People to People International Selects Kansas City IT Company MDL Technology to Solve IT Challenges
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
By: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
KANSAS CITY, MO–(Marketwire – Feb 7, 2012) – Technology may solve the world’s problems someday — which might be why People to People International (PTPI) selected MDL Technology, LLC, a Kansas City-based managed services company, to fix its database management problems.
Liz Wegman, director of public relations and development for PTPI, said the organization believes in connecting people of different countries and cultures, and provides the opportunities to do so. “PTPI strives to continue to provide ways for people to learn from one another and do their part to make the world a better place. MDL Technology is now part of assisting PTPI to reach those goals via the customer relationship management (CRM) system it updated for the organization. MDL Technology worked hard to understand our organization and how we use CRM. They were very responsive when issues came up and provided solutions to problems in a timely manner. The company’s team cares a lot about their clients and it shows in their work,” said Wegman.
MDL Technology, LLC, a Microsoft partner, solved technological challenges that the humanitarian organization faced, updated PTPI’s Microsoft Dynamics CRM system and cleansed the database for PTPI. The CRM system improved the tracking and management of PTPI’s members, donors, travelers and event participants.
T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology, said it’s been an honor to work with PTPI. “We were able to provide the support and tools needed in order to provide an instant technological integration for PTPI, along with providing a streamlined business process. We want to continue to build a CRM system for their team to manage long-term and develop their relationships to the community,” said Bloom.
MDL Technology, LLC is a Kansas City IT company that specializes in worry-free computer support by providing solutions for around-the-clock network monitoring, hosting, data recovery, off site backup security and much more (http://www.mdltechnology.com). Follow us on Twitter @mdltech or “Like” us on Facebook.
Keep Your Data Secure in 2012 With Kansas City IT Company, MDL Technology’s Offsite Backup
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology
Did you know that computer storage costs literally pennies per Giga-Byte? So there’s no reason to gamble with your data storage and backup. MDL Technology, LLC offers its clients a cost-effective and secure way to keep tabs on your data.
With offsite backup, you can rest assured knowing that we’ve got your back no matter what happens. And since we’re located at 1102 Grand, the Carrier Hotel – Colocation and Internet Hub in Kansas City, we have quick access to those servers our clients ask us to host.
Advantages of Offsite Backup
1. No initial hardware or software costs
2. Immediate support for hardware problems
3. Eliminates hardware and software obsolescence
4. Peace of mind that comes from a secure, environmentally controlled storage
5. Fast data recovery should you experience a computer emergency
We offer data storage options and services like:
1. Offsite backup
2. Data storage solutions
3. Backup testing to ensure properly functioning data storage
4. On-site backup strategies using the latest technologies
5. Test restores
Visit www.mdltechnology.com to see how else MDL Technology can serve your IT needs. Make sure you also join the mailing list to receive our e-newsletters to guarantee you stay updated on all of the latest happenings at MDL Technology, LLC!
MDL Technology, LLC is a Kansas City IT company that specializes in worry-free computer support by providing solutions for around-the-clock network monitoring, hosting, data recovery, off site backup security and much more. MDL Technology, LLC is dedicated to helping businesses place time back on their side with quick and easy IT solutions. “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @mdltech.
Education Technology to Increase According to IT Directors: Schools Expected to Have Six Students Per iPad in Next Five Years
Friday, November 4th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology, LLC.
Mobile devices are becoming part of the standard classroom environment. If we continue to educate students on newer technology, classrooms will need to enhance their IT budget, support and even provide newer technologies. Here is an article from AppleInsider.com, written by Neil Hughes, that reviews IT directors’ thoughts on increased technology to educate.
Schools expect to have more iPads than computers in next 5 years
A new survey of technology directors in U.S. school districts found that all of them are testing or deploying the iPad in schools, and they expect tablets to outnumber computers in the next five years.
Analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray revealed the results of the small survey of 25 educational technology directors at a conference on the integration of technology in the classroom. The poll found that all of them were utilizing Apple’s iPad in schools, while none were testing or deploying Android-based tablets.
“While this may be expected due to limited availability of Android tablets early in the tablet cycle, we also see it as evidence of Apple’s first mover advantage,” Munster said. “We also see a trend in education (which is mirrored in the enterprise) that familiarity with Apple devices among students (or employees) is causing a demand pull within institutions to also provide Apple devices.”
