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Microsoft Outlook and the inside collaboration app conundrumCisco, Collaboration, Collaboration software, Collaboration tools, Email, Messaging, Microsoft, Microsoft Outlook, Social collaboration
Collaboration applications are the hot thing right now in unified communications.
The big collaboration apps seemingly do it all. They offer an easy-to-use, consistent and persistent workspace that features video conferencing, instant messaging, file sharing, screen sharing and mobility, among other things. The idea is for co-workers to live in these spaces to get work done together.
But what's missing? Email. Namely, the ability to collaborate outside your company is lacking.
We recently chatted with Irwin Lazar, vice president and service director at Nemertes Research, to try to make sense of this collaboration craze. Among his many good points, one in particular stood out: Microsoft Outlook, the simple communications tool that the majority of workers use religiously every day, is a key cog in this collaboration clamor.
"For Cisco, they have to find some way of competing on a broader scale with Microsoft than just in the voice and video market," Lazar said. "People spend a lot of time in Outlook. And Cisco, for years now, is saying, 'How do we get people out of Outlook and into something else?' "
If users live in Outlook, that means they have Microsoft licenses, which also gives them access to other capabilities like voice, desktop video and Web conferencing. So the process becomes a natural progression into the Microsoft suite, Lazar said, which steers users away from Cisco collaboration tools.
Cisco products have plug-ins for Outlook. And Cisco Jabber, one of the company's collaboration tools, recently added text messaging outside the company network. But as a universal collaboration tool, especially outside your organization, email is still persevering.
Smaller apps' big influence
In response to newer companies flooding the collaboration market with smaller apps, Cisco recently unveiled Spark, while Microsoft retooled Lync as Skype for Business and introduced Groups, another collaboration tool that includes an inbox, calendaring, file sharing and quick messaging.
Lazar does think smaller collaboration apps, like Slack and Glip, can challenge the larger incumbent vendors.
"I think they are competitive," he said, "and that's why Cisco spent a lot of time, effort and money to build Spark because they're trying to find some way to finally replace Outlook as the thing that people spend most of their day living in." (Again, it comes back to Outlook.) "I do think the [new] tools have a lot of potential to severely disrupt the market."
Fast forward two years from now and Cisco Spark will probably replace Cisco Jabber, Lazar added.
Alan Lepofsky, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research, agreed that "a new lightweight breed of real-time communications" is challenging big vendors. At the same time, he said, persistent chat is making a huge comeback — from its late '90s popularity — with tools like Slack, Glip, HipChat, Convo, Flowdock and others.
Lepofsky said with all the collaboration offerings, both big and small, some of the questions customers need to ask is: Do you want presence, chat and video conferencing as part of an integrated vendor suite, or do you want to go with a smaller vendor and hope it integrates with the rest of your enterprise software?
The bottom line: The market is indeed muddled as users wade through many options. But, like with most technology, find what suits you.
YouTube influences video content management in the enterpriseUnified Communications, Video, YouTube
Enterprises looking to deploy a video content management system should take a page out of YouTube's book.
While video content management allows organizations to store videos, create content and interact with content, employees expect a video management system to have the easy accessibility of YouTube.
In a recent Polycom webinar on video content management, Aragon Research Lead Analyst David Mario Smith discussed what he called the "YouTube effect" in the enterprise.
He said YouTube is "starting to creep into the enterprise" as employees are searching the site for tutorials and how-to videos. Enterprises can take advantage of this trend with a video content management system that makes it easy to store and access content and lets employees engage and create content.
But organizations shouldn't just use video for video's sake, they need to put video where it matters to achieve specific business goals, Smith said.
Beyond mimicking YouTube's easy accessibility, enterprises should look to video content management features like the ability to broadcast and record a livestream and extend to mobile devices. Enterprises also should determine the level of interactivity they want employees to have — whether it's the ability to comment on a video or provide them access to experts featured in a video.
Analytics is another important feature of video content management. With analytics, enterprises can understand how well a video is performing, how their employees are interacting with video content and how video is impacting business goals.
In the webinar, Cara Daly, senior products manager at Polycom, outlined four use cases that could benefit from video content management.
- Corporate communications: Create a better connected organization
- Provide employees easier access to the organization's brand
- Publish and syndicate videos easily — from polished campaign videos to employee-generated content
- Push and prioritize mission-critical content or highlight featured content
- Training departments: Develop talent without disrupting day-to-day workflows or being constrained by a budget
- Capture instructor presentations, slides and Q&A sessions
- Expand access to training course inventory
- Asynchronous training improves work/life balance
- Lines of Business: Foster innovation and reduce time-to-market through the collection and management of knowledge
- Share best practices and document complex tasks
- Boost post-meeting productivity
- Overcome scheduling and time-zone changes
- C-level executives: Need to engage employees with the commitment to drive toward the organization's strategic vision
- Extend the reach of leadership to everyone, everywhere
- Adapt quickly to changing market positions
- Enhance corporate culture
"It's really about knowledge sharing and enabling that valuable asset of knowledge to be moved quickly and easily through the organization for a more connected and informed culture," Daly said.
Mobility sparks 'wonderful disruption' in our lives, workEnterprise mobility, Mobile, Mobile devices, Mobility, Unified Communications
The power and proliferation of mobile devices are not new concepts. But stepping back and evaluating the mobility market and its staggering numbers – and what it all means for unified communications – can be eye-opening.
Mobility and its influence on the UC market was a focal point of Google's keynote address last month at Enterprise Connect. Google for Work's technology evangelist Adam Swidler said mobile devices are causing a "wonderful disruption" in the way we live and work.
Swidler cited a study by Benedict Evans of Andreessen Horowitz called "Mobile is Eating the World," which has some revealing findings. Namely, smartphones and tablets have far surpassed laptops and PCs in sales and shipments – and the changeover has been rapid and dramatic. Mobile devices are now nearly half of all consumer electronics sales.
The mobility market has seen dramatic growth since 2007 when the iPhone launched. Android launched a year later, and the iPad was released in 2010. Part of what's fueling mobile growth, said Swidler, is the refresh cycle for mobile devices is usually every two years, while users may buy a new PC just every five years.
With the advent of iOS and Android, Microsoft in particular has been significantly disrupted from its leadership position, said Swidler, citing the Evans study. In early 2009, Microsoft was on more than 90 percent of the personal computing devices that were sold. Since then, with the popularity of iPhone and Android devices, Microsoft now represents less than 25 percent of the devices sold.
This dramatic shift, according to the Evans study, is expected to continue over the next five years as another billion people come online – and virtually all of them will do so on smartphones.
Additionally, a younger generation of workers, who grew up with mobile technology, will only add to the mobile momentum as they join the workforce in the coming years. Teenagers, noted Swidler, simply don't use email today and don't make or take phone calls. They text.
Mobile promotes productivity
So what does this mean for UC? Swidler cited research by Steven Sinofsky, former president of Microsoft's Windows division, on how mobile technology fosters a culture of "continuous productivity" and impacts organizational structures.
Mobility, said Swidler, puts a focus on faster problem-solving and execution among team members. Mobile technologies can also allow outside perspectives into your organization – and that's a good thing.
"There's a clear rise and need to communicate with the outside and bring the value they can provide into your organization," said Swidler. "It probably seems uncomfortable to think you might have the same chat message intimacy with your customers that you do with your co-workers. But think how great an experience that is for your customers. Let them chat with you."
This mobile modernization is also inverting company launches and collaboration, said Irwin Lazar, vice president and service director at Nemertes Research.
"It's usually desktop first, phone first, video room first and app second," said Lazar. "Now mobile apps have feature parity right out of the box or feature superiority in some cases – that's a very different mindset for the collaboration industry."
Google searches for enterprise niche
Google's presence at Enterprise Connect this year was intriguing. The Internet giant didn't have a new product to pitch, and they didn't even have a booth. This year, however, marked the first time Google delivered a keynote address at the conference. So it makes you wonder if we'll be seeing more from Google in the business communications space.
Don't expect Google to rival Cisco or Microsoft in the UC market, and I would guess Google is fine with that. Google's focus perhaps might be just on small businesses – and there are plenty of those. Small businesses, after all, probably can't afford a big, expensive video conferencing service and would opt for Google Hangouts instead.
In his speech, Swidler did spotlight some of Google's achievements in the business communications market – most notably Hangouts and Google apps.
