Tony Blog Reviews » Productivity

SugarSync: 2 Petabytes and Counting – Welcome to the Personal Cloud

cgseo — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:00:30 +0000

SugarSync is one of several companies competing these days to benefit from the disruptions in the market created by the new ways that people organize and share information from the any number of devices they use in their day. That’s a fundamental shift that is happening as people move beyond the desktop as a place to keep their documents, their media and their productivity applications. Sponsor Services like SugarSync serve in many ways as personal clouds that people use for their own work. They seem like plain vanilla services but that as well is the benefit the services provide. They are very simple to use. Data is automatically backed up to the cloud. SugarSync’s latest hosting numbers are revealing as they demonstrate how much data people are storing online. SugarSync reports that in the past year, the amount of data added to the SugarSync data centers went from an average of 1 terabyte of data to 5 terabytes of information. In total, the company now hosts two petaybtes of information. What’s fueling this growth? The customers may provide some clue. About 33 percent of customers are from outside the United States. Mobile devices are far more predominant outside the U.S. It makes sense tht people would need an alternative place to store infromation besides their smart phone or netbook. In light of the booming mobile device market, SugarSync, Dropbox and a host of other services are companies that seem like it would make most sense to develop mobile apps. That appears to be true. In the past 18 months, Sugar Sync has released apps for the Android, BlackBerry and iPad. Services like SugarSync show how the data we create will become part of a personal cloud network. These services lay the grounwork for a new generation of personal and business offerings that work with users to create data as a service opportunities. That’s down the road a bit but people do want so share. And they want to share outside the borders of a social network. Personal clouds could be a means to do that. Discuss

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SugarSync: 2 Petabytes and Counting – Welcome to the Personal Cloud

What Does Health Care Reform Mean for Startups and VCs?

cgseo — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:00:00 +0000

In the waning moments of Sunday evening (quite literally the eleventh hour), the U.S. House of Representatives passed was some are calling the most comprehensive changes to the American health care system in over 100 years. The bill passed by a narrow margin of just seven votes, and could be signed into law as early as Tuesday after the Senate passes a small amendment known as the “fix-it bill,” though many changes won’t be seen for several years. For entrepreneurs, startups and venture capitalists, the legislation ushers in an entirely new set of circumstances and opportunities. Sponsor By 2014, the bill requires states to set up what are known as “SHOP Exchanges,” or Small Business Health Options Programs, which allows SMBs to group together when buying health insurance. “Small businesses” are defined as having fewer than 100 employees, but individual states can choose to only allow businesses with no more than 50 employees to participate for the first two years. Companies with 25 or fewer employees could potentially be eligible to receive a 35% tax credit for buying health insurance as early as this year. By 2014, those companies could see that credit rise to 50%, while even smaller companies could receive a full tax credit to provide insurance for their employees granted their average salaries are below $25,000 annually. My guess is that a majority of startups (especially smaller, younger startups strapped for cash) would fall somewhere under these tax break brackets, which could entice them to provide coverage. Having the ability to affordably provide health insurance to employees is a tool that could prove useful in attracting and maintaining a talented team at a smaller level. For companies with fewer than 50 employees, there will be no penalties for not providing insurance, but for larger companies, steep fines could be levied should they fail to purchase insurance. Some fear that this could halt companies from growing past 50 employees should they choose to not want to provide insurance, but others argue that only a small amount of the nation’s small businesses would be affected. Another fear is that in the time between now and 2014, health insurance companies will drastically raise rates in an effort to shore-up as much cash as they can before the new rules kick in. Five months ago, San Francisco-based company TriNet surveyed small business executives and found that for over 75% of respondents, as much as 10% of their companies’ revenues were being spent on health care. Furthermore, 63% said their rates went up by as much as 20% over the last year, so the possibility of further insurance rate hikes is unfortunately a continuing trend. So will smaller companies jump on board with health insurance or will those already participating be forced to jump off with increased rates? For their sake, I hope they have fewer than 50 employees or they could be fined as much as $2,000 per employee for not providing insurance. Representative Joe Donnelly of Indiana tried to reassure small business owners Monday morning: “I would not have supported this bill if I didn’t think that it was a benefit to small business and to mid-sized business, [and] made our companies more competitive in international markets,” he said. While business owners argue the possible benefits and detriments of the new bill, venture capitalists are already looking for ways to take advantage of the changes. Dr. Bijan Salehizadeh, an investor with Highland Capital Partners , wrote recently about how he is keeping his eye out for startups that can streamline and improve on the health care industry , especially those focused on chronic disease management, practice profitability tools, and CRM for practices. “Why is it that every other category of small business in the country has figured out CRM other than physician practices? I’m talking about electronic scheduling, reminders for visits, etc. Really basic convenience oriented items that make a huge difference to patients/consumers,” writes Salehizadeh. “If restaurants can do it, then doctors offices must be able to do it in 2010.” One such startup looking to help small businesses deal with the shifting seas of health insurance premiums is Bloom Health . In a nutshell, Bloom allows companies to pay them a fixed rate and then Bloom offers the employees the choice of any insurance plan on the market. In other words, it lets small businesses outsource their health insurance for the security of fixed premiums. More VC firms will likely be putting money behind companies like Bloom, such as Chrysalis Ventures , whose managing director David Jones predicted this practice last July. “Whatever form health care reform takes, we believe companies that can improve the productivity and efficiency of improvement of health care services and avoidance of medical problems are going to prosper, and we’re putting our money behind that belief,” said Jones in an interview with the New York Times last summer. So now that the health care reform bill has passed, and sweeping changes are coming to America’s businesses, what do you think? Will the benefits outweigh the costs and help smaller businesses provide for their employees? Or will larger companies pay the price for not providing insurance lest they be forced into paying for coverage? This is a truly complicated issue, and it is unclear which way things will go, so let us know what you think of it all in the comments below. Discuss

