Partnering with Microsoft Partners
Inspire-Tech would like to invite Microsoft & their partners to partner with us to tap on the opportunities for SMS text messaging and create additional values to their customers. Here’s the link to the presentation
Microsoft WPC 2010
Excellent Conference with Visionary keynotes and exciting demos. That’s how we summarize the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010. Inspire-Tech’s management were at the conference and we exhibited at the Expo too.
Here’s a summary of some things that Inspire-Tech can relate very well:
- Microsoft’s new slogan on CloudComputing – “We are All IN”
- Steve Ballmer & many other top honcos repeatedly emphasize Microsoft’s vision and how quickly they’ve embraced Cloud services.
- They encourage partners to embrace it quickly and find infinite possibilities to our business
- It is amazing how a giant can transform so quickly, changing their business model to stay relevant to their customers’ needs
- If the “giant” can be so agile, a nimble ISV like us would certainly be able to embrace the change as fast
- Years back, Inspire-Tech already have the vision on how we conduct SMS business through “Software installation” & “Software as a Service”
- The new keywords are “On Premise” and “Cloud”
- Besides keyword change, the business model on how the software solutions are offered and where it’s gonna be will be adjusted to bring better values to our customers
- EasiSMS is still our very own “On Premise” solution while RapidSMS is the ”Software as a service” for customers to enjoy SMS software functions over the cloud.
- There may be some limitations on SaaS or Cloud Services as it will be generic services across many customers. We believe the design of the solution is important so it can satisfy as many clients across different industry verticals. Our R&D team has been investing on improving our solutions to meet the demands.
- However, if customers needed more control and customised features, EasiSMS still stay relevant to their needs.
- Inspire-Tech can’t agree further that we are “All In” too
- The value of BPOS (Business Productivity Online Services)
- We are already using it for almost 6 months. It is an excellent platform.
- We would be assisting many businesses to get on to BPOS.
- Exciting Windows Phone 7 coming soon
- cool features and not forgetting, giving us the productivity in our handsTest phones are shipped out
- we are waiting eagerly to get our hands on and develop our mobile apps on the new O/S.
Other interesting points include
- Redefining PC from Personal Computing to Personal Cloud
- A shift from just computing to cloud. The ability to manage your content over the cloud and encourage easy sharing and management of personal content.
Our iPad Winner drawn via our latest EasiInteractive
On the last day of CommunicAsia (18th June 2010) at around 12.15pm, the lucky winner for the Free iPad was drawn. The 2 weeks of lucky draw campaign started with FANs of PROXIHOMES posting our automobile photo on facebook followed by the Mobile Surveys conducted during the 4 days of the Asia Pacific’s greatest IT trade show. Thousands of surveys were collected via our Mobile Surveys on iPhones, Windows Phones and iPad from the trade visitors.
- Lucky draw conducted with our latest SMS solution, EasiInteractive and Mr Charles Goh is calling the winner
After a brief introduction by our Sales Manager, Ms Cathrin Poh, we proceeded to draw the lucky winner electronically via our SMS Projection cum lucky draw engine, called EasiInteractive.
The Technology Behind: Throughout the 4 days of exhibition, Inspire-Tech put together an integrated mobile solution which brings SMS, Smartphone technology & Cloud Services together to create an end-to-end experience. Survey participants completed their survey on our electronic survey on iPhone, iPad and Windows phone. Once the survey answers were uploaded to the cloud server, a SMS is automatically generated and the participant receives an SMS. During the lucky draw, these participants’ info were loaded live on via our SMS gateway into EasiInteractive and the lucky winner’s mobile number is projected directly on the screen.
Mr Jason Li from Singapore was drawn as the lucky winner. He came to our booth at around 2.30pm.
Proud winner of the iPad
What’s happening at CommunicAsia 2010 at our booth?
Besides having the ministers at our booth on the 1st day, there had been a lot of buzz, fun and serious Q&A around Inspire-Tech’s booth. With the various showcases and mobile survey, there were many things to engage visitors who came by our booth. Occassionally you could hear jingles of “We will Rock you & WIN AN iPAD” to creative dialogues on how to save IDD costs using easiCALL from our sound tower.
In the proximity of Hall 3 & 4, you could see our ambassadors carrying our attractive poster to invite attendees to participate in our 2 minute survey.
Inspire-Tech ambassador taking mobile survey near the Malaysia pavilion
At our booth, staff attended to enquiries and got our visitors to fill up surveys on iPad and various phone platforms.
Visitors can send live SMS to wish us Happy 10th year to even guessing which was the winning team for the day’s match on our live SMS projections.
- SMS projections over live video feed using EasiInteractive
The last day ended with climax event of drawing the iPad winner. (See next blog). It had been a tiring 4 days and the hardworking team celebrated the success of the event with our team photo!
- The Inspiring team!
Ministers visit Inspire-Tech’s booth at CommunicAsia 2010
The first day of CommunicAsia 2010 started with an opening ceremony at Hall 2. We are honoured to have our Acting Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, together with the Ministers from overseas and foreign delegates to visit our booth.
(centre) Mr Lui Tuck Yew & (right) Charles is demonstrating RapidSurvey to the Ministers and the overseas delegates.
