance and enhanced fiber optic and UTP cables
designed to transport high-speed data and voice transmissions. Berk-Tek has
major manufacturing facilities at New Holland, PA, About Nexans Nexans, the worldwide leader in
the cable industry, brings an extensive range of advanced copper and optical
fiber cable solutions to the infrastructure, industry and building markets for
telecommunications and energy networks. With an industrial presence in 29
countries and commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs employs 21,000
people and had sales in 2006 of $10 billion. Nexans is listed on the ********************************* California Senate votes to ban heat-resistant compounds This is big news for the cabling industry. What
if Teflon® was banned? -
The Associated Press
Published 6:34 pm PDT Monday, May 12, 2008 The
California Senate has voted to ban food packaging containing a family of
chemicals that have been used for decades in products that resist heat, oil,
stains, grease and water. The
legislation by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, would prohibit the use of
perfluorinated compounds in items used to package, transport or hold food,
starting in 2010. Perfluorinated
compounds, or PFCs, are considered to be likely human carcinogens by the
Environmental Protection Agency. They
also are associated with higher rates of heart disease, stroke and diabetes and
with diminished weight in newborns, immune system problems and hormone
imbalance. Monday's
22-15 vote sent the bill to the Assembly. ********************************* CommScope to Close Jaguariuna Brazil Facility
The Jaguariuna facility,
which employs approximately 200 people and primarily produces broadband cable
products, is expected to close by the end of September, with most equipment
redeployed to other facilities elsewhere in the world. These changes do not
affect the company’s other Brazilian facility located in Sorocaba or the
company’s ongoing commitment to providing Latin America customers with
high-performance wireless, enterprise and broadband solutions. “This is the latest step
in our ongoing drive to improve our competitive position, enhance our long-term
financial performance and achieve our cost-synergy targets associated with the
Andrew Corporation acquisition,” said CommScope President and Chief Operating
Officer Brian Garrett. “We regret the impact on our people in Jaguariuna and
appreciate their many contributions during the past eight years. However, we
have an extensive worldwide manufacturing and distribution footprint that can
be better utilized and more efficiently operated by consolidating facilities.
As we execute this manufacturing strategy we intend to make sure that our
customers continue to receive the outstanding service that they have come to
expect from CommScope.” The 221,000 square-foot
Jaguariuna facility was purchased in June 2000. Both the costs and the savings
related to this facility closing will make up part of the projected total
savings and transition costs announced in connection with the acquisition of
Andrew, which was completed in December 2007. Separately, CommScope
Europe S.P.R.L. has notified its Works Council of its intention to discontinue
production activities at its facility in About CommScope CommScope, Inc. (NYSE:
CTV www.commscope.com)
is a world leader in infrastructure solutions for communication networks.
Through its Andrew® brand, it is a global leader in radio frequency subsystem
solutions for wireless networks. Through its SYSTIMAX® and Uniprise®
brands, CommScope is the global leader in structured cabling systems for
business enterprise applications. It is also the premier manufacturer of
coaxial cable for broadband cable television networks and one of the leading
North American providers of environmentally secure cabinets for DSL and FTTN
applications. Backed by strong research and development, CommScope combines
technical expertise and proprietary technology with global manufacturing
capability to provide customers with infrastructure solutions for evolving
global communications networks in more than 130 countries around the world. ********************************* President and CEO Clark Kinlin Assures Corning Cable Systems’ Technology Community That Corning Will Protect Intellectual Property Around the World Corning Cable Systems LLC, part of Corning
Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) Telecommunications segment, recently recognized its
technology community for development of numerous patented technologies
significant to advancements in telecommunications. Over the past 3 years, more than 400 patents have been granted globally to
Corning Cable Systems. In remarks to members of Corning
Cable Systems’ Kinlin made his remarks to more than
350 Corning employees and guests during recent awards ceremonies in Kinlin
opened his remarks by highlighting Kinlin
acknowledged that “innovation is expensive and requires sustained commitment.”
