Chicago SMBs

I had the pleasure of meeting over a dozen techs and business owners in Chicago on Wednesday. You’ll probably not be surprised to hear they have the same types of concerns about technology everyone has everywhere. But they are much more excited about the Chicago Bears then the rest of us. Everyone in the wireless security session I did already had at least some wireless network devices, but they all worry about their security exposure. One lady had questions about too much wireless: her school environment flooded the library with too many access points trying to support the large number of students. To make matters worse, network leakage from the classrooms adjoining the library added to the confusion. Designing a wireless network design for unusual spaces takes effort, and directional antennas. Standard wireless routers and access points come with omnidirectional antennas, sending signals in all directions. More focused antennas will solve many tricky coverage problems. The exhibits at conferences give me clues about the market in the area. There were many IP telephony vendors there, including hosted phone services, IP telephones, and even a Swedish teleconference phone, Konftel, that was the first to include jacks to plug their conference phones into computers to use with Skype and other computer-based telephone applications. Security remains strong, with vendors like eSoft, CheckPoint, and ZyXEL showing new products. I was surprised by the number of companies selling equipment to make and label your own CDs. I guess marketing departments are finally getting on the “save paper” bandwagon and printing CDs rather than brochures. Or maybe the Chicago music scene remains strong, and musicians are printing their own CDs while waiting for their major company record deal. Next Wednesday, October 25th, I’ll be in Kansas City at the Overland Park Convention Center. If you’re in the area, come say hello and tell me what your three primary technical concerns are for the rest of this year.