New Plantronics devices address UC noiseCollaboration, Headsets, Mobility, Unified Communications
While on a phone or video call, it's pretty common to pick up some background noise — whether it's dogs barking, car horns blaring or a co-worker's goofy ringtone.
As offices become more open and workers become increasingly mobile, background noise is a new challenge facing collaboration. Plantronics is targeting this problem of UC noise with four new audio devices announced earlier this month.
"Everywhere is the new workplace. We know office noise is increasingly becoming a concern due to more open working environments that promote collaboration, but workplace noise isn't just a problem for those in the office," said Bill Loewenthal, vice president of enterprise product solutions at Plantronics, in a statement. "You can't always control your environment and you certainly can't control your caller's environment."
Users are demanding tools that promote seamless collaboration. If someone on a call can't be heard because of background noise, users can't effectively collaborate. It's that simple.
"There's been increasing emphasis on the importance of a reliable, high-quality, seamless user experience when communicating and collaborating today," said Rich Costello, senior research analyst for unified communications at IDC. Plantronics' new devices aim to reduce background noise for users on audio or video calls and increase the clarity of their voices, whether they're at their desk or on the road.
The new products from Plantronics are:
Blackwire 725, a corded stereo headset with noise-canceling technology, is geared toward workers in open or collaborative workspaces who make PC-based calls. In addition to reducing outside noises, the device's headset includes a noise-canceling microphone that diminishes noise on the user's end of a call. The Blackwire 725 is available now and retails at $179.
Voyager Edge UC is a mobile headset for workers who take calls on their mobile devices, from their phone to their laptop. The headset includes three microphones that reduce noise caused by outside elements like wind. The Voyager Edge UC is available now and retails at $199.
Calisto 610 is a speakerphone that allows for mobile conference calls with small groups of people. The speakerphone includes a noise-canceling, omni-directional microphone and can integrate with a user's softphone. The Calisto 610 is available now and retails for $99.
Clarity 340 is a handset phone designed for workers with vision, hearing or dexterity challenges. The phone includes sound amplification, large buttons for dialing and a large display. The phone is compatible with hearing-aids. The Clarity 340 will be available in March and will retail for $149.
Mitel backs off its ShoreTel domination plans, but should customers still be worried?
Mitel has officially shelved its plans for a ShoreTel takeover.
Mitel pulled its third acquisition proposal — several days prior to the Nov. 20 deadline — due to " the repeated refusal of ShoreTel's Board of Directors to engage in discussions of any kind regarding a potential transaction," according to a press release from Mitel.
The UC vendor came forward with an unsolicited bid to buy ShoreTel for $540 million back in November, which ShoreTel scoffed at. In a press release, ShoreTel's board of directors said it "unanimously" concluded that "Mitel's proposal significantly undervalues ShoreTel and fails to reflect the upside of ShoreTel's growth initiatives and technology developments."
Mitel was unfazed at first, following up with two more offers. The final bid would have put the buyout at $574 million. When ShoreTel still refused to entertain the idea, Rich McBee, Mitel's CEO, brazenly wrote a letter to ShoreTel's board, noting that since the board wouldn't engage with him, he had approached unnamed large ShoreTel shareholders independently regarding the acquisition.
In the end, however, Mitel has decided to take its offer off the table.
Mitel has good reason for wanting ShoreTel. While Mitel's UC products are popular in Canada and Europe, ShoreTel has a solid customer base in the U.S. ShoreTel also has a very strong UCaaS offering — ShoreTel Sky — which is especially appealing at a time when businesses are becoming very interested in the prospect of moving their communication off-premises.
Since cloud-based UC is gaining popularity very rapidly in the telephony market and ShoreTel is a little ahead of the game in that space, Mitel's proposal makes sense, said Joe Rittenhouse, president of business development for Converged Technology Professionals Inc., a technology consulting firm and ShoreTel partner. "It's something worthy of acquiring, but I'm glad it didn't happen," he said.
With formidable leaders in the UC space — including Cisco and Microsoft — smaller vendors are forced to fight over scraps. Mitel's unsolicited offers may have created uncertainty among prospective ShoreTel customers, causing them to worry about Mitel discontinuing or ending support of Shoretel equipment. ShoreTel customers may also have worried about a forced migration to Mitel products. Such doubts could cut ShoreTel off at the knees in an already competitive UC market.
"[The bid] caught us off guard, that's for sure. It made us reevaluate where we were and where the industry is headed," Rittenhouse said. "But if anything, in the end, it reaffirmed the position we're going in as far as offering cloud services."
Rittenhouse said that existing ShoreTel customers probably felt more confident about their investments after seeing ShoreTel's reaction to the Mitel offers. "We were actually concerned it would have a negative effect, but because ShoreTel rejected [the bids] so quickly, our existing [customer] base wasn't worried," he said.
But just because Mitel has called it quits, doesn't mean other suitors won't step up to the plate for a chance at ShoreTel. Consolidation is a certainty in the already crowded UC market.
"I think there is going to be consolidation eventually, but ShoreTel is also carving out what will be a niche market and good hybrid approach, so I think that would be giving up before they had a chance to play the game," Rittenhouse said.
When the PSTN leaves, will your phone number stay?IP telephony, PSTN, telecom service providers, Unified Communications
As the public switched telephone network (PSTN) blinks out of existence, carriers are left wondering what will become of it's by-product: the telephone number. Will it go down with the ship, or will it become the life raft — connecting islands of communications?
I called on Voxbone's vice president of Strategic Alliances, Hugh Goldstein, to answer this question. He took part in a panel discussion yesterday at ITEXPO in Las Vegas on the future of the phone number. Here's what he had to say:
How will telephone numbers be common denominators between networks?
Hugh Goldstein: Voxbone has a big vested interest in this question because we've built a business around telephone numbers. The thing is that telephone numbers are very useful, yet they're linked to this legacy system that a lot of thought leaders in the industry believe will eventually go away. So there's a big debate from people at industry conferences on what the future will look like for telephone numbers. For the next 10-20 years, I expect everyone is going to continue to see telephone numbers in their daily lives. Part of the reason is that it's the common denominator between networks. When we have islands of IP communications we can use any [connector] you like — some SIP networks use email-address-like identifiers. If you have a provider, whether it be an over-the-top (OTT) service like Skype, or you have an enterprise that's built its own private network, they can use [that identifier language] within their own island. But when they want to go outside of that island, the telephone number is the common denominator. That's what everyone uses to find the destination for a call to make communication work.
What might be the long term solution for connecting disparate communication systems?
Goldstein: Long term, there might be other systems that become popular. But at this point in time it's difficult for any one new paradigm to really take a strong position unless there is a huge critical mass of customers just getting on board with it. Even though Skype has many hundreds of millions of users, there's not any big push to make a Skype ID the new telephone number, because it's attached to one individual company and it's proprietary. Telephone numbers are international, regulated — the property of countries essentially — and they're managed by international organizations regulators, so they're viewed as being neutral. That's a very strong attribute, even though we're seeing lots of ideas come about. It's still the telephone number that sits in front of a lot of IP services today.
Why might telephone numbers be replaced?
Goldstein: If there's a complaint about telephone numbers, it's that they're not that easy to remember by people. People prefer language-based things. [But] if that's the complaint of telephone numbers, an IP address of the length of IPv6 complexity would be worse. We all have lots of other different identifiers that are useful for us, like Facebook names, email addresses, [and] Skype names, but the telephone number is something that can link everything together.
How are telephone numbers being used as the common denominator between networks today?
Goldstein: One thing we find in our business [for OTT providers] is that businesses like to have numbers in different geographies. It's something that helps them deal with global markets. So if you run a business in L.A. and you sell to people in Japan, France and Brazil, [and] if you only put an L.A. number there, it's still difficult for people around the world to call an L.A. number. It's a perceived economic barrier. Not everyone's phone plans allows them to call international. Some of them feel reluctant to dial that international number. Maybe there's perceived language issues. But let's say in that scenario they put a Japanese, French and Brazilian number up on their webpage — that opens up the game and allows people in those markets to call and interact to do business with them. [For] Voxbone and other OTT providers like us, the cost to add numbers like that … is very low. So a lot of over-the-top and hosted PBX providers, I think they've found this as something that customers like. For their businesses, it's a way to increase the average revenue per user, because that business is very competitive based on price, so there's a certain amount that you can realistically charge for a phone line and voicemail. But now with international numbers, suddenly that customer in L.A. is [saying;] 'I'll upgrade my account, and I'll add the number in Tokyo, Rio and Paris, and they see a lot of value in doing that. That's what's happening today and that illustrates to an extent why [phone] numbers are still very important.