He continued, “The problems we solve for our customers are difficult technology
challenges requiring highly-skilled knowledge workers. Where we are successful,
we deliver dramatic new utility and value to our customers.” As an
example of this utility and value, Kinlin referred to Kinlin
closed by pledging About ********************************* Jim Young Construction Company, Inc. Becomes Newest Member of the Corning Total Access ProgramSM (TAP) Corning
Cable Systems LLC, part of Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) Telecommunications
segment, announces Jim Young Construction Company, Inc. as the newest member of
the selective Corning
Total Access ProgramSM (TAP). Jim
Young Construction Co., Inc. is a privately owned enterprise established in
1978 with extensive experience in all types of fiber-optic construction,
including FTTH, intra-exchange trunking and long-haul applications. The company provides full-service outside
plant construction to telecommunication service providers. Jim Young Construction Co., Inc. delivers
quality and value-based services to a client base that includes consumer-owned
cooperatives, privately held corporations and large publicly-held corporations. The company is licensed in "We
look forward to a long and successful association with Through its Evolant®
Solutions for Access Networks, Corning
Cable Systems offers specialized portfolios of innovative products and
services that enable customers to cost-effectively deploy fiber in the last
mile. For additional information on
Corning Cable Systems, contact a customer service representative at
1-800-743-2675, toll free in the ********************************* Craig Consulting Services :BELDEN Training Schedule June– September 2008 Dates Class JUNE 6/9-6/10 303
Design 6/11-6/12 700
Installation 6/23- 6/24 303
Design 6/25 - 6/26 700
Installation JULY 7/22 – 7/23 303
Design 7/24 – 7/25 700
Installation AUGUST 8/5 303
Design 8/6-8/7 700
Installation 8/11-8/12 303
Design 8/13-8/14 700
Installation SEPTEMBER 9/9-9/10 303
Design 9/11-9/12 700
Installation 9/23 303 Design 9/24-9/25 700 Installation This
schedule is subject to change based upon Customer requests. James R.
(Ray) Craig RCDD/NTS Specialist Belden
Regional Trainer Craig Consulting Services * Classes scheduled by
Belden Training Department ********************************* Craig Consulting Services :BICSI Training Schedule June– December, 2008 Dates Class JUNE 6/16 – 6/20 Technician JULY 7/14 – 7/18 ITS
Installer 2 AUGUST 8/18 – 8/22 TPMA
PM 125 8/25 – 8/29 Technician SEPTEMBER 9/15 – 9/19 ITS
Installer 2 OCTOBER 10/6 -
10/10 Technician NOVEMBER 11/10 –
11/14 Installer
1 DECEMBER 12/8 –
12/12 Technician This
schedule is subject to change based upon Customer requests. James R.
(Ray) Craig RCDD/NTS Specialist Craig Consulting ********************************* D-Tools Unveils New Website D-Tools
Inc., the worldwide leader in system integration software, today announced, the
launch of its newly re-designed website located at www.d-tools.com. “With its
fresh appearance and dynamic interactivity, our new website’s new format and
redesigned navigation bar makes it easy for visitors to quickly and easily
navigate through the site and locate information they are seeking, “said Tim
Bigoness, VP of Sales and Marketing of D-Tools. “The new website is completely
template-driven which makes it easier to update and add new content, while the
new design gives it a more atheistically pleasing appearance.” www.d-tools.com ********************************* D-Tools Enhances Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) Program with Elegant Addition D-Tools,
Inc., the worldwide leader in system integration software, today announced that
Media Decor has joined the D-Tools Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) program.