IT directors who spoke with Piper Jaffray indicated that within the next five years, they expect to have more tablets per student than they currently have computers. And since the iPad represents 100 percent of tablets seen in schools, Munster said the word “tablet” might as well be synonymous with “iPad.”
He noted that Ron Johnson, Apple’s outgoing head of retail operations, recently indicated that the current crop of students may be “the last generation with backpacks,” as students use iPads to replace their books. The 25 technology decision makers in education indicated that devices like the iPad allow for individualized learning better than a traditional computer.
Apple’s iPhone 4S Becomes Best-Selling iPhone Ever: 4 Million Sold During First Week
Thursday, October 20th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology, LLC.
Apple introduced the world to the original iPhone in 2007 and since then people have been scrambling to get the latest and greatest versions of the smartphone. So is it surprising that in less than a week, Apple’s iPhone 4S has become Apple’s best-selling iPhone ever? Here is an article from www.pcmag.com about how the 4 million iPhone 4Ses have made Apple history.
How the iPhone 4S Became Apple’s Best-Selling iPhone Ever
Apple’s iPhone 4S has been unleashed, and it’s already a bona fide hit. We all knew this was going to happen (it’s an iPhone for crying out loud), but the magnitude of the success is unexpected, especially to those who were hoping for a full-fledged, completely redesigned iPhone 5.
Since its launch at 8 a.m. Friday, Apple has sold 4 million iPhone 4Ses (including preorders). That’s more than double the 1.7 million iPhone 4s Apple sold during the its first weekend that phone was available last year. The 95,000 Kindle Fires that Amazon is said to have sold on the first day of preorders looks like a pathetic drop in the bucket when put up against the iPhone 4S. Apple’s Phil Schiller is already calling it the best-selling phone ever, and he’s probably right.
Clearly, demand for the iPhone 4S is extremely high. But why? At launch, more than a few people called it a letdown (including me), since the form factor is almost identical to the iPhone 4, and many of the rumored features—like a bigger screen, NFC, and a tapered design—failed to appear. The new AT&T model doesn’t even have the HSPA+ 21 connection that was predicted.
Call me crazy, but I don’t think everybody’s running for the iPhone 4S because they want to get to know Siri, the much-buzzed-about voice-control app. As with most complicated events, the causes aren’t as simple as anyone one thing. Here’s how the iPhone 4S became one of the fastest-selling pieces of technology in history:
Carriers Matter: For the first time, an iPhone launched on no less than three U.S. carriers. Importantly, it was a new iPhone, with AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint all getting it at the same time. When Verizon iPhone 4 appeared earlier this year, it came mid-cycle, blunting its impact since everyone interested in buying one knew they could get something better if they just waited a little longer. Now that time has come, and the dam’s been burst. Getting the iPhone at the beginning of the product cycle is key to anyone who cares about upgrading year over year, and for the first time they can do it without shackling themselves to AT&T.
On top of that, we have the new species of Sprint iPhone. Sprint may be the third-tier carrier in the U.S., but it still has 52 million customers, and it’s the only carrier to offer true unlimited data for phones (we’ll see how long that lasts now that it has the iPhone, however). Sprint also came in first place when we asked readers which carrier they were choosing for the iPhone 4S. It’s pretty clear that Sprint’s contribution to those numbers was significant.
InformationWeek.com Reviews Mobile App Development for SMBs: 98 Billion Mobile Apps by 2015
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology, LLC.
Mobile app development has played a critical role in how companies reach out and connect with consumers. A recent study by Berg Insight estimated that by the end of 2015, there will be 98 billion mobile apps available, so making an app that stands out is a necessity, especially for small to midsize businesses (SMBs). Here is an article from InformationWeek.com that provides SMBs with tips on entering the mobile app development industry.
5 Mobile App Development Tips For SMBs
The apparently insatiable appetite for mobile apps presents small and midsize businesses (SMBs) with a big opportunity to connect with prospects and customers. But it’s far from an if-you-build-it-they-will-come proposition.
If you’re developing an app for smartphones and tablets, your potential audience is certainly huge. The world will have downloaded 98 billion mobile apps by the end of 2015, according to a recent estimate by telecom researcher Berg Insight. So how will your app stand out?