Charles, our Managing Director demonstrated our latest RapidSurvey, an innovation which uses Cloud Computing to host the survey and electronic devices to collect survey questions.
Information is collected live and uploaded immediately. The mobile survey is conducted on iPad, iPhone, Windows phone and other phone platforms.
Charles highlighted that such architecture allows time sensitive mass surveys like national censes to be collected within very short time span without worrying about traffic congestion or scalability that are faced by web surveys.
3 more days to CommunicAsia and come to win an iPad
Look out for our ambassadors who would be walking around with their mobile phones to conduct a 2 minute electronic survey and get a chance to win an iPad.
Visit 3A2-07, INSPIRE-TECH at CommunicAsia
This survey uses a hybrid of cloud computing and smartphones to bring about speed and interactive experience. Visit us at Hall 3, 3A2-07 in Singapore Expo between 15 – 18 June. Winner of iPad will be announced on 18th June 12pm.
What’s the difference between SMS Software, SMS Appliance and SMS Server?
Today, we’ll cover on some key differences between these 3 possible terminologies of how people understand about different SMS solution.
Recently, we received an enquiry from a prospect who wanted a ”SMS software” to broadcast. In the list of software modules that we provide, we had a little challenge trying to explain to him that we have “different” solutions which cater for different needs. Customers have options to have the software on their prefered server or in a ready appliance.
In any SMS Server or SMS Appliance, it is the “Software” that enables the process. A GSM modem (the hardware) may help to transmit the SMS message, the software is the intelligent piece which helped to talk to the hardware and manage the message load and business logic.
Our definition
- SMS Software – Software that is written by developers on their respective programming languages and may come with user interface to connect with the GSM devices or mobile carriers APIs. There are different types of software in the market. The sophistication of the SMS software depends on the target market (who are the users), the intended functions and the usage pattern.
- SMS Server – A server based software which sits on a Server operating System.It is more robust than being installed as a desktop software. Simple SMS software can help to manage some contact list and send out SMS. When there is a larger load or a need to run the application 24 x 7 or even to leave the system to receive SMS at anytime to handle unsubscribe request, a server is definitely a better choice than a “simple software”. There may be freeware in the market but many times, they are not meant to run 24 x7 or have many limitations. Server-based software are intended for multi-users and 24 x 7 support.
- SMS Appliance – Similar to SMS Server, it is meant to run 24 x 7. It is a hardware with pre-installed software. Typically if a device is sold as an appliance, the configuration and settings are fixed. Upgrading is rather limited because of the server capacity that is fixed on the appliance.
When would a user decide between the purchase of an appliance versus a server?
- Simple and Easy to start
SMS Appliance is usually a good recommendation for a basic start for users who need a server solution with rather “low” specifications and requirement. The basic features would suffice in most cases. Upgrade is usually not required. Some clients also prefer not to purchase “annual support” plans (prefer not to pay recurring) and the investment on the appliance may be good to last for some for about 3-4 years. - Scalability consideration
For larger organisations with dynamic required, SMS Appliance becomes rather limited. As defined earlier, an appliance is usually sold as it is, with the specifications and are usually not “upgradable”. To upgrade is as good as purchasing a new appliance. If the user’s organisation have a tendency to expand on the usage or increase the number of users connecting to it, it is best to consider a server software that can be independent of any hardware specs. If the hardware requirement increases, the software can always be migrated over to the new server. Appliance which promised “unlimited users” access are usually limited by the hardware capacity. It may look good on marketing but the reality is for the user to judge. - Cloud computing/Virtualisation
This may sound new to some people. Cloud is here and many application and services are moving into cloud. SMS services which requires increasing capacity should be considered to be virtualised.
What can we offer?
We offer a full range of SMS solutions (except simple PC based software). This is why the understanding of client’s infrastruture and needs is an important process before we recommend any solutions.
- ValueSMS – SMS appliance
- EasiSMS – SMS Server solution that can be installed on server or even virtualised
- RapidSMS – Hosting SMS Service
ProxiHomes iPhone ver 2.0.1 released (via I found my home on ProxiHomes. Find yours!)
Inspire-Tech is giving out a free iPad
It seems ironical that we covered on a topic on the free iPad scam and we are giving out an iPad this June 18th 2010. Contrary to scams, Inspire-Tech is really giving out an iPad at CommunicAsia.
Win a free iPad from Inspire-Tech during CommunicAsia
How can you participate?
- Visit us at CommunicAsia, Singapore Expo, Hall 3, 3A2-07 between 15 Jun 2010 – 18 Jun 2010 and participate in our Mobile Survey with our ambassdors.OR
- Spot, Snap, Upload & SMS our ProxiHomes automobile.
Contest ends on 18th June 2010 12:00pm for surveys and 10:00am for Photo uploads. All contest entries will be submitted via SMS.
M1 Smart Roam Applications
Inspire-Tech develops the M1 Smart Roam application for MobileOne Limited in Singapore.
Quoted from M1′s website
With M1 SmartRoam Application, you no longer have to remember the short code (*138*) and number sequence when you make affordable SmartRoam calls back to Singapore or anywhere in the world. What’s more, SmartRoam Application is free! So start downloading now to enjoy a hassle-free experience when using M1 SmartRoam*!