Continue this interview: Calling all OTT providers: Enterprises want your UC services!
Video content management wrangles streaming video in the workplaceMagic Quadrant, Unified Communications
Employees are streaming more video at work and it's not just cat videos on YouTube. Enterprise video content management is the latest service to emerge in the UC market as interest in enterprise video streaming grows. What exactly is video content management? Any software, appliances or software as a service (SaaS) offering that manages or facilitates the delivery of on-demand video (one-to-any device) across the Web, according to Gartner's Magic Quadrant.
Compared to 2012, the number of hours workers have spent streaming video at the office has risen from 7.2 to 10.8 hours per user, per month. Gartner projects that by 2016, enterprises will stream more than 16 hours of video per user, per month. Video streaming is catching on as enterprises use the technology to improve collaboration, customer service, employee training and advertisements. To prevent the increased video streaming from congesting the network, enterprises are turning to video providers for management services.
While the enterprise video content management market has grown significantly, Gartner said it is too early to forecast the market's future or estimate market size. However, Gartner found that most enterprises are looking at SaaS or hybrid video content management services. Gartner predicts that SaaS for streaming video will continue to grow in the market, especially for organizations that want to use video to target customers or avoid unpredictable storage infrastructure costs.
In its Magic Quadrant, Gartner named two market leaders: Qumu and Kaltura.
California-based Qumu offers a secure video content management system that not only lets IT pros manage and distribute content to any platform/device, but also allows them to capture video from any source and automate streaming and downloading. Qumu was founded in 2000 and acquired by legacy video vendor Rimage in 2011. The company identifies enterprise video content management as its best potential for revenue growth.
According to Gartner, Qumu's strengths include:
— a strong hybrid storage model that allows third parties to be storage partners;
— its partnership with audio search specialist Nexidia;
— and a modularized workflow that makes room for external processes.
However, Gartner says Qumu's pricing model is challenging and difficult to interpret.
Kaltura, based in New York, was founded in 2006 and claims to be the only open source online video platform. It offers a modular platform where IT pros can customize and develop aspects of the service, like the management, publishing, distribution and analysis. Kaltura also offers a social video portal for employees and a video extension for Sharepoint.
Gartner noted that in addition to the company's strong customization, other strengths include:
–a hybrid storage model that allows for third party partners;
–a highly flexible workflow engine; and
–flexible analytics that can serve just about any use case.
Gartner cautioned that transcription for search and other functions provided by Kaltura are licensed from other vendors and the administration and management interface requires more streamlining to make it easier use.
Other providers ranked on the Magic Quadrant include Panopto as the sole visionary; Polycom, Cisco, Kontiki, Ignite, KZO Innovations and Brightcove as challengers; and Sonic Foundry, VBrick Systems and Media Platform as niche players.
HBO's Silicon Valley demos five UC pain points in three minutesConnection Issues, Telepresence, Unified Communications, Video conferencing
Of the growing number of shows starring geeks (Big Bang Theory, The IT Crowd, Halt and Catch Fire) none epitomize the pain points of unified communications (UC) as profoundly as the recent TeleHuman sketch from HBO's Silicon Valley.
If you haven't watched Mike Judge's new show yet, it's a satire of Silicon Valley's high-tech glamour. And while it portrays IT companies at work, its sexual humor and irreverent language make it decidedly unsuitable to watch at work. With that disclaimer, this hilarious clip between characters Big head and Hooli CIO Gavin Belson perfectly illustrates five UC pain points in three minutes.
Before I hash out each pain point, for those more interested in the show than the technology, I invite you to "tune out" the tech talk as figuratively or literally as you like (a la the electric guitarist lawyer in Episode 4).
Enter UC pain point No. 1—cost—where a translucent Belson materializes in a body-size tube, dubbed the TeleHuman, in front of Big Head.
In disbelief, Big Head exclaims "Wow! Cool, am I a TeleHuman over there, too?"
Belson scoffs, "What? No, of course not."
For years, the cost of cutting edge telepresence technology, like holographic telepresence, has prohibited all but the rich and famous from using it. Big Head, like the vast majority, is one of the honored few to witness such exclusive technology. Despite a promising start to the telepresence industry, in 2014 more businesses are leaning toward cloud-based video conferencing than deploying full-fledged holograms—though a telepresence business case still stands for certain verticals, like medicine.
When the TeleHuman breaks down and distorts Belson, we're taken to UC pain point No. 2: reliability. Nothing is more frustrating than spending boat loads of money on a product that isn't working right. If UC tech were truly plug-and-play, we wouldn't have IT engineers devoted to setting up and architecting a system smooth enough to handle the high demands of voice and video.
What's UC pain point No. 3—you ask? Ease of use (or lack thereof). Belson illustrates this when he yells at tech support to troubleshoot a failed image projection:
Belson: Can you help me please?
Tech support: OK, I think what happened was when you set it up you forgot to –
Belson: I didn't set it up. I paid one of you people to set it up.
The fact that tech support or white-glove services are still needed for some technologies is another barrier to video conferencing adoption.
For pain point No. 4, I'd like to point out the lack of unified UC solutions. When the TeleHuman breaks down, Big Head and the team are forced to break open a laptop and call Belson back using Hooli chat, which is subsequently downgraded to a cell phone conversation. That degradation doesn't come from network-aware technology, however. Employees still need to go to a laptop, open an application and find the person to communicate with (or resort to their cell phones to find the appropriate contact). With true unified communications, the technology can move seamlessly between one communication mode to the next. While vendors are working their way toward unifying solutions—much of today's UC technology exists in disparate environments that beg to be connected.
Which brings us to the last UC pain point: No. 5, the network. UC technology like video is only as good as the network it runs on. Arguably my favorite line from this Silicon Valley scene is the one in which a polite Gavin Belson appears on Hooli chat to say "The TeleHuman is a great piece of technology. Unfortunately, the broadband isn't that great out here in rural Wyoming. That presents a great business opportunity." This scene repeats almost verbatim a conversation I had with RingCentral's VP of operations. He harped on needing broadband in order to move dynamically between modes of communication. As far as broadband accessibility, he said; "I think the U.S. is doing a lot to be there. If you live in a major city, you're fine; but in rural areas, we're still lagging behind."
While UC technology has matured a great deal over the course of decades, the industry still has a ways to go. Scenes like Silicon Valley's UC sketch are funny because we've all been there—we've all cursed at the Godforsaken technology that's meant to make lives easier. But IT pros can be the heroes/heroines at the end of the day. While broadband availability and UC unification may not be in your hands, the network is. For more advice, Ovum Principal Analyst Mike Sapien offers his take on how to keep your UC deployment from failing.
Photo: Gavin Belson materializes in the TeleHuman
Are dual-mode communications double the trouble?
We're living in a world of "dual-mode communications." This was an argument made by Neil Schubert at the Mobile & Wireless World conference seven years ago. We have to have two of everything in order to separate our work and personal lives: a work laptop and a personal laptop; a work phone and a personal phone.
But hold the phone. If you have a mobile device for work, you're in the minority. In a recent article on mobile UC integration limitations, Nemertes Research co-founder Irwin Lazar found that "92% of companies implement bring your own device (BYOD) policies, allowing employees to use personal smartphones to connect to corporate applications."
Flash forward to 2014, you won't hear anyone talk about "mobile" without "BYOD" in the same breath. But today's "BYOD" is more like "BYOBD – bring your own business device," according to Curtis Peterson, vice president of operations at RingCentral, in an interview on business communication.
Peterson believes this because of the restrictions that go along with connecting personal mobile devices to corporate applications, like letting employees use only certain devices purchased at certain locations. But even if a company doesn't make an employee add an asset sticker to the back of the phone, most enterprises — in the name of security — will remotely wipe a phone if it becomes lost. While we have moved mostly away from having to carry both a work and a personal mobile phone, employees have had to become their work persona at the expense of their personal one.
"Kudos to businesses for convincing employees to go buy their equipment for them, but it becomes a challenge down the road in terms of trust and privacy," Peterson said.