I turned to Appsbar founder Scott Hirsch for his thoughts on what goes into a good app. Appsbar is a free Web-based tool that enables SMBs to create mobile apps with no development know-how and publish them on the major marketplaces. Since its April launch, the service has signed up 35,000 users and launched 5,000 apps. Here is his advice for SMBs taking the app plunge for the first time–a leap he said should generate organizational excitement rather than fear.
1. Give it away. Unless you’re actually in the mobile development business, give your apps away for free. Treat them as a way to augment your business model rather than a business model itself.
“If you want to make the next Angry Birds or some unbelievable app that can coach a surgeon through brain surgery–absolutely, that should be charged for,” Hirsch said in an interview. “If you’re like most [companies] and you’re just looking to enhance your business and get into this app revolution, you’re better off not charging.”
2. Think beyond marketing. Marketing might be the most obvious business case to offer an app, but it’s far from the only one. Hirsch recommends SMBs consider functions such as market research, customer service, and customer relationship management (CRM), too. He also mentioned forms–as in mobile versions of the various forms that businesses use online or on paper–as a growing use case.
“Utilize it to its fullest,” Hirsch said, adding that SMBs should consider their particular business and specific goals and then develop an app strategy that actually supports those goals.
3. Get the word out. Just like websites, apps don’t just magically find an audience. They need to be marketed like any other customer-facing aspect of your business. This could be as simple as a sign in a physical retail location, links from an email or your website, or a mention at the end of a TV or radio spot.
“Apps are cool, apps are new, apps are fun,” Hirsch said. “At this point, it’s a very easy transition to get people to use your app–it’s just a matter of letting them know it’s available.”
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook Reviews the New iPhone 4S
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology, LLC.
Yesterday, Apple’s Tim Cook took the stage for his first product launch since he was named CEO. The Apple’s Let’s Talk iPhone event brought in much anticipated news of the new iPhone 4S. I wanted to share an article from Mashable.com about the history of the iPhone in lieu of the launch.
iPhone History: The Story So Far [INFOGRAPHIC]
In a scant few hours now, we’ll dive into chapter five in one of the most compelling stories of our digital-dominated era: The Life And Times of the iPhone. So for those of you who haven’t been paying attention, and even those of you who have (hands up if you remember the ROKR iTunes phone), here’s a recap — courtesy of Thinglink, a startup that makes interactive photos and ads.
Hover over the infographic to reveal pictures, videos and links from iPhone history. (The launch date of each phone is at the top of its screen.) Take note of the chips used in each iteration, and find out more about the real genius behind the iPhone’s design. Wax nostalgic in the comments about your favorite moments. And get ready for a whole new chapter Tuesday morning, whether it’s the iPhone 5, the 4S or both.
United States Ranks #1 in Information Technology:Leads Categories for Research and Development, Human Capital & Support for IT Industry Development
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL, LLC.
The United States has always prided itself on being a leader in information technology. According to a study done by the Business Software Alliance and the Economist Intelligence Unit, the United States once again ranked number one for IT, making it the world’s most competitive nation. Here is an article from Businessweek.com on the study and the United States’ information technology position.
U.S. Holds Spot as Most Competitive Country for Technology
The U.S. remains the world’s most competitive nation for information technology companies, while the country’s IT infrastructure still ranks behind other nations, according to a study.
“Countries that have seen continued investment in key competitiveness enablers such as the R&D environment, talent and skills are notable gainers” in the global comparison, according to a study released today by the Washington-based Business Software Alliance and the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research unit of The Economist magazine.
Countries at the top of the list had “sustained investment” in IT from industry and their national governments during “the leanest financial times IT producers have known in a decade, and for many governments in at least a generation,” according to the study, which is conducted every two years.
With an overall score of 80.5 out of 100, the U.S. placed 12.5 points ahead of second-ranked Finland, to maintain the top spot it held in 2009. Singapore, Sweden and the U.K. rounded out the top five.
The U.S. led in three of the five categories, including research and development environment; human capital such as the education system’s capacity to train technologists; and support for IT industry development, which includes government policies that support the technology sector as a whole, rather than specific technologies.
White House Aimes at Using Innovative Technologies to Transform Education in the United States with Digital Promise
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
Posted by T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Tech, LLC.
Merging technology into education has become a hot topic as of late, with many people discussing the pro’s and con’s of the matter. This article from CIO.com discusses Digital Promise, the new nonprofit orginization created by the government in collaboration with private breakthrough technologies to transform and improve students’ education.
