Category: Business

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Cisco Quits WiMAX

Cisco has finally announced their pull out from the WiMAX business . Hardly surprising, as in the past two yeas, since Navini Networks acquisition, Cisco were not very successful with this new Wireless business.

Not sure if it was because the technology didn’t fit Cisco business, or just failure to execute. But, I can’t remember even one meaningful deployment from Navini (Cisco) .

The reason I am writing this post is to remind everyone that Alvarion was supposedly the first runner for Cisco’s WiMAX ambitions, when in the last minute (well, this is what newspapers preferred to portray), Navini was acquired. I am sure many people in Alvarion are happy today that it turned out this way.

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UQ WiMAX Repeaters

On the same day UQ WiMAX announced the installation of the 5000th base station , they also announced the availability of WiMAX Repeaters.

As any other wireless technology the biggest issue is Coverage. Or rather, how to provide the best coverage with lower costs. A repeater is a good solution to extend a cell (when more bandwidth is not needed).

A PDF from UQ [JP] shows 3 different repeaters and usage. Graphics are quite bad , but I’ll ignore it this time.

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Some Kindle Books Are Not Available in Japan

I love my Kindle.

I read more, especially on business trips. I do all I can to carry less when I travel, so carrying a book always seems to me like a burden. With Kindle, I could eliminate the problem. Fixed (rather small) size and weight and can carry many books.

Yesterday, I was surprised to find that not all Kindle Books are available to me, since my kindle is associated to  my Japanese address. I am thinking very hard, but still can’t find a reason.

If I can purchase the book (Hardcover) from Amazon and ship it to Japan, how come I can’t buy the Kindle version and receive it over a Wireless connection?

Amazon Kindle Japan Fail

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UQ WiMAX Marketing(?)

Yet another awful commercial from UQ WiMAX has arrived. This time, they outdid themselves, by using a cat which has a very successful Youtube channel.

See below UQ WiMAX Commercial, asking if the cat will manage to go into the box, then asking if your Laptop has WiMAX. (Did I mention this commercial is BAD?)

And a sample cat video from mugumogu channel:

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Cisco's Starent Acquisition

The Tech blogs and news agencies are excited about the recent Cisco acquisiton.

Some newspapers discuss the sums Cisco recently paid (~$3 Billions for Tandberg, ~$3 Billions for Starent Networks), some like the LTE angle, another speculates Juniper will be hurt. From every angle, the recent acquisitions are interesting.

Tandberg: For years, Cisco supplied Video conferencing equipment, OEMed from several manufacturers, including Israeli Radvision (RVSN). What has triggered Cisco to change their business plan and buy a manufacturer? Market Growth? Deep Pockets?

Starent Network: Signals that Cisco is also going into the Wireless world. Starent equipment is indeed in the networking space, but strongly coupled to Wireless deployments.

My take: Cisco has the money (deep pockets), found the chance (economic downturn) to acquire good companies with great products and bright future. This is yet another step outside of the their core business, growing into a more diverse Corporation (flirting with Monopoly).

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Indian Visa Anomaly

As I am planned to visit India next month for business and my previous Visa expired, I visited the Indian Visa Application Center website to understand what I need to arrange beforehand.

As I was browsing, I found a strange anomaly in the Employment visa section:
Visa for Israeli citizens cost 10 (6 months period) to 5 (1-5 years) times than a Visa for US citizens.

I wonder why? Is it because Israeli are richer than US citizens? Do Israeli application requires a different and more expensive process?

See below (and on the website):

India Visa

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Liar's Poker

Liars Poker

I am reading Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis for maybe the 4th time, and it is as interesting and funny as it was in the 1st time.

What caught my eye this time is a review printed on the very first page:

“Makes the bond-trading business look like a cross between Animal House and Greed Incorporated… Lewis recounts incidents that should make customers stuff their money in mattresses.” – The Washington Post

That was the 80’s, which I guess is enough time for the masses to get their money out of the mattresses and give it to the wrong people (again).

As I am in Japan, I am having a problem which I have to figure out: What if you don’t have a mattress. As we sleep in the traditional Japanese way, futons over Tatami, it is impossible to hide the money there. I need to figure out what is the traditional Japanese way of stashing.