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Archives for July 2006

Microsoft getting healthy

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In a move that is not symbolic of their usual ventures, Microsoft is moving into the healthcare field. The software giant is making plans to market titles specifically generated for the industry, as reported by the New York Times.

Typically, Microsoft has focused on their operating systems and productivity software, staying out of industry-specific advances.

Microsoft has purchased a software project called Azyxxi, an advanced patient information system developed by doctors at a Washington hospital.

The company has had its eye on Azyxxi for years and conducted a case study on the project in early 2004.

As aptly reported by the Times’ Steve Lohr, this may seem like a small development for the Windows goliath. However, as the healthcare and medical industries grow, the need for high-technology integrated solutions will rise with it.

That is where the principle behind Azyxxi comes into play. The software integrates patient history into a database containing test results, vital signs, images, documents and much more. This allows any healthcare provider with a need to know the ability to find out everything needed about a patient in one time and money-saving step.

Microsoft is planning a full suite of healthcare software built around the first title.

This is a sound public relations and marketing move for Microsoft. Healthcare is a field that is very responsive and receptive to technological innovations. The ability of doctors to one-stop-shop will be in high demand and this software may just be where they turn. Its clear and anticipated integration into Microsoft Windows will further motivate IT departments to utilize the Azyxxi solution. A healthcare version of Windows is also possible, allowing healthcare companies to engineer their computing resources with integrated solutions.

Say goodbye to Monopoly money…well not totally

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In an off-beat twist, the most popular board game in history, Monopoly, will introduce a version of the game without paper money.

As reported by Sky News, Parker Brothers plans to phase out the traditional currency in the new version of the real estate trading game. Instead, a mock visa debit card will be used to make purchases and financial transactions.

Courtesy of Flickr

The new, electronic Monopoly will even include a faux ATM machine, also bearing the “Visa” logo.

This will seemingly double the price of the board game, according to Sky.

The original game was introduced in 1935 as a relief from Great Depression era angst. People could pretend to be moguls, trading and buying land, railroad and utilities.

An “electronic” version of the game already exists in Germany and France under the respective titles “Monopoly Banking,” and “Monopoly Electronique.” They are part of the “Here and Now” editions of the game. The American version, due for release in the fall, will replace the railroads with major American airports and will feature landmarks from several U.S. cities.

As of now, an American version of the “money-less” Monopoly is not planned, but anticipated as the product spreads through Europe this year.

In addition to news sources, the story was also picked up by Darren Murph from Engadget.

The original Atlantic City version of the board game has spun off into dozens of variants including popular sports teams, movies, parks and other cities.

War of attrition – my battle with Nextel

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In a previous post, I discussed the folly of my brand new, military specification compliant, Motorola i560.

I may have also ranted for a brief moment about the number of calls I drop with my Nextel service and stated that it was a contention for another article.

This is that article.

I returned from the gym today, pulled my cell phone out of a compartment of my duffle bag, and like clockwork, the phone was off. Stone dead, blank screen, off.

I turned the phone back on and was greeted by the “DO” slogan used by the walkie talkie cell phone company.

And then, poof. Off. Stone dead, blank screen, so badly wanting to throw it against a wall, off.

I decided to call Nextel Care and see if I could put a stop to this and get my defective phone replaced.

The automated female voice at the other end gave me several options, including Spanish, sales, customer service, and ah yes, technical support.

On hold for about five minutes, a female technical support agent finally answers and I calmly explain that I purchased an i560 from Nextel less than two months ago and that it shuts itself off by itself.

She apologized profusely and tried to explain to me that Motorola offers a warranty, but that would mean sending them my phone for repair and being without a phone for up to 4 days, an impossibility in my profession.

Again apologizing, she brings in another lady, this time an agent of “tele-sales.” She explains to me that while Nextel stands by their hardware, Motorola warranties the phones and I would probably have to go through them.

But she wasn’t 100 percent sure.

Did I mention the Nextel phone service and coverage in Boston, Connecticut, New York, Las Vegas, Denver, Orlando, Chicago and all of southern California (some of the places I’ve been since I switched to Nextel) is not very good?

