Global electricity prices have jumped more than 50% in the past five years, right along with a dramatic upswing in data centre energy consumption. Whether the motivation is reducing costs, minimising carbon footprint, or both, many Australian organisations are committed to finding solutions that help improve data centre efficiency. Emerson Network Power’s David Scott uncovers one solution guaranteed to lower your high-density energy bills.

The global financial crisis is the focus of almost everyone’s attention. Its effect on the ICT sector remains uncertain; however, it has taken the impetus off ‘going green’. Server Racks Australia’s Simon Dunphy elaborates on ways to move forward in the server room and data centre in times of reduced budgets and the need for increased efficiencies while also going green.

The truth is that VoIP technology is really as simple as putting another IP-based application - voice and voice-related services in this case - onto the network. And it does provide cost savings as it enables a method of doing away with the legacy voice network by digitising voice into data so that it can ride on the existing data network. Grant Howe, country manager, ANZ for 3Com, poses the question: so what’s not to love about VoIP? He explains that VoIP’s cost and complexity is really in the licensing.

Instead of succumbing to all the gloom and doom emanating from the global financial crisis, which by some rather alarmist reports will see 100,000 Australian small and medium businesses (SMBs) go down the gurgler, why not look for the opportunities, suggests D-Link’s Maurice Famularo.

When ADC Krone talks the talk, it’s not just talking about quality and being environmentally responsible. It’s actually doing it and being able to demonstrate that it walks the talk, as Mike Hanahoe, director, Global Connectivity Solutions Asia-Pacific, explains.

As the new managing director at Cisco Australia and New Zealand, but an old hand at Cisco, it is Les Williamson’s responsibility to help the local arm of the company capture new and emerging market transitions. In that role, he says he is extremely excited to be leading a business at a time of great change, wrought chiefly by the current wave of internet technologies and the incredible productivity benefits they provide.

The global financial crisis is undoubtedly the focus of everyone’s attention and its impact will be felt in all sectors of the economy. Although the effect on the telecommunications industry remains uncertain, in many ways this industry is better positioned than others to cope with the downturn. Ericsson’s Jacquie Hey explains why.

Cloud computing is becoming an important new tool for IT managers in controlling the cost and complexity of business-critical applications and data. The technology is compelling to enterprises because it allows them to consolidate resources, provision services more quickly and even rationalise costs more effectively with new business models. But there are limitations that often limit the effective gains of a scalable cloud computing model.

Oracle Sun will join IBM, Dell and EMC at Storage Decisions Australia 2010, the premium storage event. [ + ]

In the current economic climate, companies simply cannot afford to lose customers. This means customer service must always be spot on, from the point of sale and well beyond, and a very large part of that is in the contact centre. So how are companies going to make sure that every customer contact results in complete satisfaction? Avaya’s Rob Wells provides an overview of the future of contact centres and the important impact this will have on business.

Storage Decisions Australia 2010 heads to Melbourne and, because of popular demand, international backup guru W Curtis Preston will present the keynote again. [ + ]

If your business relies at all on the internet, then you'd better get up to speed on IPv6 - if you don't, your customers won’t be able to reach you. Andrew Collins takes a look at what IPv6 means for business, how much time is left before the transition and what businesses need to do to prepare.

The Federal Government first announced its plans for an all-encompassing national e-health network midway through the naughties. Fast-forward to 2010 and Australia is still waiting. Andrew Collins takes a look at the e-health roadblocks and the consequences of a long development time.

With massive volumes of data being generated daily, organisations are being flooded with data and they are struggling to effectively manage information growth. Symantec’s Paul Lancaster sets out the reasons why deduplication technologies will help with data storage.

Capgemini Australia’s CIO Brett Wilson heralds the start of the New Year with optimism about more efficient and collaborative ways of working.