http://www.nsipartners.com/blog Marketing & Technology News Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:46:23 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Despite advances in smartphones and SMS, collaborative workspace and desktop-sharing applications, and social networking, there is still no replacement for instant-on text chat via an IM client for our dispersed workforce at NSI Partners, Inc. There are many options in the landscape today for Intant Messaging clients.  Ranging from traditional options ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/08/instant-communications-in-the-dispersed-workforce We always stress to clients that it pays to listen to their customers.  But when suddenly it paid to speak out as a customer, I have to admit I was taken aback by such great "listening." Tonight I received a 10pm response to a product review I had posted a few ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/07/it-can-pay-to-talk-%e2%80%93-when-the-company-is-listening In this post, I'd like to talk about Microsoft SharePoint Online, and why we're using it.  There are literally dozens of services, programs, and methods of storing and sharing files and documents in today's business environment.  From sharing out folders on a workgroup, server, or domain inside a local area ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/06/sharepoint-online-review In the world of remote, geographically disperse workforces, harnessing the power of the internet for staff and team meetings and collaborations has never been more important.  Here at NSI Partners we have been testing and using various online solutions for meeting and collaborating for several years now.  There are advantages ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/05/online-meetings-and-collaborations In today's connected world, there are more tools than ever to enable remote communication with PCs over the web.  In the realm of technical services that NSI Partners provides, remote PC management is one of the most cost-effective TechConnect services for customers.  Enabling the technical team here to reach out ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/05/remote-pc-management As the primary IT Manager for NSI Partners, I am always looking for new ways to use technology to best serve the company's communication and collaboration needs.  Cloud computing is on the rise, and despite some limitations contains a very viable set of technology options for the SMB market.  The ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/04/smb-cloud-computing-with-microsoft-online-services NSI ships through UPS often and usually doesn't have a problem. But when last week's critical hard-drive shipment was delayed three days due to a storm, it cost some money and, worse, caused some frustration. On the money side, we had a computer down, and technical services standing by, awaiting the shipment. The website and ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/04/avoid-a-critical-csr-information-gap-like-the-one-ups-fell-into I'm right now at UBM's Everything Channel Virtual Show on Data Security http://is.gd/aNv8U, while sitting at my desk. It's very impressive with an exhibit hall, networking lounge and well done presentations. I wish I could spend more time with it, but I have a client onsite that's going to cut ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/03/my-first-virtual-show-as-an-avatar [caption id="attachment_224" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="(Photo credit: Telegraph Media Group)"][/caption] Google's Buzz seems to be catching on. We are thinking about including it as part of some social-media marketing initiatives, but how should organizations use Google Buzz in ways that they're not already using Facebook and Twitter? It appears to be yet ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/02/google-buzz-questions [caption id="attachment_221" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="(Photo credit: Xobni)"][/caption] Thanks to Jeff Price at BOC International, who sent me a LinkedIn connection invitation via a new Outlook plugin called Xobni, I have hope of "taking back my inbox." This is according to both Xobni's literature and reviews like CNet's. I had never heard of ... http://www.nsipartners.com/blog/2010/02/downloaded-xobni-a-very-promising-outlook-plugin