While some companies, like DropBox, are spinning off its consumer-grade products into offerings geared towards the enterprise, others, like RingCentral, allow employees to switch between work and personal resources on mobile devices. This is called dual persona or mobile device management (MDM).
"MDM remains a vital component in monitoring key device issues and assuring configuration and compliance with organizational operating policies related to this aspect of management," wireless expert Craig Mathias said in a tip on mobility management.
While this begins to solve the problem, it's just one part of the dual-mode communication predicament. "We might sum up here by stating that MDM is a necessary, but not a sufficient, mobility management capability today," Mathias said.
For a while, linking mobile devices to an overall unified communication strategy may be as complex as managing the devices themselves. Though the need is there, the market may still have some catching up to do.
Plantronics pins hopes on next-gen wearable technology to 'unify UC'
ORLANDO – Imagine using your headset not just for calls, but to adjust the temperature of your conference room or pull up documents you need for your meeting. With the advancement of next-generation wearable technology, those capabilities may not be so far off.
Discussing the future of wearable technology at Enterprise Connect 2014, Plantronics CTO Joe Burton said next-generation wearable tech in the enterprise "can bend the Web to you" to perform those hypothetical capabilities.
Current wearable technology shows the potential for next-generation products to go beyond simply taking voice calls. Intelligent headsets available from Plantronics already have capabilities that detect how near or far users are from their computers and allow users to seamlessly switch calls between mobile devices and their headsets, Burton said.
"We can use a bunch of next-gen technology to begin restoring all of the fidelity of face-to-face interaction and apply that to many business workflows in a way that's compelling," he said.
Burton said Plantronics' focus is on evolving intelligent headset technology to solve relevant business issues for people, from the headset determining which conference room is free to the ability send contextual information, such as a user's non-verbal cues, through a call.
Asked whether consumer market wearable technology like Google Glass could be reconciled with enterprise wearable technology, Burton said there will be no consolidation of devices into "one device to rule them all."
"What we have found is that for the most part, having multiple cooperative devices that do things well makes a ton of sense," he said.
He said devices like Samsung's smartwatches and FitBit wristbands aren't quite there yet in terms of giving users what they need in wearable technology.
"I think it's very early days [in wearable technology], and while we're coming at it from a headset perspective, what we're keenly focused on is… the problems people would love to solve that these new technologies can solve," he said. "We've been a headset company for 54 years; there is a lot of room to run in making real-time communication better."


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by Florence M. on July 12, 2018
The office person(s) are great. (They answer the phone and have good follow up.)
Paul was nice and very helpful. My son learned a lot and was given helpful tips on the upcoming test with the DMV!
by Patty A. on June 7, 2018
Just spent two hours with Steve. I sat in the back while he took my daughter on her 2nd lesson confidently through the Oakland and Berkeley hills. Not beginning driving roads, but he patiently and safely instructed her on the journey. He has a calm and encouraging manner that just radiates confidence to your teen. She came home feeling great about the experience, it was not stressful at all and she learned so much. I would highly recommend asking for Steve specifically - I would give him six stars if I could. :-)
by Alondra R. on May 18, 2017
Sucks , stood up my appointment. They were suppose to arrive to my house at 4pm today for my first driving lesson , but never showed up. Ruined my day , wasted my time. Don't waste your time guys.
by Heidi F. on January 30, 2017
Super helpful in whole process. Great instruction. Patience, professionalism and humor. As a mother I appreciated all. Thanks Frank!
by Margaret J. on January 3, 2017
My son was taught by Frank at Bill's Defensive Driving school in the Marin County area. Not only was Frank an incredible teacher, personable, funny and very serious, but the team at Bill's Defensive Driving really bent over backwards for us. My son splits time between his Dad's house and mine and due to those circumstances he didn't have his official permit with him for Frank to sign at the last lesson...only the copy that he carried around. My son's DMV test appointment was right after the holidays and we were without the final certificate. The staff at Bill's Defensive Driving school - Deb and Frank both made us feel like we were part of the family by coordinating a meet up with Frank for him to sign the paperwork and hand out the certificate just in time before the appointment.
Frank also knew all the ins and outs as to where the Corte Madera DMV would test him...which neighborhoods, etc. This really assisted in calming my son's nerves and allowed for him to only miss 4 points on the test altogether. HIghly recommend Bill's and definitely request Frank!
by Sloan K. on December 26, 2016
My daughter had her first lesson with Frank today. He was terrific. Knowledgeable, patient, kind and funny. I was in the back seat and was impressed with how quickly he made my daughter feel
Comfortable behind the wheel and on the highway. We will take more lessons from him for sure.
by William N. on November 22, 2016
Bill is the best teacher by far. He encouraged me (the parent) to join the lesson to gain some insight on how to better instruct my 16 year old son. I actually learned a few things myself. He has a really nice temperament and balanced style of teaching which left both me and my son really impressed. I used him for a few extra lessons just to make sure my son is as safe as possible once he drives alone. Highly recommend Bill, you will not regret it.
by M C. on October 16, 2016
Bill has taught two of my kids how to drive. He gives solid memorable instructions. Parents are invited to ride along to learn as well and reinforce teaching points when driving later with your teenager. He took both of my girls straight onto winding hilly roads and then the highway their very first time behind the wheel. While it was a bit nerve-wracking (for me), his teaching approach also gave them a ton of confidence.
Proud parent of two good drivers.
by Creeker T. on November 8, 2015
We hired Bill for both of my teens and thought he was great! I rode along with both of them for the first few lessons, taking notes so I could use the same language that Bill was using, and reinforce what they were learning for practice time. Not only did that help them - and help me see what they needed to work on - but it gave me an insiders glimpse at how Bill works with his students. He is confident, patient, extremely knowledgable and reads driving situations like the pro that he is. Although we didn't need it, his car is equipped with a brake pedal AND a gas pedal that he can use if he needs to to get away from danger or stop suddenly if need be. I especially appreciate the fact that he clearly cares that his students become safe defensive drivers, not just learn enough to pass the test.
by Maria B. on November 23, 2014
Do not use for au pairs! Poor customer service! Little progress no willingness to accommodate!
We booked in 12 sessions in rapid succession to get our Columbian au pair (had a international drivers license) ready to drive our kids to school. I spoke to Susan in the office at length about my concerns about the language barrier and I suggested a FREE translator app in which would help the instructors with explaining the why in their corrections to my au pair so it would be understood. Susan said all her drivers should have it and ensured that she would make it happen and I was told that every day I would get a progress update. The first instructor Paul didn't call until the second double lesson. He said progress was slow and that my au pair may not have understood. Asked about the translator and he said he would use it next time but Susan never told him. I explained my au pair is very sweet and if asked if she understood she will always smile and say yes, but she still wouldn't understand. Two session later he reports that progress is small and asked if she understood the rules. He said he didn't know and would use a translator ( thus was the 6th session I paid for) He said he had his "own ways of being understood"! Was passed to the owner Bill for lessons and he too didn't call until after the 4th lesson--not the deal. No translator used even though he knew she understood little. He offered he regretted that "we should have talked earlier". Bill chastised me and said I should have rode along (I was traveling--was discussed to Susan and Paul) No discount offered for the MASSIVE money wasted or no make up sessions and no accountability. The only reason this review has one star is because they had availability -- but we know why now, don't we!!!
by Rebecca V. on August 20, 2014
Bill's Defensive Driving school is a parent's dream come true!
Bill is an excellent, calm and personable professional who encourages parents to drive along during lessons. As an experienced driver, I realize how many little things one does automatically while driving.
Bill does and amazing job of breaking down each component of driving skills -- signalling, braking, changing lanes, etc. -- into small steps and then reinforces each skill in subsequent lessons.
I also really like that unlike other driver's programs where there are multiple students in the car (Egads!!! who would want their kid in the back seat while someone else's kids is learning to drive!!??!?) -- with Bill's its just your child. Bill also has a brake AND steering wheel -- just in case (though I do not believe he ever employed either during our son's lessons).
Thank you Bill!!!
by Steve L. on November 16, 2013
Bill's Defensive Driving School = two teenage drivers with defensive driving skills, no accidents, no tickets and situational awareness.
Mom and Dad = more relaxed when the teenagers are behind the wheel, confident that they can safely handle 101 and the twisting Marin roads (as much as a responsible teen can) and happy that they spent their money and time wisely (bonus... they picked up some driving skills refresher points too).
