Moving on from Network World

I have been writing for Network World newsletters since late 1999 when I was vice-president of market research for Creative Networks, one of the leading market research and consulting firms in the messaging space at that time. After starting Osterman Research in 2001, Network World was gracious to allow me to continue writing my newsletter for them. However, Network World is now discontinuing the Unified Communications newsletter. My last newsletter for Network World will mail Dec. 16. That said, Osterman Research continues full steam ahead and then some.

We have been blessed with 2008 revenues that are well ahead of last year’s and our business is actually accelerating and expanding despite the poor economy. Interestingly, many market research and consulting firms do well during good economic times, but even better when the economy is suffering – we are grateful to be among them.

My newsletter-writing activities will continue uninterrupted at a new start-up based in Southern California called Messaging Wire. Even though Messaging Wire is still in beta, I will start writing my newsletter for them beginning in January. If you’d like to sign up to receive my newsletter, which will be focused on messaging, unified communications, collaboration and related issues, you can do so here. I welcome your input on what you’d like to see the newsletter cover.

It has been a tremendous pleasure writing for Network World and working with the many fine people there. They are a quality publication and will continue to provide a valuable service to the IT community for many years to come. I look forward to continuing my association with them through discussions with their reporting staff and I encourage all of you to keep them on your short list of must-see publications, both in print and on the Web.