Earlier this week, snom technology AG, a leading producer of VoIP telephones and services, announced the release of their updated snom ONE IP PBX system. This system has been upgraded to offer standard IP PBX calling features on employees’ mobile phones and reduce the telecom costs for many businesses. The update was announced this week at the ITEXPO East in Miami, FL. Key features of the updated snom ONE IP PBX system are numerous. The new system supports a variety of SIP clients, including the iPhone and Android platforms. The management interface is web-based and allows users to easily employ and administer the solution. Cell phones can now operate as fully functional integrated office extensions, capable of call conferencing, internal extension dialing and call transferring. Software can now be updated on the web interface as opposed to requiring connection to the operating system.

Yesterday, Hoboken, N.J.-based IT Consulting firm, eMazzanti Technologies, released a new article titled: “Look to the cloud to save money and build business.” This article outlines a few ways that cloud computing can be beneficial to the SMB. A few benefits of cloud computing in the small and medium business arena as defined by eMazzanti are: Reduced Labor Costs: Key differences between a public and private cloud are discussed, as well as using the cloud to allow employees more time to work on other projects in the company. Use of the Cloud to Focus on Core Strengths: Moving to the Cloud allows small or medium-sized companies to focus their workforce by reducing the number of IT staff needed for in-depth maintenance. Attractive “Pay-as-you-Go” models: Companies only have to pay for what they use, with many pricing options allowing users to streamline their operations. Faster Time to Value: Typical cloud solutions can be employed within hours of request. Lower Energy Costs: The cloud allows data centers to cut back on the energy and space needed for physical equipment.

By Regina Ciardiello, Editor, SMB Nation Many of our SMB Nation tribe members know Rob Leon from his days both at inhouseIT and SpamSoap. Leon, a long-time SMB Nation supporter and “friend of the family,” told us this week that after a brief hiatus from the channel, where he worked at Vigilistics, he is back on the scene. Leon started a position this past Monday as senior client manager at KnowledgeCentrix, an MSP based in Orange County, CA.

My company has long been a Microsoft partner, and I've come to respect the Office 365 reseller program as a wonderful opportunity to meet the needs of local small businesses. The reseller program also guarantees fairly generous monthly residuals. Unfortunately, many customers have resisted changing over to Office 365 because they already own Office 2003, 2007, or 2010 software that they like just fine. Many say they just can't rationalize paying more money for "another Office."

5 Ways SMBs Can Save Big with the Cloud SMBs are under constant pressure to wring as much performance as possible out of their resources, especially their IT ones.  In years past, most SMBs could safely disregard cloud computing.  Sure, the occasional tech startup availed themselves of Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) or had their employees use Google Docs until they could save up enough money for Microsoft Office licenses.  But these days, SMBs -- even ones providing traditional, non-technology related products and services -- can’t afford to ignore the cloud.

I was talking to a fellow IT consultant earlier this week—and as it does in most professional conversations with my colleagues these days, talk shifted to the cloud.  Without even thinking, I found myself falling into "interview" mode.

I wrote late last year about a handful of indispensible business-oriented cloud-powered web apps that I didn't think most readers would have known about yet. In only a couple of short months, I've found dozens and dozens... and dozens more. Most of them are free, too, which is just an amazing testimony to the good work that coders all over the world are doing. Some of these apps are so amazing that I wish I had been charged for them. (Don't worry, developers: I've donated in most cases when possible.)