White House Targets Innovative Education Technologies
Digital Promise, a collaboration between the government and the private sector, will identify breakthrough technologies to improve student performance.
The White House has formed a nonprofit organization aimed at creating innovative learning technologies to transform education in the United States.
The National Center for Research in Advanced Information and Digital Technologies, aka Digital Promise, will engage exclusively in research and development (R&D) to use the most advanced technology to improve learning at all educational levels, according to the organization’s website.
The organization’s ultimate goal is to equip American students better to compete in the global economy, already a key focus of the Obama administration through the Educate to Innovate Campaign. That campaign–also a partnership between the federal government and private sector– is specifically aimed at increasing the competitiveness of American students in science and math.
“If America is going to continue to succeed in the global economy, it is vital that we transform the use of educational technology,” said U.S. secretary of education Arne Duncan in a White House blog post. “With technology, we can more rapidly increase opportunities for excellence and equity, as well as provide a world-class education for America’s students. And that’s a promise we need to keep.”
Social Customer Relationship Management Spending to Increase: CRM Market to Reach $1 Billion by 2012
Friday, September 16th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Tech, LLC
Customer relationship management (CRM) has and always will be a focus for the majority of businesses, and now its become even more important with the emergence of social media. This article from CIO.com explains how CRM will become more of a priority as it becomes integrated with social media.
Social CRM spend set to surge
Business-to-business spending on social CRM is growing fast
The worldwide social customer relationship management (CRM) market is forecast to reach over $US1 billion in revenue by year-end 2012, up from $US625 million in 2010.
According to Gartner analysts, spending on social software for marketing, customer service and sales increased by 40 per cent in 2010, but social CRM remained less than 5 per cent of the total CRM application market.
“Spending on business-to-business CRM use is growing fast and will account for 30 per cent of total CRM spending by 2015,” said Gartner research director, Adam Sarner.
“The market will continue its rapid consolidation throughout 2011.
“Until recently, many companies have treated social CRM as a series of experiments and tactical purchases. Few have a social CRM policy or established metrics to measure its effect on hard business results. Different departments, employees and managers implement different types of applications for different purposes.”
Gartner said research and development in social CRM will centre on five main areas: Deeper integration with traditional CRM processes; tools to measure ROI; deeper integration with social network services — especially Facebook and Twitter; increased use of analytics; and new use cases for CRM.
MDL Technology, LLC Reviews: 10 New Technologies That Will Impact Education
Friday, September 9th, 2011
Posted by: T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology, LLC
Technology has changed the way students of all ages have gathered and shared information, so it is important for educators and parents alike to be familiar with these new methods. Here is an article from www.emergingedtech.com about 10 new technologies that educators should be aware of.
10 Internet Technologies Educators Should Be Informed About – 2011 Update
It’s been nearly two and half years since the publication of the first “10 internet technologies that educators should be informed about” article on this site and given the fast paced evolution of technology it’s time for an update. The start of new school year is the perfect time to refresh this list!
Below you will find updated information for 5 of the technologies from the original posting, and 5 new technologies that have earned their rightful place in the list (displacing 5 other types of tech, that while still worthy, are not quite as relevant today, IMHO). This is not intended to be a definitive listing, but rather an informed resource that provides insights and raises awareness. Lots of links to example apps and articles have been provided, so readers can learn more about each application category.
1. Video and Podcasting Resources – One of the most widely adopted internet technologies for use in instructional settings is video streaming. In addition to the ubiquitous YouTube, there are several education-specific video hosting sites, including TeacherTube, EduTube, and SchoolTube. There is an abundance of lectures, how-to videos, and similar materials available on the web. The Khan Academy is one such resource that has garnered a lot of press, but it’s just one of many web-based free lecture and tutoring resources available today. Check out “A Dozen Great Free Online Video Lecture Sites” for a wide selection of lecture content, and our Tutoring Category for more tutoring resources. Podcasting has also been used to provide similar offerings of audio materials through popular sites like iTunes U (learn more about Podcasting here).
2. Digital Presentation Tools – There are dozens of tools on the Internet that can be used to create and share presentations. This summer’s post, “8 Great Free Digital Presentation Tools For Teachers To Try This Summer” provides a good starter set of tools to try if you wish to learn more about these fun applications. These tools can be used to support classroom teaching or distance learning, and provide engaging ways for students to create and deliver reports and presentations.