So what to expect...
1. A professional instructor with a low-key, even temperament, that teenagers and parents can relate too.
2. A new, clean, safe and well maintained full size car that has dual mirrors,gas pedals and brakes for Bill to take control and keep your kid safe.
3. Common sense step by step directions and then tips galore (he knows all of the local roads and the types of decisions that the driver will need to make as they encounter the non-conventional situations).
4. Bill encourages parents to accompany their teen on the training ride; there is nothing to hide and he provides advice on what to practice with your "student driver."
5. He emphasizes DEFENSIVE driving.
6. Bill trusts his teaching skills and therefore will expose your teen to all types of roads and conditions; this means 101, North San Pedro Road in China Camp, city streets in San Rafael and Fairfax-Bolinas Road (yes you read that correctly), in what ever weather conditions. They will experience it, so what not do it during a driving lesson?
7. Confidence building for the student driver and parent.
8. A "What to expect at your driving test" during lesson three which will include tips about the expectations of the DMV Driving Inspectors (by facility) and dry-run through the typical test course with commentary about what the student is doing correctly or incorrectly from the Driving Inspectors point of view.
The purpose of his lessons are not directed to pass the driving road test the first time, rather it is to make sure that you are a safe defensive driver.
Thank you Bill.
Good luck to future drivers, please drive defensively.
by Dahli M. on September 30, 2013
We taught our 18 year old how to drive and went on the road with him to help him get ready for the driving exam, but there were some gaps in his knowledge and we felt he needed a lesson or two. We called Bill's Defensive Driving School and were able to get a Saturday afternoon appointment. Paul was our instructor. He was very thorough and we spent two very productive hours with him. My son and I enjoyed his teaching style and his sense of humor. My son took his driver's road test 6 days later and passed. Paul shared with us that he has been teaching people to drive for 29 years! We are very glad that we chose Bills and got the good fortune to have Paul as our instructor. Paul was the perfect instructor for my son. Patient, thorough, kind and funny. I hope he's still instructing when our 13 year old is ready to start driving.
by Sandra I. on August 6, 2013
My niece is naturally very bold....she took double diamond ski runs the first time she saw them. But driving....another thing. I think it is the responsiblity of having lives in your hands. So we set up lessons with Bill. He's calm and patient but stretched her comfort zone a bit. Two lessons down and her comment was "I'm still a bit nervous, but i'm feeling so much more confident....this was a good idea, Tia."
by Moses N. on February 24, 2013
Bill is a former CHP officer. On my daughter's first lesson (she had never even sat behind the wheel), he made her drive on the freeway AND over Wolfe Grade in a driving rainstorm. In all the lessons she had with him, he never let go of the steering wheel, so she never got to feel how it was to really drive the car. I should mention that my daughter is a cautious and sensible person, and is a safe driver.
by K. S. on September 23, 2011
Very professional, yet very personal and simpathetic.
I had a fantastic instructor who made driving relaxing and easy.
Learned a lot in three lessons and ready to take the test.
Highly recommend these guys.
by Shon Henderson on January 18, 2019
Steve was an excellent driving instructor for my son! I was amazed at how much he could teach him in 2 lessons and will definitely have him take a third lesson before his test. Steve's manner was very calm which transferred to my son and he was absolutely attentive & gave good advice throughout the lesson. My son drove the entire 2 hours for each lesson and got an incredible amount of diverse experiences. Well worth the money!
by Kurt Robinson on December 18, 2018
Unfortunately, our experience was not very good. Despite the fact my wife is a foreign adult, with absolutely no prior driving experience or working knowledge of basic motor vehicle controls, our instructor Bill (owner of the company) breezed through a very rushed presentation of the seat and mirror adjustments. After a short orientation of the lights, steering wheel and pedals, he insisted we "hit the streets" quickly. My wife was visibly nervous and confused, which he seemed to disregard, leading us onto one of the busiest roads in our area. He ended up doing most of the driving, reaching over to control the wheel and using his brakes and accelerator, more than she was able to do, since he never took the time to let her get comfortable with things. Although I will commend Bill for his thorough knowledge of traffic laws and nuances of defensive driving, he needs to work on his communication skills. He spent too much time joking around, telling stories and poking fun at my wife's nervousness, rather than taking time to realize she would benefit from a slower, more deliberate orientation and introduction to using the pedals and steering wheel. As another reviewer also commented, Bill spent too much time pulling over to talk. Rather than keep things very simple and focused, he seemed as much or more interested in relaying his perspectives to me, in order to ensure I would carry on with his job of instructing her, at times in between lessons. I did learn quite a bit, to his credit. Yet, the person he should have been more focused on was my wife, who felt she did not get much out of the lesson. Additionally, he was not dressed professionally, in my opinion, wearing a sweat suit rather than slacks or jeans and a shirt. Finally, his office staff was not particularly helpful or impressive, as they bungled the appointment time and location, leaving us waiting for almost an hour after our scheduled time and not letting us know until we called them to ask the reason the instructor was late. We have since begun lessons with another company, who sent a very patient, professional instructor, who has succeeded in taking my wife from being a nervous wreck to an eager student. Bill and his group may be good with many others, just not us.
by Maninder Singh on July 18, 2018
by Michael James Aguilar on July 18, 2018
Thank you Steve for making my self esteem in driving solid! It was fun and full of knowledge as well.
by Divya Verghese on July 18, 2018
Paul (Panya) my instructor was great. I have an out of state license and needed help gaining confidence on the freeways in SF. He was very calm and patient and put me at ease. Highly recommend especially for folks like me who haven't driven for a while and want to get back on the road!
by Elaine DiStefano on July 18, 2018
by mark baird on July 18, 2018
What an exceptional experience! Our son had 3 lessons with Bill. In the first meeting Bill encouraged a parent to join them so we could learn how he teaches a new driver proper techniques. Learning Bill's technique and approach was critical for my Wife and I to help our son gain the driving experience and confidence required for Bay Area driving. Bill advised we save the 3rd lesson until the week prior to our son's driving test. We did, and he passed easily. I actually started using a few of his techniques as well. Thank you Bill.
by Linda Chechopoulos on July 18, 2018
Pan arrived right on time and came to the door to pick up my daughter. She enjoyed her 2 hours with him and asked if she could have him again. He was patient, thorough, and had a good sense of humor. She said the conversation was easy and comfortable for the two hours they were together. She got to practice on the freeways as well as city streets. Thumbs up. We will use this company and Pan again!! We used a different company for her first lesson. They charged half the price, but the teacher was unsatisfactory. He was on his cell phone texting most of the time and gave her no feedback. He even had her run an errand for him. You get what you pay for.
by Isicera Dew on July 18, 2018
Not only does Bill's lessons provide a strong basis for improvement, he also provides recommendations to help you get the most out of your practice driving.
by Kristin Pedersen on July 18, 2018
by Arlene Fischhoff on July 18, 2018
We were very happy with our experience with Bill's Defensive Driving School. The lessons are easy to schedule. The instructor Paul was very competent and made my daughter and son (and their parents) feel at ease.
by Ishaq Alizada on July 18, 2017
by Jenny Lefcourt on July 18, 2017
Frank was amazing! Highly recommend.
by Arthur Lovekin on July 18, 2017
by Kim Koen on July 18, 2017
by Sven Hemmert on July 18, 2017
Frank my daughter's instructor was patient, clear in his teaching methods and overall a fun and interesting guy.
by Jeff Bedrick on July 18, 2017
Great, friendly, experienced instructor. Smooth transaction.
by Beverly libaire on July 18, 2017
My daughter's instructor, Paul, was very good with her. His calm, even manner was reassuring to her as she has refined her driving skills. I also loved their flexibility with regard to scheduling. I definitely recommend this business.
by Puhakka Family on July 18, 2017
by Steve Ulrich on July 18, 2017
by Jennifer C. on March 11, 2019
Mr. Vincent is such a very gentle and patient instructor. I failed twice but he did not let me feel like I cannot do it. Thank you for being very patient and accommodating, Mr. Vincent! Plus such reasonable prices!