Florida-based Media Decor, LLC was founded in 2003 to fulfill elegant
designer-level solutions for today’s home entertainment installations. Media
Décor’s elegant product line provides cutting edge solutions to custom
entertainment display concealment. “We
anticipate joining D-Tools MVP Program to be a great deal of success for our
team,” said Jonathan Graham, President of Media Decor, “This is a great
opportunity for SI users to offer their clients a stylish and customized
solution for their entertainment systems and we are pleased to be the only
concealment company within the program at this point.” The D-Tools
Manufacturer Vantage Point (MVP) program is designed to help provide system
integrators with the most up-to-date product information to over 2,500
companies using D-Tools System Integrator software. D-Tools MVP members are
dedicated to helping companies streamline the design process and making it
easier for system integrators and installers to provide accurate proposals to
their clients. “We are
pleased to have Media Décor be a part of the MVP Program,” said Adam Stone,
President of D-Tools. “Their designer-level solutions will offer our users a
high-end outlet adding another stylistic attribute to their clients systems.” About Media
Decor Florida-based
Media Decor, LLC was founded in 2003 to fill the growing demand for elegant
designer-level solutions for today's home entertainment installations. Its team
of expert and inspired technicians, interior designers, and structural
craftsmen collaborate to create and deliver the world's most compelling, beautiful,
and customized entertainment environments. For more information on Media Decor
and its service and product offerings, please visit www.mediadecor.com. About
D-Tools, Inc. D-Tools,
founded in 1998 and based in ********************************* New Test Suite in EtherScope Network Assistant Creates New Business Opportunities for Value Added Resellers and System Integrators Installers
now have the ideal tool for LAN installation and validation, allowing projects
to be completed more quickly at lower cost Fluke
Networks today announced new capabilities for the company's award winning
EtherScope Network Assistant that helps Value Added Resellers (VARs) and System
Integrators (SIs) expand their network installation business. VARs and SIs installing new networks will
find that the EtherScope analyzer's new capabilities help them install,
validate, and document LAN installations faster and at a lower cost. Validating
LAN performance during installation is made possible by EtherScope’s new Service
Performance Tool. Installers, VARs and
SIs use this tool to demonstrate and document that those network services that
are critical for acceptable LAN operation (DHCP, DNS, web) are available and
responsive. Such documentation may be a
client requirement, or the installer may use this feature to differentiate his
service from the competition. When
teamed with Ethernet performance testing, network installers have a powerful
new combination of tools to validate that network infrastructure was correctly
installed and configured. Validation and
the resulting documentation provide assurance that the LAN will perform as
designed – resulting in robust network operation, fewer trouble tickets and
more satisfied users and clients. These
validation results are captured by the EtherScope Network Assistant and turned
into easy-to-interpret documentation that thoroughly characterizes LAN and WAN
link performance at turn-up. Any
performance issues later noted by the customer can be compared against this
turn-up documentation. Validation
documentation serves as proof of a project successfully completed. Other new
installation tests are provided by the expanded Ethernet performance test
suite. Users can now measure and assess
end-to-end Ethernet performance using new RFC 2544 procedures and other
advanced tests, including jitter and bit errors, with customizable pass/fail
criteria. The EtherScope analyzer can
now also be paired with a low-cost Gigabit LinkRunner Pro packet reflector for
end-to-end testing. The smart LinkRunner
Pro packet reflector supports layer 2 and 3 networking at a price that allows
installers to instrument multiple links or to equip multiple field technicians. Technicians
working for SIs and VARs typically spend 70% of their time on deployment
issues. EtherScope's new battery of
installation validation tests lets installers spend less time on site and helps
SIs and VARs save money. In addition
to these new installation-centric features, the EtherScope Network Assistant
now offers enhanced troubleshooting with the addition of draft 802.11n access
point detection and location. "We
have a customer who swore there were no unidentified wireless access points on
the site," said Jennie Lassig of CompuTech Consulting in Woods Cross,
UT. "With EtherScope we found that
a user had mounted an unknown AP and was transmitting unsecured." The
EtherScope Network Assistant is a handheld network analyzer that helps network
professionals quickly solve problems on 10, 100 and Gigabit, twisted pair and
optical fiber LANs and wireless LANs.
