Broadband bonding patches together a bigger pipe with a price tag sized for small business.

By Dan O’Shea

Small businesses find it tough to get what they need from big telecom service providers, which more often create offerings with big businesses in mind–”one-size-fits-all” solutions that may or may not fit.

In many cases, that one size is a T-1 line. At 1.5 megabits per second, that’s faster than some business connection alternatives–but it also can cost as much as $1,000 per month. For the most part, service providers are not in a rush to develop a more flexible solution for small businesses that ultimately would subtract from their bottom lines. Fortunately, there’s a work-around: an approach called broadband bonding. Simply put, it allows two or more broadband lines to be bonded into a single, more capacious pipe. Broadband bonding variations are offered by several companies, one of which is Mushroom Networks, founded in 2004 as a spinoff from the University of California, San Diego. Read more!

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Written by Sandvine’s Matt Tooley

Each year around January, the world waits in anticipation to see what big electronics companies have in store for the coming months in terms of the latest in computers, gadgets and home entertainment. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is akin to “Disney Land” for all gadget aficionados with a handful of new solutions grabbing a predominate portion of the media’s attention. This year the buzz centers on Google’s Nexus One, a new smart phone deemed by many as the “iPhone Killer” (doubtful it will knock iPhone off its perch – but we shall see). Flying a bit under the radar at this year’s show yet gaining tremendous traction in the real-world marketplace are solutions for blending the Internet with television.

Early talk about IPTV positioned the technology as the telco’s secret weapon for entry into a space cable operators have forever dominated. Now, cable operators themselves are looking towards Internet based television as an avenue for lucrative service offerings with many analysts and industry experts touting it as the next big thing in cable. Helping cultivate this push, equipment vendor Cisco Systems announced in late 2009 Cisco Blue, an interactive guide for cable-based IPTV set top boxes based on a Web-browser where widgets pull data from various sources such as Yahoo News or Twitter allowing subscribers to easily use their television to interact with the Internet. In addition, Arris demonstrated how IPTV- over-DOCSIS 3.0 can deliver more than 50 percent in bandwidth savings over traditional RF QAM channels.

Now that video and audio streaming already constitute 27 percent of all global Internet traffic (based on Sandvine’s 2009 report analyzing over 20 million broadband subscribers) the need for a much smarter and efficient Web will become even more critical as potentially millions of new Internet- enabled sets plug in. Internet-based TV has a great potential to not only modify the way the Web is managed, but to turn market sectors such as advertising on its head just by the very nature that people will watch their shows and interact with others online.

Much like how IP voice communications was slow to take off, and at one time even scoffed at due to quality of experience issues as a result of jitter and latency, Internet-based TV has experienced the same slow start. We are however at a tipping point where it is no longer a matter of “if” but “when” IPTV will surpass traditional television services – and that’s a story much more worthy of media buzz than the latest smart phone.

The tricky thing about inspiration is that it’s intangible; you can’t reproduce it, you can’t harness it and you can’t ever know how, why, or in what form inspiration will appear. But once inspiration materializes in whatever form it may be, the effects are priceless. George Eliot once asked, “Do we not all agree to call rapid thought and noble impulse by the name of inspiration?” Inspiration is impossible to predict and equally as impossible to prevent. Stopping the creative flood that occurs after an inspiring moment is out of the question.

Professionally speaking, inspiration in the work place assures that no idea will fall flat and creativity will blossom. Continuing to be inspired usually lends itself to happiness, and needless to say the Zenzi team is one happy clan. Simply put, we love to work here. Why? Pets are welcome at the office. Attire is casual and comfortable. We’re a few short blocks from the beach. The kitchen is always stocked with Trader Joe’s goodness and work to life balance is top priority. But the number one reason why we love to work here is simple; we are inspired everyday in everything we do and every client we work with.

What inspires us? What makes us tick? I’ll let my fellow Zenzians speak for themselves.

What is your own personal definition of inspiration?

For me, inspiration is about being open to the awe and wonder of the world, and letting the everyday elements you encounter become the flame that lights up those big idea and keeps things exciting and creative. Inspiration is about spreading that light to others and watching it grow into something so much greater than what you could create on your own. – Rachel Znerold, Account Supervisor

What has been one of your most inspirational moments while working at Zenzi?

The first staff meeting I attended after starting at Zenzi was a stand-out moment for me in realizing that I am working with a team of some of the best minds in PR at a company with a culture that I only dreamed was possible.  It was one of the rare moments in my career when I just sat back in awe that I actually get paid to do something I love and find to be fun.  I am so grateful to work at Zenzi and for the fact that I can now say with full confidence that I love my job. –Erin Coller, Senior Account Executive

How does Zenzi inspire you?

Zenzi inspires me on a daily basis. The mixture of professionalism and genuine caring makes Zenzi the perfect office. At Zenzi, everyone encourages everyone else to be better and accomplish their goals. Everyone offers help and advice when needed and everyone’s door is always open. I always feel like my co-workers WANT me to succeed. Nobody thinks they are better than anyone else and there is never any unhealthy competition. Bailey Payer, Public Relations Assistant

Why do you love working at Zenzi?

Because I have the opportunity to be creative and work with an amazing team on a daily basis. At Zenzi, we work with clients we truly believe in. They make significant contributions to their community, which inspires me to help them achieve success. Candice Bulda, Account Executive

Zenzi Communications Named one of San Diego’s Fastest Growing Companies

Integrated marketing and public relations firm specializes in targeted media campaigns and creative consumer engagement

SAN DIEGO, CA, September 29, 2009 – Zenzi Communications was named as one of San Diego’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies by the San Diego Business Journal. Innovative ideas fused with creative and insightful strategies form the backbone of this full service public relations and marketing agency.

The 100 companies were ranked by percent of verified revenue growth from 2006-2008. Zenzi’s yearly revenue increased from $700,000 in 2006 to $1.4 million in 2008, launching them to number 33 on the list.

“Our team of consumer, business and technology PR professionals are focused on the latest trends and technologies to stay ahead of the curve and leverage new touch points to reach target audiences such as SEO PR and cause marketing,” says Hardwick.

With clients such as Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Submarina California Subs, Olay, Fresh Express, Experience Project, Keep A Breast Foundation and Sandvine, Zenzi is known for offering clients a wide range of services that speak to each business’ specific goals, needs, and challenges. Securing top-quality media coverage, increasing market share, coordinating investor opportunities, and facilitating strategic partnerships are all part of the Zenzi client experience. Zenzi strives to provide its clients with boutique agency service and big agency results.

Setting itself apart from the traditional corporate atmosphere, Zenzi promotes a refreshing and positive work environment; there is no daily dress code, pets are welcome in the office and CEO Sarah Hardwick stresses the importance of balancing life and work.

Sarah started the company from the ground-up at the age of 25. Seven years later, Zenzi has a presence in Boulder, Boston and Hawaii and offers coast-to-coast coverage that keeps the agency’s clients in front of the media at all times. Zenzi’s creative campaigns have generated high-profile coverage in USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Travel & Leisure, Red Herring, Wired, Business 2.0, Newsweek, Harper’s Bazaar, Self, Glamour, MTV, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, and many others.

About Zenzi:

Zenzi is an award-winning and highly effective integrated marketing and PR agency known for getting clients media coverage, increasing marketing share, helping find investors, growing business and meeting marketing and business goals. Founded in 2002, Zenzi (formerly called SZPR) has been recognized by many of the nation’s leading PR, marketing and business organizations for highly creative and results-oriented marketing & PR campaigns. To learn more, visit www.zenzi.com.

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