mandag 2. november 2009
Pattinson, Stewart bare "gode venner"
Den "Twilight" stjerner ønsker å sette inn direkte på forholdet deres.
Takk for lesing MobileCrunch, folkens.
Vi får ikke en sjanse til å gjøre dette ofte, men jeg ønsket å starte denne herlige mandag morgen ut med noe jeg har ønsket å si for en stund: Takk for lesing oss MobileCrunch, alle sammen. lansert i september 2006. Rundt midten av 2008, endret vi ting opp litt - og vi har sett monumentale vekst noensinne [...]
Utilities to deploy 250M smart meters by 2015
Infused by the $3.4 billion in federal grants handed out last week, utilities will ramp up production and installation of digital smart meters by more than 19 percent, with 250 million predicted to be rolled out by 2015, according to a new report out today from Pike Research.
These advanced meters (an example on the left in the image above), capable of wirelessly beaming energy consumption data in real time to both utilities and their customers to encourage accurate pricing and conservation, could represent as much as $3.9 billion in global business in the next five years, the report says.
To put these figures in context, only about 46 million smart meters were in the field last year. The effort will push utilities to replace almost half of the meters they currently have installed at homes and businesses, when most meters haven’t been swapped out for more than 20 years. The government grant awards are supposed to fund the near-term installation of about 18 million meters.
Having lit a fire under utilities in the form of stimulus funds, the U.S. expects to pass up Europe, which currently leads in smart metering expansion. By 2015, about 55 percent of buildings will be equipped with smart meters, the Pike report says. On an international level, about 3.5 percent of electric meters can be considered “smart.” In five years, this number could jump to 18 percent.
Pike acknowledges that this growth is dependent on the development of a universal set of standards — technology specifications that allow smart grid equipment, from meters to substations to wireless networks to backend software, to communicate seamlessly with one another. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is hard at work to ensure that this happens within a reasonable time frame.
But not everyone is thrilled about the smart metering sprint ahead. Wired magazine published an article last week questioning whether rapid deployment of smart grid technology will overlook security concerns. The piece pointed to another announcement from last week that the Information Trust Institute at the University of Illinois received an $18.8 million grant for a five-year investigation of smart grid cybersecurity. At this rate, millions of new meters will already be in the field before some measures to fend off hackers and viruses are applied.
The Wired article also pointed to an experiment in which a segment of the grid was intentionally infected with a digital worm, which successfully spread from meter to meter, knocking out power in 15,000 homes for a full day. The findings were largely ignored by the Department of Homeland Security.
Still, the Department of Energy promises that utilities and government agencies alike are taking security precautions very seriously — there are even terms built into the recent grants that force recipients to prioritize security in their operations. Even if they do, new, more sophisticated attacks will no doubt evolve, forcing smart meters to be replaced every several years, instead of once a decade. This could get pricey.
Other smart grid and energy analysts are also concerned about the necessary replacement rate of meters as technology improves. Deploying first-generation Smart Meters to markets of millions is almost like handing out the first-iteration iPhone to every American citizen. When new, more efficient meters enter the market, will utilities roll out replacements with the same gusto? Will they even be able to afford to once the government money is gone?
The Pike report sounds like good news on the surface, but now that utilities have cash-in-hand to make the smart grid happen, everyone needs to admit that building out a cleaner, more efficient system won’t be as easy as a one-time deployment of meters.
VentureBeat is hosting GreenBeat, the seminal executive conference on the Smart Grid, on Nov. 18-19, featuring keynotes from Nobel Prize winner Al Gore and Kleiner Perkins’ John Doerr. Get your discounted early-bird tickets before Nov. 5 at GreenBeat2009.com.
These advanced meters (an example on the left in the image above), capable of wirelessly beaming energy consumption data in real time to both utilities and their customers to encourage accurate pricing and conservation, could represent as much as $3.9 billion in global business in the next five years, the report says.
To put these figures in context, only about 46 million smart meters were in the field last year. The effort will push utilities to replace almost half of the meters they currently have installed at homes and businesses, when most meters haven’t been swapped out for more than 20 years. The government grant awards are supposed to fund the near-term installation of about 18 million meters.
Having lit a fire under utilities in the form of stimulus funds, the U.S. expects to pass up Europe, which currently leads in smart metering expansion. By 2015, about 55 percent of buildings will be equipped with smart meters, the Pike report says. On an international level, about 3.5 percent of electric meters can be considered “smart.” In five years, this number could jump to 18 percent.
Pike acknowledges that this growth is dependent on the development of a universal set of standards — technology specifications that allow smart grid equipment, from meters to substations to wireless networks to backend software, to communicate seamlessly with one another. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is hard at work to ensure that this happens within a reasonable time frame.
But not everyone is thrilled about the smart metering sprint ahead. Wired magazine published an article last week questioning whether rapid deployment of smart grid technology will overlook security concerns. The piece pointed to another announcement from last week that the Information Trust Institute at the University of Illinois received an $18.8 million grant for a five-year investigation of smart grid cybersecurity. At this rate, millions of new meters will already be in the field before some measures to fend off hackers and viruses are applied.