CompuTech's Lassig reported that a "customer had a tech on site for
2 days who couldn’t resolve the problem of slow network performance." With the EtherScope Network Assistant
"we went there and within two minutes found a network loop in a switch
that didn’t have spanning tree enabled. The customer was thrilled and we gained
their trust and confidence in our technical expertise." EtherScope also now supports SNMPv3, crucial
for network technicians responsible for devices using this newest version of
SNMP. Product
availability The
EtherScope Network Assistants is available for immediate delivery from Fluke
Networks sales partners worldwide. All
EtherScope Network Assistants shipped after April 28 will include new version 4
software. Existing EtherScope owners
with Gold support can upgrade their units by visiting
www.flukenetworks.com/EtherScope. About Fluke
Networks Fluke
Networks provides innovative solutions for the installation and certification,
testing, monitoring and analysis of copper, fiber and wireless networks used by
enterprises and telecommunications carriers. The company's comprehensive line
of Network SuperVision™ Solutions provide network installers, owners, and
maintainers with superior vision, combining speed, accuracy and ease of use to
optimize network performance. Headquartered in ********************************* New MicroScanner 2 Termination Test Kit Increases Technician Productivity From the First Day of Use Complete set of best-in-class tools for network cable installers,
TV cable technicians leads to faster, higher quality work with less risk of
error Fluke Networks, provider of innovative Network SuperVision
Solutions™ for the testing, monitoring and analysis of enterprise and
telecommunications networks, today announced the new MicroScanner2 Termination
Test Kit. This comprehensive new collection of installation and service
tools includes everything a network cable installer or TV cable technician
needs to locate, terminate and verify their copper cabling installations. Central to this combination of best-in-class tools is the
MicroScanner2 Cable Verifier, which works with all major cable types: coax, UTP
and two-lead conductors. This cable tester shows installers the four most
important test results — cable length, wire map, cable ID and distance to break
or short — as visual representations on a single screen. This makes
testing faster and reduces the chance of human error switching between tests. “Seeing all test results at once saves time and improves
technician accuracy. That allows us to deliver high quality installations
at a lower cost to our clients, “ said Kevin Kolinac, owner of Communications
Facilities & Design, Cable ID simplified, faster with IntelliTone digital toning All-in-one Voice/Data/Video test set Of particular use to cable TV technicians is a push-on F-Coax
patch cord. Also included are six remote cable identifiers, a shielded
twisted-pair RJ45 patch cord, an RJ11 patch cord, and a clip-set that connects the
MicroScanner2 RJ45 jack to 8 bare wires via alligator clips. This gives a new
installer everything needed to be productive from day one. Product availability About Fluke Networks ********************************* General Cable's Goenaga cashes in on options General Cable Corp.'s executive vice
president and CEO of its European and Goenaga
exercised 10,000 options with a strike price of $7.71 and another 5,000 at
$14.125 and then sold the resulting shares for between $70.50 and $71.50 each,
according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The transactions left him with no direct holdings of the company's stock, it
said. Goenaga
has been in charge of Highland Heights-based General Cable's European
operations since 2001. He joined the company in 1963. General
Cable (NYSE: BGC) designs, manufactures and markets copper, aluminum and fiber
optic wire and cable products. ********************************* Graybar reports hefty increase in first quarter net income Graybar
reported first quarter 2008 net income of US$18.9 million, a 58.7% over the
first quarter of 2007. Graybar Starts 2008 with 58.7 Percent Increase in
First-Quarter Net Income Company’s Organic Growth Strategy
Continues to Deliver Top- and Bottom-Line Results Graybar,
one of the nation’s leading distributors of electrical and communications
products and related supply chain management and logistics services, reported
net income of $18.9 million, a 58.7 percent increase over the first quarter of
2007. Net sales
grew 4.8 percent during the first quarter of 2008 – to $1.28 billion – compared
to the same period in 2007. The company
said the increase is a result of modest growth in electrical market sales
coupled with a solid rate of sales growth and competitive performance in the
data communications market. First-quarter 2008 income from operations rose 22.8
percent – to $30.5 million – compared to
the first quarter of 2007. “Our focus
on organic growth, expense management and process improvement continues to
deliver positive results for the company and its customers,” said Robert A.