by Geraldine M. on September 14, 2018
I utilized Swift for driver's ed for almost all of 2018 and I am so grateful! Andrew was my instructor and he was so helpful with my learning. With my little experience, Andrew helped me feel more comfortable behind the wheel. He was instrumental in passing my driver's exam the first time. Their services are so affordable for the practices and the final exam. I am so appreciative of Andrew's time and all his guidance in getting my license. With only two weeks until my test date, Andrew did his best to schedule me for as many practices beforehand. Making appointments were simple and Andrew was always timely. Thanks for all your help!
by Jessica B. on August 24, 2018
I learned about this place from my older brother who used this school to learn to drive years before me. I must say I didn't get the chance to take many classes to do rescheduling with the company and my work schedule didn't mesh at times. I had my first lesson I believe it was the second week and second (final) lesson in September 2017. I had my test the following month..well weeks on October 24th...it was a little nerve wracking for me b/c I only had two actual lessons... but I literally just remembered/imitated how my bf and my brother drive and what I learned from the two lessons. My test took less than 10 min but the wait at dmv was the longest. I passed my test and have been driving confidently since.
by Louis W. on August 11, 2018
Vincent is a great guy to deal with, send friend's kid to take learning classes from him and also refer people to him to take driving school.
by Jenny L. on June 5, 2018
Pretty good service and very friendly teachers. Still learning and will update my review as I take more classes.
by Bobby V. on April 29, 2018
I had Andrew as my Instructor.... WORST INSTRUCTOR. He was giving me attitude and as I was practicing my reversing in a straight line and having to do it over and over again, I guess he had gotten frustrated and commented, "This is simple. You should know this." As an instructor, you shouldn't expect your student to learn something in 3 seconds. The whole time he was on his phone, the only time he would look up is when he tells me to change lanes or make a turn, he was also eating too which is totally unprofessional knowing you should pay attention to your student, not your phone or your food. It is very cheap, but I do not recommend this one.
by Kelly L. on April 8, 2018
Had a great first driving lesson with Andrew. Before getting on the road, he went over all the basic rules / general information that you need to know. Throughout the lessons that I had with him, he remained cool and calm at all times. He always explained why certain actions had to be taken, and made sure that I understood. All in all, Andrew is a great driving instructor (and is friendly + has good taste in Netflix shows!)
by James A. on January 29, 2018
My son went to Swift Driving school to get his 6 hours needed to get his license. The instructor came to the door explained everything to us and made me feel comfortable with the whole thing. My son enjoyed the driving experience and said he learned a lot. So he happy i'm happy.
by Valerie B. on November 22, 2017
Andrew is creepy! He asked my 15-year-old daughter if she had a boyfriend during the driving lesson. He was also late for every lesson, and once had my daughter drive from Oakland to Richmond so he could pick up his next student. My daughter was a passenger on the return trip.Would not recommend.
by Chris C. on October 25, 2017
Good for a first time driver that has never driven before and needs one lesson just to get used to the road. Not so good if you're planning to learn how to drive in a few lessons.
I took many lessons with Vincent and he never let me drive on my own. He took it into his own hands to speed up the car instead of telling me to, and when I pressed a tiny bit harder on the gas pedal (because I didn't feel I was exerting that much force and didn't know he was accelerating) he told me I was going too fast. Frustrated, I took my foot completely off the gas pedal to see if the car would still run without my foot pressure there. The car still ran at about 25 mphs for a few minutes, and that is when I learned he was driving for me. I feel like the only thing he needs to do is break if I am prone to accidents, but things like speeding up should be experienced by me only, so I know how hard to press down on the gas pedal when an instructor isn't with me.
He also picks up his phone in the middle of lessons quite often to arrange appointments, which is understandable, but the ringing and talking tended to distract me a lot when driving, especially as a nervous newbie.
Once while I was driving, he was eating in his car and he wanted to tell me to do something (like a turn) but his mouth was full and he kept waving his hands. Not sure how he expected me to understand his hand motions or how he expected me to focus on his hand when I'm supposed to keep my eyes on the road at all times. Vocal commands seem to work much nicer personally.
I took about five lessons with him, but didn't seem to have learned anything important (like u turns, parking, driving on small roads, faster speed limits, freeway, etc) It was good to get me to stop being scared of the road, but I didn't feel like he actually taught me anything, or how to do anything on my own. I felt like the lessons were dragging out the curriculum, and started to learn how to drive on my own and with relatives.
I've now gotten my license, but I wouldn't say I owe it all to Swift.
by Felipe F. on October 20, 2017
Andrew is a friendly guy that made it almost impossible for me to fail my behind-the-wheel test. He picked me up at my house, went through some basics stuff first, and when we got the the DMV, he already knew where to go, where to park the car, the people inside the DMV, etc etc. Andrew really made it seamless! Thank you!
by Priscilla N. on September 7, 2017
Vincent was my instructor. He did a great job in giving advice during difficult situations and always stressed the importance of safety. He gives good constructive criticism to improve your driving skills. Writing this review after passing my test today. I know I could not have passed without his help!
by Lawrence K. on August 15, 2017
A few months ago, I obtained a license by pure luck. I watched many driving videos on Youtube, drove for a few hours, and took my driving test. Basically, I don't know how to drive at all and have severe driving anxiety from the lack of practice, knowledge, and skills. Since the day I received my license, I've driven a few times on local and that's about it.
Since I can barely manage to drive in a straight line, my friend recommended Vincent to me. I had my first driving lesson ever with him today and although I was nervous, I'm looking forward to my next lesson with him next week! He was VERY patient and kind. He went over the basics with me in the beginning (such as arm signals and emergency lights) before we started driving. He could tell that I was nervous and would reassure me that we were safe in his car since he has a gas pedal and brakes on his side. Obviously, I made a lot of mistakes but he was always correcting me in his patient and wise way. Thank goodness he was there, because I would probably be driving badly for the rest of my life if he hadn't been there correcting me.
He was always willing to repeat himself and take the time to explain things to me when I was confused, so don't be scared to ask him questions! That's what he's there for.
If you're a new driver, I highly recommend taking his lessons because I wish I had. He taught me the correct turning method (I foolishly keep both of my hands on the wheel in the same position, which explains my inability to turn properly) and made me realize that my lane changes are actually pretty dangerous. I've always been deathly afraid of the freeway (the horrors of merging!!) but he took me immediately to the freeway and saw that it's not actually that scary. But if you're someone like me who already has a license but wants lessons nevertheless, Vincent is a perfect instructor for you!! He's also funny and friendly, so you feel more comfortable driving.
Also, it's free pick up and free drop off, so take advantage of that. I had him pick me up at my workplace and I got to drive home. He showed me how to parallel park and how to pull over to a curb across from my street!
Just a heads up, each appointment is ALWAYS 2 hours long. When I was booking an appointment with him, the phone connection was terrible and I didn't hear him say that it was two hours. I thought it was only one hour and only brought enough money for one hour. Thankfully, he was understanding about it but I still feel guilty about it. One hour is definitely not enough time to learn and practice, so I can't wait for next week! Thank you Vincent!!
by Tenzin S. on June 10, 2017
Geez, where do I start? All that anxiety is finally over, I passed my test on the first try!
I used yelp to find them so I thought this review might help others like me.
I got my permit on the 5th of may and made my behind the wheel test for 9th june( the long wait to make an appt so book in advance).
I started taking classes on 6th may. Weekly 2hr classes increasing as my test date approached. I couldnt recommend them anymore, esp for someone from another country, the scare of the road is real. This place will help you conquer your fears.
Vincent mentored me towards the end and I really got to know him. He had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. He gave me invaluable lessons . Parents put your ego aside and listen to him. The reward is independence!
by Chrissy B. on February 17, 2017
Andrew is a great instructor, before taking my driving test we went over keys things to ensure I pass my test. I passed! you can also use their vehicles for your dmv driving test.
by Elisa A. on December 14, 2016
Andrew is a thorough, accommodating, and punctual instructor. I knew from my first lesson that I was going to learn much more from him than from any of the instructors I previously had at another driving school. Highly recommended!!
by Yasmeen A. on July 21, 2016
I was trained by Pam and got my license after 5 classes and in first attempt. I have never driven earlier in India and am very scared of driving, I could not believe I got my license so soon, and all thanks to Pam aunty.
I had earlier gone to another instructor and I can say how better Pam's teaching was. She had tips and answers for all my fears or doubts. That helped me a lot during the test, I knew exactly what to do. The cherry on the cake is she makes us practice on the freeway and also teaches how to fill gas which I don't think any other instructor does.