The Wired article also pointed to an experiment in which a segment of the grid was intentionally infected with a digital worm, which successfully spread from meter to meter, knocking out power in 15,000 homes for a full day. The findings were largely ignored by the Department of Homeland Security.
Still, the Department of Energy promises that utilities and government agencies alike are taking security precautions very seriously — there are even terms built into the recent grants that force recipients to prioritize security in their operations. Even if they do, new, more sophisticated attacks will no doubt evolve, forcing smart meters to be replaced every several years, instead of once a decade. This could get pricey.
Other smart grid and energy analysts are also concerned about the necessary replacement rate of meters as technology improves. Deploying first-generation Smart Meters to markets of millions is almost like handing out the first-iteration iPhone to every American citizen. When new, more efficient meters enter the market, will utilities roll out replacements with the same gusto? Will they even be able to afford to once the government money is gone?
The Pike report sounds like good news on the surface, but now that utilities have cash-in-hand to make the smart grid happen, everyone needs to admit that building out a cleaner, more efficient system won’t be as easy as a one-time deployment of meters.
VentureBeat is hosting GreenBeat, the seminal executive conference on the Smart Grid, on Nov. 18-19, featuring keynotes from Nobel Prize winner Al Gore and Kleiner Perkins’ John Doerr. Get your discounted early-bird tickets before Nov. 5 at GreenBeat2009.com.
Assia tar $ 10M å administrere, speed DSL service
daptive Spectrum og Signal Alignment (Assia), et selskap som klarer DSL-linjer for å gi raskere og mer pålitelig service, har reist 10 millioner dollar av en ventet 25 millioner dollar runde med finansiering. The Redwood City, Calif Selskapet er støttet av Mingly China Growth Fund, SFR Utvikling, Stanford University, Swisscom Ventures og T-Venture.
Getting bigger on a budget: look to low-cost office solutions for profitable growth
Editor’s note: This post is sponsored by Regus.
Growth is good. But only if it doesn’t cost you more than it’s worth. Some small businesses take steps to add staff and move into a larger office, only to find out later that the overhead and extra expenses drag them under.
What many small business owners don’t realize is that there is a middle ground between doing everything yourself from home and hiring staff to work in a pricey office. Today there are a wide array of alternatives that allow small and mid-sized firms to compete at the same level as the major players in their industry, at a fraction of the cost. How you use the tools to your advantage is up to you. Here are four ideas:
Masterful meetings
Hosting free educational seminars to attract potential clients has always been a popular strategy for small business owners. But most sessions are wrought with two recurring problems: cost and control. It can cost too much to rent hotel meeting rooms that are only available in half-day blocks. And there can be a lack of quality control when you invite prospects to meet at a local restaurant.
There is another option. One rather well-kept secret (for now) is the availability of by-the-hour meeting rooms at conveniently located business centers in larger cities and suburbs. For about 20-30 percent less than the average hotel meeting room, you can secure a conference room in a prestigious high-rise, get on-site technical and administrative support, and have catering arranged for your group.
A home away from home
The technology revolution has made working from home more feasible for many small business owners. But when it’s time to take your business to the next level, barking dogs, rowdy kids, and sheer isolation may hamper your growth plans. It might also be nice to invite your clients to visit your office once in a while.
If a more professional workplace is what your firm needs to take off, you don’t necessarily have to cut the cord to home altogether. Starting at around a few hundred dollars a month, part-time, drop-in offices are a less costly alternative to leasing and outfitting your own space. These “on-demand” offices come fully furnished and equipped, and provide access to “big-company” amenities like high-powered copiers and videoconferencing.
The incredible elastic office
If you want to build your small shop into the next industry powerhouse, you’ll need more office space to bring on new team members. Deciding how much extra space is needed is the tricky part. Not enough square footage could make for cramped quarters if business booms. Worse, you may have to swallow the costs of moving all over again. On the other hand, overestimating your staffing needs could leave you paying for empty space you don’t need.
Thankfully, you don’t have to guess. Placing your headquarters in a fully furnished and equipped business center can cost up to 60 percent less than leasing and filling out empty office space. And you can add more offices as your firm grows, without the expense of changing the lease or moving twice.
Consider the case of one financial services firm that grew from two to 10 employees in a single year, never moved, and never once paid for office space or services they weren’t using. The same scenario would have been nearly impossible with a traditional real estate lease.
Virtual expansion
Growing small businesses may dream of opening a second office, maybe in another city, but there are risks attached. First there’s the cost of building out the new office – furnishings, equipment, connectivity, and more. Then there’s the long-term lease that you have to pay even if you don’t bring in additional business. Instead of diving in headlong, try dipping a toe in the water first with a “virtual office.”
A virtual office allows you to establish an immediate presence and test-drive a new location without taking on significant expenses. With a virtual office, you get a permanent address and phone number in a prestigious business district in the city of your choice, and a receptionist to answer and direct calls in your firm’s name. Some virtual office providers even include part-time office space at the virtual location, so you can drop by for a meeting when necessary. The power of perception is yours for as little as $99 a month.
