Sunny Ahn’s WebLog

Microsoft is making some noise within the global directory area with more announcements of its Echoes initiative.  According to Mary Joe Foley, the platform will provide the following:

• Syncs address book contacts over the air
• Ensure that IM messages work seamlessly with SMS
• Windows Live Messenger contacts get local numbers
• Voice calls from Messenger on PC to mobiles
• Offer some sort of presence

The platform will be similar to Skype and Google’s GrandCentral services.  The end goal, however, needs to be the ability to ‘find and connect’ one another without providing actual phone numbers – essentially allow people to connect via contextual listings (like email addresses, unique listings) and eliminate the need for phone numbers

My colleague Rod Drury sent me this link on Microsoft’s goal to remove phone numbers as the main way of communicating.  Totally agree – one should be able to find others based on the context they know them and allow the individual to control how they are connected. 

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1420

While IBM was again the #1 organization in receiving over 3,100 patents in the US in 2007, it has taken an alternative approach to the environment, with regards to patent development.  In January, IBM created an Eco-Patents Common, a group focused on sharing eco-friendly technology and innovation.  The patent commons will be administered by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and has the participation of some large companies including Sony, Nokia and Pitney Bowes.  The commons group was given 31 patents initially in January 2008 and expected to obtain many more in the coming years.  Kudos to IBM for getting the industry to work together on this..

Given the recent increase in natural disasters and emergency situations at our local city and schools, the rise of emergency notification services have increased.  All types of organizations are emerging with needs to notify a mass number of individuals immediately, irregardless of device.

Our company’s mass notification product, ccAlert, is now providing notification services to all types of devices, including mobile phone, fixed line phones (business/home), pagers and email.  Organizations can either use a web-based application that sends out text messages or send out voice messsages to thousands via their phones.  The tools is now being used by a number of fire departments, polices stations and schools throughout the US, in over 30 US states.  For those interested, please contact (info AT ccalert.net) for more details. 

It was announced on Thursday that the company has invested in a second ethanol company called Mascoma, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  The company develops a biochemical approach to converting wood chips and agricultrual wastes into ethanol.  GM’s first investment was a stake in Coskata, a cellulosic ethanol company.

The company creates a specialty microbes that breakdown non-food plant matter into sugars that are fermented into ethanol.   Nice to see GM continue its push into alternative investments. 

Next week, Tesla will officially open its first store in California.  The Tesla Roadster is an all electric sports car that tops at nearly $125,000 when fully loaded.  The company, armed with $40 million investment, has has some powerful investors including the two founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.  Must say the car is pretty slick, with design features similar to a Porsche.  Its cell-lithium ion battery pack gives off no emissions and goes from 0 to 60 in just under 40 seconds.  It can go about 225 miles one one charge and can be fully charged in 3.5 hours. 

Those interested in the vehicles, the delivery time is estimated around 15 months.  The company plans on a production number of 1,500 cars for 2009.

Context Connect gets another US patent on private directory-based connectivity (US Patent #7,340,048 – A System and Method for Directory Services and eCommerce Across Multi-Provider Networks).  The patent allows for basic connectivity calls and ecommerce transactions to take place across multiple service providers, without revealing the individuals’ contact details or information.  Given all it privacy issues surrounding an individuals’ personal details, the patent is focused on protecting one’s privacy while allow basic transactions to take place – such as a simple call to another person – calling people based on names, rather than phone numbers.

Google announced today that it has begun storing patient records for a few thousand individuals at Cleveland Clinic.  These health records will include prescription information, allergies and medical histories and will be protected through a password-based system, which will also allow patients to have access to Google email and search tools.

The key reason for Google’s entry in the space is to expand its search capabilities, moving beyond public environments (searching on the net) to more private situations.   While it is not entirely clear how Google plans to make money from its health service, its strategy of providing more searches through its technology is always the company’s first focus. 

Not surprisingly, others have also joined the fray including Microsoft, through its HealthVault and AOL founder Steve Case through Revolution Health.   Yet, the key issue for many privacy groups is that much of this information is not covered by HIPPA, which potentially opens to door for these companies to utilize the information for other purposes, beyond simple private access by patients to their own information. 

Incredibly, but not surprisingly, Apple is now the third-best selling smartphone provider in the world, according to Canalys.

From 0% of the market this time last year, Apple achieved 6.5% of the global smartphone market during the 4Q 2007, only behind Nokia (with 53% share) and RIM (with 11.4% share).

With 35.5 million smartphones sold in the 4Q 07, Apple has sold approximately 2.3 million iPhones globally.  In addition to the meteoric rise globally, Apple is now the 2nd smartphone provider in the US, only behind RIM.  Truly remarkable figures given that the first iPhone didn’t sell until the 2nd half of 2007. 

Suniva announced today that the firm has raised $50 million to commerialize its solar cell technology.  The company uses monocrystalline silicon, which the firm states can improve the efficiency of cell by 20 percent.  The Atlanta-based company received the funds from New Enterprise Associations and HIG Ventures.