Reynolds Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. “We
provide products and supply-chain solutions that make our customers more
efficient and productive. During this
economic slowdown, we see customers leveraging our distribution services more
than ever to lower their total cost of ownership.” Reynolds
added that Graybar continues to invest in technical resources to help its
customers manage the implementation of complex projects such as data center
redesign and energy-efficient facility construction. “We
understand these opportunities, especially where it relates to power, energy
conservation and faster completion to take advantage of cost savings,” Reynolds
added. “With our knowledge and use of
leading-edge technology, we continue to raise the bar on performance and value
for our customers.” About
Graybar Graybar, a
Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in ********************************* DialAmerica Improves Operational Efficiencies with All-in-One IP Communications Software Suite from Interactive Intelligence DialAmerica,
one of the largest
privately owned telemarketing companies in the U.S.,
has reported increased operational efficiencies and reduced costs as a result
of deploying an all-in-one IP communications software suite from Interactive
Intelligence (Nasdaq: ININ). DialAmerica
deployed the Customer Interaction Center® (CIC)
software suite to replace its “Due to our
growing customer base we needed to re-evaluate the capacity of our existing
call center platform,” said DialAmerica’s director of technology, Michael
Bardwell. “After a thorough analysis, we chose an all-in-one platform to
improve efficiencies and continue to provide the highest return on investment
for our customers.” DialAmerica
selected Interactive Intelligence based on CIC’s architecture and the
vendor’s experience and responsiveness to better support the challenges presented by DialAmerica’s
diverse and demanding client base. “Interactive
Intelligence’s superior product offering and scalable architecture provided us
with an all-in-one-solution to meet our changing needs,” said DialAmerica’s
senior vice president, Christopher Conway. “In addition, Interactive
Intelligence offered us the ideal combination of a proven track record and a
culture of accessibility that we were seeking.” Today
DialAmerica uses the all-software SIP-based CIC version to support
approximately 600 contact center agents and 200 business users across four
sites in The company
uses CIC for IP switching, multi-channel routing and queuing, IVR, call
recording, and unified messaging. In addition
to simplifying management by consolidating systems across sites, DialAmerica
has also credited CIC with helping it to more quickly and
cost-effectively scale up and down as business needs require. “DialAmerica
has built a business model based on distributed contact center sites that
enables us to more effectively recruit the best quality agents,” Bardwell said.
“Because of this model, we need to be able to quickly and cost-effectively
activate new centers and redirect calls to outbound sites based on call volume.
CIC has provided cost savings by using voice over IP technology and
enabling us to purchase off-the-shelf servers. The centralization of
administration and use of non-proprietary hardware have resulted in improved
reliability and maximum flexibility so that we can effectively meet our
customers’ needs.” Another
benefit of CIC has been the product’s customization capabilities,
according to Bardwell. “CIC has enabled us to develop our own
agent interface along with a host of other custom applications so we can best
satisfy our unique business requirements,” he said. “As a teleservices firm
that supports an incredibly diverse and dynamic client base, this kind of
business agility has been essential to our success.” About DialAmerica DialAmerica
Inc., one the nation’s largest teleservices companies, is recognized for
its expertise in providing comprehensive, cost-effective customer
acquisition and care solutions for consumer and business-to-business marketers.
