Happy Networking

Back in Fall 1997, I was approached by TMC Publications to write a monthly column in CTI (News - Alert) Magazine. I immediately accepted, and then was asked what I was going to write about for the next 6 months – a not insignificant challenge. I called the column “Inside Networking”, and little did I know that it would run for 132 issues, first in CTI Magazine, then in Communications Solutions magazine and most recently in Internet Telephony (News - Alert). It’s been a great experience, though now it’s time to move on (my blog at blog.tmcnet.com/the-hyperconnected-enterprise continues).

Over the years, I have covered many topics, ranging from converged networking, security, optical and wireless to business aspects. The latter should never be overlooked. One of my favorite photographs is that of a modern suspension bridge, one of several I saw while going down the Yangtze River. What was striking is that the bridge stops at the edge of a mountain…. There is no road!. The message is clear: technology, no matter how wonderful, has to take you where you want to go. Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you should.

Titles are always fun. For example, there was “The Sensei’s Guide to Multiservice IP”, sensei being a title of respect, “master” if you like. Then there was “The Webplex: The Result Of Web Site/Call Center Unification”. While “webplex” wasn’t picked up by others, this certainly continues to be a hot topic today. You may have read about Lenovo (News - Alert)’s elounge, that creates a virtual storefront using technology from Nortel, known as web.alive.

In October 2006, I was recognized by TMC (News - Alert) Publications as one of the top 100 Voices in IP Communications. It was an honor to share this distinction with people such as Michael Powell, a past FCC chairman ; Vint Cerf, a long time acquaintance and inventor of TCP/IP; and Phil Edholm, the CTO of Nortel (News - Alert) Enterprise.

Back in December 2001 I wrote: “We have seen dramatic ups and downs. The good news is that the network has become an intrinsic part of virtually every business, with the demand for networking still as strong as ever.”

I can echo this same thought today. Happy networking, and good health to all my readers. IT

Tony retires on April 10th 2009, after 37 years with Nortel. He will, however, continue to write “The Hyperconnected Enterprise” blog.

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