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What Does Health Care Reform Mean for Startups and VCs?

Modular Workbenches: Bringing Enhanced Productivity in Your Workplace

cgseo — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:54:46 +0000

Modular workbenches are essential for the growth of your business, particularly if you are in the manufacturing sector. This type of workbenches allows you to easily construct or arrange your production line according to the needs of your operations. With a modular bench, you do not have to worry about how to replace old workstations because you really do not need to.

By simply adjusting the height or the structure of your workbench, we can fit it into all the other types of furnishing in the workplace. Besides, a modular workstation comes complete with added accessories that allow them to make room for upgrades or other devices. There are workbenches equipped with drawers, while there are others that have electrical outlets attached on them. There are modular workstations that have hydraulic elevators that allow them to reach various heights.

But because modular workbenches are highly adjustable, many people think that they cannot withstand the demands of a busy production line. Well, nothing can be farther from the truth. These workbenches are designed for heavy duty performance. Some workbenches can even carry up to a thousand pounds of weight on their tops without them falling into pieces.

Typically, modular workbenches are made of steel. And they are coated with paint, industrial laminate, or even unbreakable glass. In certain plants or factories, some workbenches have been covered with anti-static layers to minimize the damage caused by electrostatic discharge or ESD. If, like us, your company deals in electronic products, a modular ESD workstation can ensure that your products are in tiptop condition before they are shipped to your customers.

Of course, you need to talk with your supplier about your requirements so that they can design the most appropriate workbenches for your workplace. Once you have workbenches that are properly designed for your operations, you can look forward to years of continuous service. And because they can really be durable, you can also expect that they will look like new for a longer period. This can work to your advantage if you are being regularly inspected by a standards organization or government authorities.

When you decide to invest in modular workbenches, keep in mind that you are not just ensuring the quality of your products. You are also enhancing the productivity of your employees. You see, modular workbenches are also designed to provide utmost comfort for the user. With all these in mind, you should find a design team that will help you get the workbenches that will fit your workspace perfectly.

In the end, modular workbenches are about helping manufacturers like you cut costs brought about by defective products, repairs and overhead. For more information on modular solutions, you can call 1.866.612.7312. You can also visit www.OnePointeSolutions.com.