Serving the marketing and fundraising communities for 50 years, DialAmerica has
a diverse portfolio of clients in multiple industry sectors, including
financial services, communications, healthcare, pharmaceutical, technology,
travel and leisure, consumer products, energy and others. The
company has extensive experience in the publishing arena and in supporting
clubs, continuity programs and cause-related marketing. DialAmerica’s vast
expertise in designing customer acquisition and care programs and in
hiring/training superior teleservices representatives – coupled with its
proprietary technology platform – enables the company to provide its clients
with the highest standards of account service, information security and
regulatory compliance, while delivering the lowest cost-per-transaction. For
more information about DialAmerica call 800-913-3331, or visit http://www.dialamerica.com. About Interactive Intelligence Interactive Intelligence Inc. (Nasdaq: ININ) is a global provider
of unified business communications solutions for contact center automation,
enterprise IP telephony, and enterprise messaging. The company was founded in
1994 and has more than 3,000 customers worldwide. Interactive Intelligence is
among the top 500 global software and services suppliers, and is ranked among
the top 200 North American networking vendors. The company employs
approximately 600 people and is headquartered in ********************************* Interactive Intelligence Adds Contact Center and IP Telephony Capabilities to Microsoft Office Communications Server Environments Interactive
Intelligence Inc. (Nasdaq: ININ) is releasing an integrated solution that
combines its all-in-one IP communications software platform with Microsoft
Office Communications Server 2007. The integration is designed to help
organizations communicate more effectively by adding contact center and IP
telephony functionality to OCS environments. The
Interactive Intelligence all-in-one IP communications software platform adds
features such as multi-channel skills-based routing, call and screen recording,
an operator console interface, workforce management, and cradle-to-grave
reporting. The integration also offers the ability to exchange instant messages
(IM) between the two systems using OCS’s secure IM engine through a common
enterprise-wide user directory. “We’ve gone
beyond the basic integration of simply connecting audio calls between systems,”
said Interactive Intelligence founder and CEO, Dr. Donald E. Brown. “Combined
with OCS, our solution provides a broad set of contact center and IP telephony
applications, a common company directory, and simplified administration for
user provisioning. “The beauty
of this combined solution is that all users can share information and
communicate with one another in real-time even though they are running desktop
software from two different vendors. For instance, an engineer in California
running an Office Communicator Client using a PC as a soft phone can call or
‘IM’ a product manager in New York running our Interaction Client®.
In addition, because our integration to OCS uses a direct SIP connection,
customers don’t have to purchase pricey gateways.” “Interactive
Intelligence has taken OCS integration a step forward by enabling customers to
more easily take advantage of both the collaboration capabilities in OCS, and
the contact center and IP telephony functionality in CIC – all while giving
users the choice of which client to run at the desktop,” said Yankee Group
enterprise research group analyst, Vanessa Alvarez. “From an industry
perspective, this move pushes unified communications forward, which Yankee
believes is critical for achieving the Anywhere Enterprise™ where
employees, customers, assets and partners can easily connect to applications,
information and services whenever and wherever they need them.” Microsoft
Office Communications Server 2007 manages real-time communications, including
instant messaging, voice over IP, audio and video conferencing. It works with
existing telecommunications systems so businesses can deploy advanced VoIP and
conferencing without tearing out their legacy phone networks. Microsoft OCS
also powers presence, a key benefit of Microsoft unified communications that
unites all the contact information stored in Active Directory with the ways
people communicate. In 1997
Interactive Intelligence launched its first product based on the company’s
all-in-one IP communications software platform called Interaction Center
Platform®. This platform was designed to deliver comprehensive
applications minus the cost and complexity introduced
by multi-point products. Today it serves as the basis for all the
Interactive Intelligence products, including Customer Interaction Center®
(CIC) for contact center automation and Vonexus Enterprise Interaction Center™
(Vonexus EIC) for enterprise IP telephony. The
Interactive Intelligence integration to OCS is planned for general availability
in Q3 2008. It will be offered through the Interactive Intelligence channel of
approximately 300 value-added resellers worldwide. About Interactive Intelligence Interactive Intelligence Inc. (Nasdaq: ININ) is a global provider