Also she makes us feel comfortable with friendly talk throughout. And she makes sure we practice enough and get the license with her.
I had a great experience with her and would recommend her fully.
by Mai T. on June 16, 2015
The school has definitely reformed and everything is so much better. Andrew is super professional and always on time. The prices are cheap and the service is great. If you are in need for driving lessons definitely ask for Andrew. Why pay more at other places when you can get everything for much cheaper prices! I'm a satisfied customer.
by Jacqueline V. on February 24, 2015
Engaged Swift for my son driving education as part of his requirement for a license. Had a wonderful experience with Andrew and the organization. Teacher was on time, nice, calm - perfect attitude for new drivers. Was less expensive than other schools. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
by Koi S. on February 21, 2015
Keep up the good work Daniel! Hopefully next time around, (later than sooner) you're still the instructor there. I learn a few new things I wasn't aware of that's going to be very useful to help persuade me to stop my bad driving habits, lol. You have a very wonderful & Happy New Year! The Chinese calender year of ram! ( : Me & my son Andrew's sign!, 79 & 03 ; )
by Carmen Zhao on January 9, 2019
Swift is great for learning and getting practice on the road. Their schedule is very convenient, and they can also pick you up from school or work and drop you off at home!
by juan perez on October 9, 2018
Kathy the instructor was informative. She presented the material and provide great insight.
by Micky C on October 9, 2018
Both my brother and I learn to drive with this school. My brother got his license recently thanks to Vincent. I learned many years back and my driving been great so far xD no tickets no accidents. The price has gone up a little since I was taught there but their price is still a lot Cheaper than the other places I called so my brother learned from here as well. Much cheaper, not too many lessons needed, totally recommend!
by hend mahajneh on October 9, 2018
Not good at all No driving planWorthless Waste of your money and time So unprofessional
by Marsupial Envy on October 9, 2017
We would recommend the driving school part. Good pricing. Victor taught us both (separately). Used an ok Honda Accord, with dual control (he has a brake & gas too). You can set it up to use the school-car for the driving test.Get early am lessons if you want, and they'll drop you off at work, (normally pick up/drop off at home, but flexible).- Oh yeah. We both passed! -(He speaks english & chinese, btw).
by Nancy Gee on October 9, 2017
This place is fine, not plush, but gets the job done. Also, there's plenty of parking at Lucky's or the like. The instructors get you through the day!
by Mel Mel on October 9, 2017
Not good at all

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Blame anyone or anything – even blame Canada – but never blame yourself.
That seems to be the comic message we're in for with the 14th season premiere of "South Park," which is set to air Wednesday night and will take a swing at the Tiger Woods scandal. We can expect to see Eric Cartman standing behind Woods as the golfer offers his now famous (or infamous, depending on your view) public apology for his rampant infidelities.
"It's such an important issue in America right now — the sex addiction outbreak," show co-creator Matt Stonetold The Associated Press, evidently employing sarcasm. "We're all really concerned about him and hope he gets better."
With "South Park" entering its 14th year and nearing its 200th episode, Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny aren't getting any older – but they're getting better.
The Woods case – conveniently back in the news with the golfer's announcement Tuesday that he's returning to the links for the Masters next month – offers a grand slam of fodder for "South Park," which is a long way from Augusta.
Stone and partner Trey Parker are at their strongest when excoriating the pomposity, hype and rituals surrounding modern celebrity, and lampooning the absurd ways in which scandal plays out in the press and popular culture.
The duo set the tone in Season 1 with the attack of Mecha-Streisand, a literally larger-than-life, out-of-control superstar. All these years later, the animation and the scenarios are still often crude – but Park and Stone have become more adept at getting their point across.
The 2005 episode attacking Tom Cruise and Scientology inspired a strong reaction because it made the leap from silly to satire. "South Park" won its Peabody Award barely six months later.
No celebrity is safe in the little Colorado town: We've seen Bono refuse to come in No. 2 in a contest better left not described. We've seen George Lucas and Steven Spielberg pictured as fallen heroes for making a fourth "Indiana Jones" movie. We've seen Kayne West portrayed as a clueless egomaniac, long before his MTV Video Music Awards microphone-grabbing shenanigans.
In perhaps the strongest episode of the past season, Cartman morphed into a Glenn Beck-like broadcasting demagogue when he took over making the morning announcements at his elementary school.
Parker and Stone also seem to have a fascination with the arc of scandal, which, as in Woods' case, often leads to the purportedly cleansing ritual of public confession and penance.
In one episode, Stan's father moronically utters the N-word on national TV and literally has to kiss the Rev. Jesse Jackson's butt to make amends. The show's made-up celebrity, the annoying stoner Towelie, goes on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to confess his memoir, "A Million Little Fibers," is a fraud.
Another element Parker and Stone are adept at tapping into is the hype surrounding highly anticipated, but drawn-out media non-events – like Woods' statement on Feb. 19, nearly three months after his marital troubles became public.
We saw this in the episode where South Park goes into a frenzy over a curse set to be uttered on an "NYPD Blue"-like cop show. More pointedly, the world goes bonkers when an image of the Prophet Muhammad is slated to appear on "Family Guy," in a 2006 two-part take on censorship, religion and fear that ranks among Parker and Stone's most impressive achievements.
Those two shows also took shots at "Family Guy," which comes closest to "South Park" among established animation programs to regularly producing potent celebrity-targeted satire. Still, in "Family Guy," the barbs often are delivered as an aside, such as with the controversial recent jibe aimed at Sarah Palin.
"South Park" generally takes a more direct approach – and the Woods episode, titled "Sexual Healing," doesn't appear to be an exception. Check out the clip below featuring the unlikely team of Cartman and Woods:
Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NYCity News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is the former City Editor of the New York Daily News, where he started as a reporter in 1992. Follow him on Twitter.


text: Create a mantelpiece full of die-cut Christmas stockings with the Christmas Stockings Thinlits Dies and the Big Shot. Thinlits Dies help you create detailed die-cuts with just a few turns of the Big Shot handle. * 17 dies* Largest image: 2-3/4" x 2-13/16" (7 x 7.1 cm)* Use with Big Shot* Use Precision Base Plate with detailed images


text:
Despite Windows 8 still being some way off, reports are
suggesting that we may be set to see a quad-core Windows 8 tablet as soon as
next week.
Yes, that's right folks, a Windows 8 tablet could be unveiled
by Microsoft at a conference it is holding next week, bringing some much
welcome competition to the tablet OS market, rivalling iOS and Android.
Microsoft executive, Steven Sinofsky, who has been recently
been giving us some insight into the new-look Windows 8, is set to be the man to unvile the much anticipated tablet. While Sinofsky has
so far been limiting his revalations to the Building Windows 8 blog, next week
will be a little different.
Sinofsky is set to address the audience at Microsoft's annual BUILD developers'
conference in Anaheim, California
next week on 13 September at 9am and will show off a quad-core tablet.
The manufacturer is likely to be Samsung, according to the Korea
Economic Daily, and the slate will indeed be powered by a quad-core processor. This is almost
certainly of the ARM variety and could be the much vaunted Kal-El processor
from Nvidia, which it claims will be on the market before the end of 2011.
Microsoft has previously said that it would be giving away a
quad-core tablet to every developer at the conference even giving a brief glimpse of the device (above).
With consumer versions of the Windows 8 tablets not going to
be available for another 12 months or so, the reveal next week will give us an indication of just
how tailored Windows 8 will be for touch interfaces – and indeed if there is going to be a touch-specific version of the operating system.


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Hi all,
I am a 50 year-old Fixx fan. I got into them back when I was 21 years-old (1984), the year Phantoms was released (my fave Fixx album). I use to play drums and was into really hard rock for most of my youth, but when New Wave rolled in, back in the early 1980's, I found myself liking some of the newer bands like The Police and The Fixx, and actually preferred The Fixx over all of the New Wave bands, I guess because they were more rock oriented.
Anyway, I followed them up until the late 1980's, and was lucky enough to see them live at Shriver Hall, on Johns Hopkins University campus, back in 1987, on the Calm Animals tour. It was a very small venue, and a great show. They had the whole place up and dancing by the end of the night. Over the years, I forgot about The Fixx, and wondered off into all kinds of other music, and then recently I discovered their last CD, Beautiful Friction, and wow, I was blown away at how great they still sound. And what's really cool is that they are still maintaining the same exact style of music, while remaining fresh. Some bands mutate into only a former shadow of themselves, but not The Fixx. I am also a huge Rush fan, but sadly hated their last couple efforts…they are no longer the band I use to admire anymore. Anyway, I am happy The Fixx is still delivering great new music, and I have heard a new CD is in the works. I can't wait!!!!