With so many low-cost options, it is possible for small firms to project a professional image and enjoy the amenities that high-quality office space can provide. And by escaping long-term contracts and hefty overhead expenses, small business owners can help set their organization on a fast track to growth.
Guillermo Rotman is CEO of The Regus Group Americas. Regus offers a full range of fully furnished and equipped offices, meeting rooms, business lounges, videoconferencing facilities, and supporting services. Visit www.regus.com or call 1-800-OFFICES for more information.
Growth is good. But only if it doesn’t cost you more than it’s worth. Some small businesses take steps to add staff and move into a larger office, only to find out later that the overhead and extra expenses drag them under.
What many small business owners don’t realize is that there is a middle ground between doing everything yourself from home and hiring staff to work in a pricey office. Today there are a wide array of alternatives that allow small and mid-sized firms to compete at the same level as the major players in their industry, at a fraction of the cost. How you use the tools to your advantage is up to you. Here are four ideas:
Masterful meetings
Hosting free educational seminars to attract potential clients has always been a popular strategy for small business owners. But most sessions are wrought with two recurring problems: cost and control. It can cost too much to rent hotel meeting rooms that are only available in half-day blocks. And there can be a lack of quality control when you invite prospects to meet at a local restaurant.
There is another option. One rather well-kept secret (for now) is the availability of by-the-hour meeting rooms at conveniently located business centers in larger cities and suburbs. For about 20-30 percent less than the average hotel meeting room, you can secure a conference room in a prestigious high-rise, get on-site technical and administrative support, and have catering arranged for your group.
A home away from home
The technology revolution has made working from home more feasible for many small business owners. But when it’s time to take your business to the next level, barking dogs, rowdy kids, and sheer isolation may hamper your growth plans. It might also be nice to invite your clients to visit your office once in a while.
If a more professional workplace is what your firm needs to take off, you don’t necessarily have to cut the cord to home altogether. Starting at around a few hundred dollars a month, part-time, drop-in offices are a less costly alternative to leasing and outfitting your own space. These “on-demand” offices come fully furnished and equipped, and provide access to “big-company” amenities like high-powered copiers and videoconferencing.
The incredible elastic office
If you want to build your small shop into the next industry powerhouse, you’ll need more office space to bring on new team members. Deciding how much extra space is needed is the tricky part. Not enough square footage could make for cramped quarters if business booms. Worse, you may have to swallow the costs of moving all over again. On the other hand, overestimating your staffing needs could leave you paying for empty space you don’t need.
Thankfully, you don’t have to guess. Placing your headquarters in a fully furnished and equipped business center can cost up to 60 percent less than leasing and filling out empty office space. And you can add more offices as your firm grows, without the expense of changing the lease or moving twice.
Consider the case of one financial services firm that grew from two to 10 employees in a single year, never moved, and never once paid for office space or services they weren’t using. The same scenario would have been nearly impossible with a traditional real estate lease.
Virtual expansion
Growing small businesses may dream of opening a second office, maybe in another city, but there are risks attached. First there’s the cost of building out the new office – furnishings, equipment, connectivity, and more. Then there’s the long-term lease that you have to pay even if you don’t bring in additional business. Instead of diving in headlong, try dipping a toe in the water first with a “virtual office.”
A virtual office allows you to establish an immediate presence and test-drive a new location without taking on significant expenses. With a virtual office, you get a permanent address and phone number in a prestigious business district in the city of your choice, and a receptionist to answer and direct calls in your firm’s name. Some virtual office providers even include part-time office space at the virtual location, so you can drop by for a meeting when necessary. The power of perception is yours for as little as $99 a month.
With so many low-cost options, it is possible for small firms to project a professional image and enjoy the amenities that high-quality office space can provide. And by escaping long-term contracts and hefty overhead expenses, small business owners can help set their organization on a fast track to growth.
Guillermo Rotman is CEO of The Regus Group Americas. Regus offers a full range of fully furnished and equipped offices, meeting rooms, business lounges, videoconferencing facilities, and supporting services. Visit www.regus.com or call 1-800-OFFICES for more information.
Scoopler får seeded for sanntids søk
Scoopler, et av de nyeste selskaper som tilbyr sanntids søkefunksjoner, har hentet inn et frø rundt et sted mellom $ 500.000 og $ 1 million. Basert i San Francisco ble selskapet støttet av Avalon Ventures, XG Ventures og høyprofilerte individuelle investorer Ron Conway og Michael Birch. Scoopler, som leter Twitter, Digg og Delicious som deres innholdet oppdateres først fikk midler i fjor fra Y Combinator.
Anvendt Quantum ser for $ 20M for thin-film solar
Applied Quantum Technology, produsent av utstyr for å produsere kobber-indium-gallium diselenide thin-film solceller, fortalte Dow Jones Venturewire at det er ønsker å heve et $ 20 millioner andre runde av midler til kjerne ut et mye billigere produkt enn sine konkurrenter. Santa Clara, California-baserte selskapet sier de cellene er også bedre i effektivitet fra 10 prosent til om lag 14 prosent. Selskapet tidligere tok finansiering fra STPV Holdings.
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