Somehow, the sales representative knew this, and knew that I was having problems with my service. She offered to transfer me to a third person-a customer care representative-who could offer to credit my account for the dropped calls.

Well…money…

So I talk to Jack in customer care, and our conversation went something like this: “I understand your frustration sir, let me see…” BEEP!!! “TRY AGAIN”

My Nextel dropped a call, to Nextel.

So I close the phone and prepare to redial on speaker phone.

Blank screen.

Dead silence.

The phone turned itself off again.

Finally, I am able to call back after thoroughly screaming at the disconnected and turned off cellular phone. As soon as I get to the menu, BEEP.

Dropped call number two.

I call back and get a customer care representative who again explains the Motorola warranty-which I really didn’t want to hear about.

Her computer crashes.

“Oh my, my system is going to have to restart, let me put you on hold.”

Sprint has the most annoying hold music in history.

After eleven minutes, the line rings and a technical support representative asks if she can help me.

Well, I don’t know. Can you?

She never had a chance to respond. BEEP.

That’s number three.

My next call was almost to Verizon to have a landline installed in my home and inquire about wireless plans, but I stuck with it and finally got through to poor Tammy in customer care.

“You’re gonna need to forgive me Tammy, but I am extremely upset.”

“Uh-huh.”

This is vaguely what I remember:

“I have now called you people four times to complain about my defective phone, but I cannot do so because my Nextel phone has dropped the call three times. My phone randomly shuts off. It’s a brand new phone. I do not want the Motorola warranty because I can’t be without my phone for three days. You sold me a defective phone and I want it replaced.”

Granted, I am a little upset by this point.

This goes on for about twenty minutes, a new record for a phone call on either one of my previous Nextel phones. She gives me a $55 credit to cover, ironically, the cost of using an express service with the Motorola warranty.

Then, and I’m surprised she managed to stay chipper with me all this time, she offers to transfer me back to technical support so they can create something called a “network ticket.” This means that the Sprint/Nextel guys will come out, check the signal and reception in my area and if it is nearly as poor as I’ve been saying it is, offer to credit my account to make up for it.

Hold time: 20 minutes, that’s almost 40 minutes, and I’m not even mad that this is going on an hour. I was just happy that my phone could keep a call going that long!

“Thank you for calling Sprint, together with Nextel, this is Bra..” BEEP.

Just to add coarse salt to open wound, when I called back, the Nextel offices were closed for the night.

With what I’m hearing about Nextel, combined with what I am experiencing, there must be public relations people at Sprint/Nextel on 24-hour suicide watch

Nextel: DONE (making calls).

AMD to buy ATI

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The heads of both entities.In a $5.4 billion deal, Advanced Micro Devices, (AMD), announced today plans to acquire graphics giant, ATI Technologies.

The deal, a mixture of cash and stock purchases, will immediately have a major impact on the semiconductor industry. AMD is already saying that the deal will create a “processing powerhouse,” said a press release today.

The deal will also offer new challenges to arch-rival Intel for control of the computer processor market.

The New York Times is reporting that a settling computer sales market may pose a challenge to the companies, especially in the graphics-intensive high-end PC market which has reached a plateau according to some analysts.

ATI has been a driving force in the technology world in its competitive showdown with NVIDIA over the years. The Times also reported that strong handhold sales helped ATI present a 120 percent increase in consumer sales.

The public relations initiative has been strong so far. AMD hosted a conference call and webcast at 8:00 a.m. today to discuss the deal and the financial impact on both companies. According to the press release, AMD anticipates reducing operating costs by $75 million by the end of 2007. The executive response has also been strong so far.

AMD has also posted a fact sheet illustrating the details of the acquisition.

“ATI shares our passion and complements our strengths: technology leadership and customer centric innovation,” said AMD Chairman and CEO Hector Ruiz. “Bringing these two great companies together will allow us to transcend what we have accomplished as individual businesses.”

AMD shares slipped around 6 percent in early morning trading. ATI stock is up almost 16 percent early on.

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