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Live Bangladesh A vs India A 3rd & Final ODI 2015 – BAN A vs IND A
Play stopped due to Rain – India A won by 75 runs in DL method
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Match Report – Bangladesh A vs India A 3rd & Final ODI 2015
Bangladesh A vs India A 3rd & final ODI has started at 09:30am 20th September, 2015. India A has won the toss and elected to bat first. After 50 overs India A scored 297 runs of losing 6 wickets. Bangladesh A medium pacer Shafiul Islam got the wicket of Mayank Agarwal in the fifth over. In the 20th over, Arafat Sunny bowled Unmukt Chand for 41. India A Suresh Raina scored 104 runs off 94 balls before Rubel Hossain got the wicket in the final over. India A wicketkeeper Sanju Samson bowled out by Al-amin on 90. Unmukt Chand & Sanju Samson have built a good 82 runs 2nd wicket partnership. And in the 3rd wicket partnership, Raina & Sanju piled up 116 runs.
Bangladesh A pacer Shafiul Islam took 2 wickets for 56 runs, while Al Amin, Rubel, Arafat & Nasir Hossain got a wicket each.
Bangladesh now need 298 runs to win the series and the 3rd & final ODI in a run rate of 5.96.
Bangladesh has started their innings with the opening pair Soumya Sarkar & Rony Talukder on the crease. Bangladesh scored 141 runs in 32.0 overs for the lose of 6 wickets (rain stopped play). Bangladesh lost their first wicket as Soumya Sarkar clean bowled by Dhawal Kulkarni in the 2nd over. Anamul Haque caught by Kuldeep Yadav bowling of Arvind Sreenath scoring 1 run of 6 balls. Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque is now on the crease to repair the innings. Bangladesh A top order is continuing to frustrate the fans so far in the tour. Play has resumed in Bangalore as rain stopped, but match reduced to 46 overs. Bangladesh A lost their 3rd wicket as Rony Talukder caught by RR Dhawan in the bowling of Arvind Sreenath for 9 run off 26 balls. Arivind Sreenath is having a tight spell here as he got 2 wickets for only 12 runs in 4.5 overs. In form Liton Das is the new batsman and he hits a six straight away. But he can not extend his innings beyond 21 when caught by wicket-keeper Sanju Samson in bowling of Kuldeep yadav. Sabbir Rahman gets in as new batsman for Bangladesh A. Bangladesh A hopes fade as captain Mominul Haque departs scoring 37 of 50 balls. Kuldeep Yadav already got two vital wickets of Liton Das & Mominul. Nasir Hossain, the last match hero, entered the ground as the last hope for Bangladesh A to build a decent partnership. Bangladesh A hopes are virtually buried as Nasir Hossain bowled by Karn Sharma scoring 22 runs of 27 balls. Arafat Sunny is the new batsman, but now it's very stiff task for the Bangladesh side. Rain has stopped the play for the second time in the day while Bangladesh A scored 141/6 in 32 overs. Bangladesh A will get a revised and tougher target when (read 'if') rain stops. But rain has the final say as the play called off and as per DL method India A has won by 75 runs and won the ODI series 2-1.
India A has won the 1st ODI played on 16th Sep, 2016 to lead the series 1-0. But on 1 8th September, Bangladesh A came back strong in the 2nd ODI with a thumping victory to level the series 1-1. Today is the deciding final ODI between Bangladesh A vs India A to get a result in the series.
After the BAN A vs IND A ODI Series 2015, Bangladesh A will play a 3-day match against the Ranji Trphy Champions Karnataka. Bangladesh A vs Karnataka 3-day match will start on 22nd September.
In the finishing tour match, Bangladesh A will play against India A in a 3-day match, due to to start on 27th September, 2015 in Bangaluru.
Bangladesh A vice-captain Nasir Hossain & wicketkeeper Liton Das are the leading scorer for Bangladesh A in this series. In the 2nd ODI between Ban A vs Ind A, Nasir Hossain scored 102 runs not out and bowls 5/36 to win the crucial match for Bangladesh A.
Live TV streaming of Bangladesh A vs India A 3rd & Final ODI is not available online by any TV Channel worldwide.
Bangladesh A vs India A 3rd & Final ODI Players List – 20/09/2015
INDIA A Players List for 3rd/Final ODI
BANGLADESH A Players List for 3rd/Final ODI
- Ban A vs Ind A 3rd ODI Toss: India A, who chose to Bat
- Ban A vs Ind A 3rd ODI Venue: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
- Ban A vs Ind A 3rd ODI Umpires: K Srinath, P. Jayapal
- Ban A vs Ind A 3rd ODI Referee: S Sharath


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Pulselive from Sony works with sports federations, media companies and sponsors to deliver innovative, intelligent and reliable digital, social and content solutions that make sport more interactive, engaging and accessible for their audiences.
We're focused on sport and have a unique set of capabilities that span the entire digital value chain, combining Insight, Technology, UX & Design, Social Media and Content to create multi-platform solutions that deliver true value and results for our clients.
We provide insight into how fans are using digital media and consuming content to enable our clients to maximise engagement and commercial returns.
We understand that fans are consuming content in more diverse ways. So everything we do is developed for any platform or device.
To deliver the ultimate user experience , we use simple design and navigation to deliver content in the most clear and engaging way.
We are an official Twitter Display Partner and work with our clients to design and develop social products that are changing the way audiences interact with live events.
With our range of content solutions, we encourage fans to get involved with all the action before, during and after the event.
Pulselive is the official digital partner of the International Cricket Council, responsible for all of their digital and mobile properties including the ICC Cricket World Cup.
"Pulselive's comprehensive knowledge of the industry combined with their pro-active approach, creative flair and technical ability enables the ICC to achieve its digital objectives."
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- Aarti Dabas – Head of Media Rights, Broadcast and Digital, ICC
Pulselive works closely with the ICC and their commercial partners to create and deliver a digital and social strategy which fulfils their objective of 'capitalising on digital to create value for the ICC and their stakeholders'. Our remit also extends to broadcast and in-venue integration and identifying and executing fan engagement opportunities across multiple touch points.
We've developed a new digital platform for the ICC which has consolidated all of their tournament sites under one domain -- icc-cricket.com – a process which involved significant content migration work. The new platform is home to all the ICC's major tournament sites including the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World T20, ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. We also provide managed SEO services, which have seen the ICC's organic search impressions increase by 178% in the last 12 months.
Using the ICC's corporate and event brand guidelines, Pulselive created a consistent user interface that flows through all of the ICC's digital properties. We developed a cross-platform flexible UI toolkit and template structure which can accommodate multiple pages and content requirements and by taking a mobile-first approach, the user experience is seamless, from mobile, to tablet, to desktop.
Pulselive is responsible for planning and implementing the ICC's social media strategy with the core goal of promoting the global game and driving referrals to the ICC's digital properties. We work closely with the ICC to plan, manage and execute a content strategy across their social media properties, with the added benefit that the ICC benefit from Pulselive's relationships with all of the major social media networks.
As the digital division of Hawk-Eye, Pulselive has access to huge volumes of data. We've developed visually enhanced live match centre and scoring services as well as engaging analytical graphics that sit alongside blogs, editorial and VOD content to deliver immersive experiences for the ICC's audiences. We also worked alongside Hawk-Eye to produce and stream live World T20 and Cricket World Cup qualifiers exclusively across icc-cricket.com.
Pulselive is the digital arm of Hawk-Eye innovations, helping them to deliver digital extensions that put the data into the hands of the fans.
Pulselive is an Official Display Partner of Twitter, responsible for developing and delivering social products to enhance sports and live broadcast.
As a Facebook Public Content Solution Partner, Pulselive delivers market-leading tools and services to sports federations, media companies and sponsors.
Pulselive works with Opta, the world's leading supplier of sports data, to provide visually enhanced statistics across digital platforms.
LiveWire Sport's BAFTA-award winning digital content and social media management services is enhanced by Pulselive's suite of innovative digital and social products and platforms.