Telecommunications Consultants (TC) vs. Telecommunications Management Consultants (TMC)

What’s the difference? This is a question that was recently posed to me for further clarity. It is a legitimate question that I thought I would clarify on my blog. To sum it up briefly, the difference is rooted in the services and the clients it services.
Telecommunications Consultants (TC) are providers of voice, video, and data solutions for the end user. Their classification or NAIC code is 517 and classifies as a telecommunications service provider.
While Telecommunications Management Consultant (TMC) providers classify in NAIC code 54168 of management consultation services or specifically “other Management consulting services. Most of their clients are businesses that require an expert opinion of improving internal operations. Telecommunications management consultants have no partnership with providers insuring an unbiased opinion.
In short, TCs are routing in the practice of engineering while TMCs are in Management.
I hope this clears things up.
Keep Achieving
NaShawn

Telecommunications Services for the 90s

Telecommunications Associations

Associations in the telecommunications industry are primarily responsible for collaborating among practitioners in the industry. These associations are a good resource for industry standards and contacts. The purpose of the post is to provide a listing of selected industry association:

Trade Associations

Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Association for Information Systems (AIS)
Association for Local Telecommunications Services (ALTS)
Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA)
CommerceNet
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization
Competitive Telecommunications Association (CompTel)
Data Interchange Standards Association
ETNO (European PTO's)
European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI)
EURESCOM (Germany)
European Telecommunications Information Service (ETIS) (Denmark)
European Telecommunications Office (ETO)
Fiber Optic Association
Foundation for Rural Service (FRS)
Global Wireless Education Consortium
GSM Association
Industrial Telecommunications Association
Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL)
North American Association of Telecommunications Dealers (NATD)
Organization for the Promotion & Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO)
Satellite Industry Association
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) (United States)
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) (United Kingdom)
Telecommunications Standards Advisory Council of Canada
Telecommunications Policy and Research Conference (TPRC)
United States Telecom Association (USTA)
United Telecom Council (UTC)
Wireless Foundation

Is Entrepreneurship in the Wireless Industry ALIVE? Part 2

The following is a great video discussing the issues facing Telecos that are building broadband services in rural area:

The Communicators: Digital TV & WiFi Technology

Will You Accept the Charges?

As of March 31, 2009, AT&T rolled out a call feature, “AT&T Collect to Wireless” for their cell phone service. It is quite transparent that AT&T is offering features to appeal to customers who have abandon their landline services. The collect call feature works like this:

1) A person calls a toll free number (1-800-Call-ATT) to place a call
2) The customer dials in the wireless subscriber and records his or her name.
3) The phone call is connected when the wireless subscriber accepts the call.

In an “Always On” culture, do I really want to accept calls from people that can’t even afford to call me? Most friends and family have cell phones or some sort of landline service and call me on their dime. On the surface it sounds like a great idea but under further scrutiny it left me some questions. With this feature, Can I set my preferences to allow collect calls from specific numbers? What about blocking telephone scammers like prisoners who are incarcerated and use collect call to conduct scams?

Here are some additional barriers to entry:
• Customers who use this feature have to remember the 1800 number
• International customers may find the process cumbersome
• Kids now have yet another way to connect to friends and run up MOM and DAD's cell phone bill (without Mom & Dad knowing)
• This service does not bind non AT&T customers to the cell phone service.
• Business customers have no need for such a feature

I would love to hear your opinion; Do you think this is a great idea? If a collect call was placed, “WILL YOU ACCEPT THE CHARGES?” As always, I appreciate your feedback.

Keep Achieving
NaShawn

Is Entrepreneurship in the Wireless Industry ALIVE?

I love the telecommunications industry. It is one of the only industries that fosters entrepreneurship. It thrives in emerging markets and is only limited by creativity and imagination. The telecom industry’s stocks have continued to do well despite the economic woes. It is a gladiator market full of corporate giants that influence public policy, market trends and keeps FCC lawyers busy, busy, busy…

According to the Wall Street Journal, VP of Sprint, Anna Gomez was named Deputy Director of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on Feb. 3. (click here for the full article) After that announcement, according to Maisie Ramsay, author of Wireless Weekly, “Telecom-related programs will get $7.2 billion under the economic stimulus bill set for President Barack Obama’s signature today, with $6.39 billion of those funds targeted at promoting broadband access in rural areas with little to no broadband access.”(Click here for the full article)

This is a clear “RED FLAG” that there is an opportunity here. I am always on the look out to develop new businesses but this may be a great challenge to identify a sound business model that can be deployed and compete with other wireless leaders. OK, it's time to stop writing, roll up my sleeves, and do some research. I will keep you posted on any new developments - so stay tuned for my next posting. As always, I welcome your feedback.

Keep Achieving
NaShawn