ITEXPO Speaker: More Broadband in More Places

By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor

Communications trends are truly what drives the intensity of the industry, and the most significant trend today, according to Peter Radizeski, chief revenue officer at RAD-INFO (News - Alert), Inc., is managed services as a lack of in-house talent is on the rise. As for the one product or service most needed in the market – aside from common sense – Radizeski points to more broadband. Radizeski recently participated in a TMCnet interview in anticipation of the upcoming IPEXPO West 2010 event. As for his view on unified communications going mainstream, Radizeski says it depends on your definition of UC.

As for the winner in the smartphone/tablet wars, Radizeski points to a split between Android (News - Alert), BlackBerry and Apple in the smartphone space. As for tablets, he has no idea. He doesn’t believe that social media has really changed how he communicates with customers and he believes mobile video chat and conferencing will truly be a niche market. As for wireless networking replacing wired environments, Radizeski noted that security demands wired. When asked about the net neutrality debate, Radizeski said he believes in structural separation.

As for the most overhyped technology today, Radizeski pointed to the cloud, UC and HD. At this year’s ITEXPO West, Radizeski will speak about driving revenue, the importance of bundling, upselling SIP trunking and so much more. Attendees will take away nuggets to boost marketing and sales, as well as how to change thinking in an all-IP world. As for his bold prediction for 2011, Radizeski anticipates rural areas with better broadband than metro areas. The full conversation follows:

What is the most significant trend in communications today? Why?

Managed services – due to a lack of in-house talent or personnel, managed services (Cloud, virtualization, Hosted PBX, Google Apps, Security, etc.) is on the rise. For small and medium businesses, the job of most service providers is to take away the pain of technology so that the business can enjoy the benefits of the tech without the pain.

What is the one product or service the market is most in need of?

Common sense. Heh! Heh! Honestly though, we need more broadband. I’m tired of hearing about the speeds – 3G, 4G, 40MB, blah, blah – that are just plain theoretical marketing spin. I want the FTC (News - Alert) to hold the carriers to the advertised speeds. No more hiding behind “best effort” or “up to”. 

When will unified communications go mainstream?

Depends on how you define UC. Do I think we will be the Jetsons with video conferencing in every home or tele-presence? Not for at least 5 or more years. There’s not enough pipe and not enough demand as people are hunkered down waiting for the Doom & Gloom from the 24-hour news cycle.

Who will win the smartphone wars? Tablet wars?

It will be a split with Android, Blackberry and Apple (News - Alert).

Tablet? No idea.

Has social media changed how you communicate with customers?

Not really. Very few have moved to Twitter and I don’t like using Facebook (News - Alert) for business. But I do get some contact through LinkedIn. It has changed how I market though.

What are your thoughts on the viability of mobile video chat or conferencing?

How? I can barely do a Google search or get a Facebook update on my Blackberry at times. How would I watch TV or video chat on a 3 inch screen? And why would I? Niche market.

Some have suggested wireless networking will soon replace wired networks in the enterprise.  Do you agree? Why or why not?

50/50. Security demands wired.

What do you think of the net neutrality debate?

I believe in structural separation. I believe that Wall Street is destroying our economy with its short-term thinking. Broadband is a utility as we move to an economy of freelancers. How will one work without reliable broadband in 2 or 3 years? When the PSTN goes away in 5 years (according to AT&T), how do I insure that my Hosted PBX service from a third-party will work reliably without interference? Innovation requires that the Internet remain neutral and open. Our economic growth demands that. 

What is the most overhyped technology in your opinion?

So many: Cloud, UC, HD

You are speaking at ITEXPO West 2010.  What is your session about?

Drive Revenue, Increase Profit Margins, Reduce Costs, and Build Your Subscriber Base(SP-07)

The Importance of Bundling: Creating Stickiness(SP-12)

Upselling SIP Trunking at CVX

Net-Heads vs. Bell-Heads at CVX

What will attendees take away from your session?

As you can tell the first 3 sessions are about marketing and sales. Attendees will hear about ways to design their offering to the marketplace in a way that differentiates them from the crowd. 

Net-Head vs. Bell-Head is the about the way thinking has to change in telecom as we move to an all-IP world.  

Please make a bold technology prediction for 2011.

With all the Broadband Stimulus awards, by the end of 2011, some rural areas will have better broadband than metro areas. For example, Chattanooga, TN and Wilson, NC.

That’s probably not bold enough. Boxee box, Google TV, Apple TV, Samsung TVs with widgets and OTT video content will start to make cable companies and telco TV execs nervous as revenue on premium declines.

To find out more about Peter Radizeski and RAD-INFO, visit the company at ITEXPO West 2010. To be held Oct. 4 to 6 in Los Angeles, ITEXPO is the world’s premier IP communications event. Peter is speaking during “Drive Revenue, Increase Profit Margins, Reduce Costs, and Build Your Subscriber Base” and “The Importance of Bundling: Creating Stickiness.” Don’t wait. Register now.

(source: http://unified-communications.tmcnet.com/topics/hosted-voip/articles/103485-itexpo-speaker-more-broadband-more-places.htm)