of unified business communications solutions for contact center automation,
enterprise IP telephony, and enterprise messaging. The company was founded in 1994
and has more than 3,000 customers worldwide. Interactive Intelligence is among
the top 500 global software and services suppliers, and is ranked among the top
200 North American networking vendors. The company employs approximately 600
people and is headquartered in ********************************* Interactive Intelligence Introduces Customer Feedback Management Products New offerings designed to help
organizations better measure and improve customer service Interactive
Intelligence (Nasdaq: ININ), a global provider of unified IP business
communications solutions, is introducing new customer feedback management
products designed to help organizations better measure and improve customer
service. The first
product being introduced is Interaction Feedback™ -- an automated
customer satisfaction survey module that enables organizations to accurately
measure customer service levels in a timely and cost-effective way. Further
extending its customer feedback management portfolio, the company is also
actively developing a speech analytics/emotion detection product. The product
is designed to provide real-time alerts to contact center supervisors when
heightened emotion is detected on a call. Both
customer feedback management products are designed as add-on modules to the
company’s Interaction Center Platform® -- a standards-based,
all-in-one platform designed to reduce the cost and
complexity introduced by multi-point products. “During
these challenging economic times the need for communications technologies that
help organizations improve service levels and retain customers becomes more
critical than ever,” said Yankee Group program manager and senior analyst, Ken
Landoline. “We consistently find there is a major discrepancy between company
perceptions of customer satisfaction and reality. The new customer feedback
management products from Interactive Intelligence enable organizations to take
a more real-time approach to identifying and resolving specific customer
problems, while providing a cost-effective method for measuring and managing
true customer satisfaction levels.” In addition
to a wizard interface that eliminates the need for programming expertise,
Interaction Feedback™ offers organizations real-time supervisory
alerts, integration with call recording and scoring features, the removal of
agent bias in the survey process, and a built-in third-party question library
from CFI Group (www.cfigroup.com), which holds a patented
methodology for tying customer satisfaction to financial results. The
Interactive Intelligence real-time speech analytics software module will enable
organizations to monitor calls in real-time to detect heightened states of
emotion. The module will also include supervisory monitoring and alerts, along
with the ability to distinguish between customer and agent emotion. “Real-time
feedback and simplicity are the two main things missing from today’s customer
feedback methods,” said Interactive Intelligence founder and CEO, Dr. Donald E.
Brown. “By offering our Interaction Feedback™ and real-time speech
analytics products as part of our all-in-one communications software suite, we
give organizations the most cost-effective and simple way to proactively
address customer issues before they escalate. With discussions of improving the
customer experience now taking place at the board level, our alternative to
costly and complex standalone feedback management products has major
significance that extends beyond the contact center into the entire
enterprise.” The
Interactive Intelligence Interaction Feedback™ and real-time speech
analytics products are targeted at mid-size to large
contact centers and enterprises. They will be sold through the company’s
channel of more than 300 resellers worldwide. Interaction
Feedback™ is planned for
general availability in Q3 2008. The Interactive Intelligence real-time
speech analytics software module is part of the company’s customer feedback
management roadmap. About Interactive Intelligence Interactive Intelligence Inc. (Nasdaq: ININ) is a global provider
of unified business communications solutions for contact center automation,
enterprise IP telephony, and enterprise messaging. The company was founded in
1994 and has more than 3,000 customers worldwide. Interactive Intelligence is
among the top 500 global software and services suppliers, and is ranked among
the top 200 North American networking vendors. The company employs
approximately 600 people and is headquartered in ********************************* Leviton Tops Patent Board’s Scorecard for Third Consecutive Quarter Rated # 1 in Brand
Preference by Builders and Electrical Contractors, Leviton Maintains Dominant
Position in Tech Strength and Industry Impact Leviton
Manufacturing Company, “Our
exceptionally high ranking in the areas of tech strength and industry impact is
evidence of our leadership in pioneering new technologies that set the
benchmark in our industry,” said Donald J. Hendler, President and CEO of
