Polycom, the venerable and long established leader in room based speakerphones, is now 25 years old. Yesterday they announced a series of new devices to celebrate. Given the changing landscape and workplace environments, Polycom is changing for the times. Their new Trio line updates the classic three legged speakerphone while the new VoxBox takes aim … Read more
The other day I was hunting around for what is happening in VoIP. VoIP, which I built this blog and an agency on is like motor oil in a car. But 14 years ago, VoIP was like TESLA and electric cars. You knew it was there but it was an uphill battle. Today, VoIP is … Read more
Over the weekend at the behest of Santa Ynez tasting room queen Maeapple Chaney (ex Tercero) who has been a friend for many years, I had two different tastings with Refugio Ranch. The first round was in their very casual, comfortable and convenient tasting room as one enters Los Olivos. There's so much parking there … Read more
Mitel bought ShoerTel yesterday. I looked around for news coverage of it, and beyond the news announcement being largely rewritten, only two insightful pieces came out. The best was from a sales channel partner of both, Matrix, and the other came from analyst Zeus Kerravala. Given I wasn't briefed by either company, I'll reserve my … Read more
The Guardian UK ran a story this morning about the expected smaller grape harvest across France this year. To me, it's not a big surprise as all the time I was in Bandol, the Rhone and the Roussillion this past July (2017) all I was hearing was how dry the regions were getting, how stressed … Read more
Today, I'll be on the ClueCon Weekly starting at 10 AM PDT. You can watch it via YouTube or from ClueCon's Facebook Page. Streaming Media, AT IT'S FINEST!!
From the hilltop town of Suzette, just north of Beaumes de Venise come a wonderful winery, Saint Amant. I've been enjoying their wines for a few years now, and really became a fan after a weekday visit on my way to Chene Bleu this past April. Last night I popped the cork on the 2014 Grangeneuve which … Read more
A dear friend came up from San Diego for some wine related business yesterday and was all excited about tasting a bottle of Washington State wine made by Charles Smith and his K Vintners project. Smith, who is as as outgoing as Randall Grahm, is a true wine personality on every level. Much like the … Read more
Last Wednesday, I broke the news that Sonus and Genband are getting hitched. Today the announcement came out to make it official. Why does this feel so much like the Nokia-Siemens deal to me? Why is this feeling like some jobs are going to be lost? Why most of all does this feel like customers … Read more
If there's a region or two in the Northern Rhone that is under appreciated it's either Crozes-Hermitage or St. Joseph. Both are capable of producing incredibly age worthy reds from Syrah, and mind blowing whites from Marsanne and Roussanne, but the reds are overshadowed by the likes of Cornas, Cote-Rotie and Hermitage, while the whites … Read more