Leviton. “It is a tribute to our staff of talented engineers that we stand at
the forefront of progress and innovation in the marketplace. Given the very
high profile of those industry giants and the relative size of their patent
portfolios, all of us at Leviton could not be more pleased.” The 13-week
rolling average of manufacturers of Industrial Components & Fixtures was
published in the April 22nd issue of The Wall Street Journal. It positions
Leviton highly favorably when compared to companies of significantly greater
size, market capitalization and size of their patent portfolio. Leviton’s
rating in the Tech Strength category placed it nearly 40 points ahead of
General Electric, 65 points ahead of the Legrand Group, 90 points ahead of
Thomas & Betts and 100 points ahead of Lutron Electronics. The Patent
Board’s Scorecard rates corporate innovation across 17 industries and combines
more than 50 industry-standard indicators to arrive at measures of patent
portfolio quality, technological strength and breadth of impact. The aggregate
score received by a company determines its ranking. The
Scorecard criteria includes measures of a company’s technology strength,
industry impact, patents granted, science strength, research intensity and
innovation cycle time. Founded in
1906 at the dawn of the electrical era, Leviton manufactures over 25,000
different products and is ********************************* Leviton Introduces Expanded Line of Cable Management Leviton
Network Solutions, a leading manufacturer of voice and data equipment and a
division of Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc., now offers an expanded line of
Velcro® Brand Fasteners designed for cable management. The broad line of
products, including Bulk Rolls, Compression Straps, Soft-Cinch Rolls and
Bulk-Packaged Wraps, secures and organizes copper and fiber cables in a variety
of applications. Leviton
recommends Velcro Brand Fastener products for all low voltage multimedia
systems. The reusable solution safely secures cables without kinking or
crimping and facilitates quick moves, adds and changes. All
products in the Velcro Brand line are available in black, blue, orange and
yellow. Velcro Wraps in bulk rolls and Tie Wraps in three standard lengths are
also available with plenum rating indicated by the color maroon. Search
“Velcro” at www.leviton.com and explore
the full line today. About
Leviton Network Solutions Leviton
Network Solutions was created 20 years ago to meet the growing need for
telecommunications and high-speed data technologies. Today, the division is
dedicated to producing complete system solutions for network infrastructure,
from the backbone to the workstation, for the enterprise, data center, service
provider, and residential markets. Incorporating fiber and copper innovations
to create the best and most integrated network possible, Leviton Network
Solutions offers connectors, cabling assemblies, panels, wall plates and
workstation solutions, cable management, and home technology equipment for
commercial and residential uses. www.leviton.com
********************************* Megladon Announces New Product Release of E2000 HLC® Fiber Optic Patch Cords Megladon’s
cutting edge patch cord technology provides mating surface durability and low
loss. Megladon
Manufacturing Group, LTD announced the release of its singlemode and multimode
E2000 patch cords utilizing HLC technology. Applying the HLC process to E2000
connectors provides a mating surface that is dust and scratch resistant with
signal losses well below industry standards. The result is one of the most
reliable, long lasting, and efficient patch cords to serve the global market. “Our
customers realize fiber optic patch cords are not a commodity. They are just as
critical as the application hardware and software,” stated John M. Culbert,
President of Megladon. “Reliable networks require reliable patch cords.” He
continued: “Our product has proven
itself in numerous applications including a Fortune 20 solution. We now feel it
is time to adapt this value proposition to a wider variety of products and
serve additional markets.” The
emphasis of solving intermittent network failures caused by using sub-standard
patch cords was the reason for creating Megladon’s HLC technology more than 7
years ago. It’s dust and scratch resistant durability provides an extended life
span that lowers overall cost of replacement for network managers and
companies. Its ease of install and compatibility with all existing connectors
make it the only choice for replacement and newly engineered environments. Now
proven in a Tier 1 ILEC, Megladon’s solution looks to soon become the benchmark
product for network installers and network applications worldwide. ********************************* Come and See Mike Holt Live Mike is
nationally recognized as one of Now is your
chance to meet Mike in person and experience one of his live seminars. Get your
book autographed and picture taken with Mike and find out why his seminars are
so popular. Mike’s Upcoming Seminars: July
30 – 31: Instructor Conference August
1: Business Management, Workplace Safety, Workers’ Comp. |