A stable internet presence is perhaps what every business owner would have in mind just a few minutes after they have launched their website. For those who may have just heard of this, they might wonder why internet presence is given much attention. Moreover, they would think how much it would cost them to get all the attention that they would be getting from the campaign. Perhaps the hesitation comes because they fear they would be spending a lot but they are not sure they would be getting it.

The internet used to be just a medium for communicating with the people that you love or cared about and yet after years of being sued by the community, it has also gained its popularity among businessmen who want to get their products sold and their services taken by their target clientele. Being online 24/7 and being accessible through your webpage is not enough to ensure that people will notice you and will give some interest in reading about your product.

However, this does not mean you should stop. Social media consultants know that the internet has a lot more tools to offer when it comes to marketing. For one, there is the most popular these days called social media marketing. This type of marketing allows you to communicate closely to the people you consider as possible clients. Social media consultants are the experts in this industry because they understand how the whole system of marketing works in such type of medium so it is important that businesses work closely with these people to make sure businesses are able to reach their target market as well as transform the potential market consumer to real consumers who pay on a monthly basis.

Some people might hesitate investing in such types of marketing because they think that there are just too many marketers parading in these websites. Perhaps there are really so many marketers but the internet marketing world is so big and there is so much more space to fill. All that business owners need to know is that they have good market that can potentially be theirs and that if they invest in social media marketing they are not wasting any money.

By: Alexis Jameson

Hewlett-Packard never fails to update its list of printer offerings to the public. This is the reason behind why it was able to establish a great reputation in the world of printers. For those of you who are avid fans of the company’s products, you may wonder which among HP multifunction printers will make a name in 2010. Well, this list may help you decide:

1. HP OfficeJet Pro 8500. Priced at around $250, this HP all-in-one printer is starting to become popular to small offices. Owe that to the fact that it prints and copies up to 35ppm. This product makes use of the HP Thermal Inkjet technology and has duplex printing capabilities. This printer also is compatible with wireless connections.

2. HP Photosmart Premium CC335A. While this HP all-in-one printer seem to focus more on its photo printing capabilities, users are surprised that the printer can provide more than just that. With a price of around $300, it can perform tasks such as faxing, scanning and copying. Plus its prints 33ppm in black and 32ppm in color.

3. HP OfficeJet 6500 Wireless. This is one of the HP printers that come in an elegant fusion of the black and white colors. With a wireless connectivity and copy, scan and fax functions, you will be surprised that this product sells only for an amount of $150. It can print 32ppm and 31ppm for its black and colored inks.

4. HP PhotoSmart Premium All-In-One. If you’re looking for an HP all-in-one printer with original HP printer cartridges that suits your budget, you should choose this one. This product costs only around $150 but it promises to give copying and printing speeds at 33ppm and 32ppm for black and color.

5. HP OfficeJet J4680. Don’t snob this product even if it is priced at around $90. This does not mean that it does not have the functions you are looking for in HP multifunction printers. In fact, this product can print as much as 28ppm for black and 22ppm for color and it also has Wi-Fi connectivity.

6. HP OfficeJet Pro L7780. This product from HP has a black print speed of 35ppm and a color print speed of 34ppm. The product that uses compatible HP ink also has Wi-Fi connectivity and has a fax speed of 33,600 bps. With a total media capacity of 600 sheets, this printer is indeed ideal for a larger office. The product is one of the most expensive HP printers to watch out for as it costs around $500.

7. HP PhotoSmart C8180. This HP all-in-one printer costs $200 and is ideal for those that are inclined with a digital lifestyle. With a white and grey finish, the product typically reminds people of the Classic iPod. The good thing about this product is you can make use of its touch screen panel to enjoy your usual printing, copying, scanning and faxing jobs.

These are just some of the many products to watch out for from the world of HP multifunction printers for this year. Many users have tried buying these products and all of them have great praises for this list of HP printers.

By: John C Arkinn

The “Information Age” has been with us for some time now. Jules Vern, Isaac Asimov, and Eugene Wesley (Gene Roddenberry) are just a few of the visionaries that many people ridiculed and laughed at for their dreams and insight(s). Many may well argue that they were just plain crazy. I am not one of them. I have always been an avid reader of Sci-Fi mags, books, articles, etc, and its film varieties. Should they not be believed? Just take a look around you. How many people have noticed that drastic change in the world today? How many of you have noticed people walking around with devices that seem to be glued to the side of their heads; seeming like their talking to themselves or appear to be delusional? However, the down side to mobile communication devices is that people are not properly governing themselves to the various disciplines and responsibilities associated with the use of these tools. Are you driving a car and talking on a cell phone? Are you annoying someone who is nearby and not desiring to hear and/or listen to your conversation(s)? How about not being able to function without your personal communication device(s). Albeit, we need to have the connection to information platforms, we still have a very long way to go.

Data is just raw material until it becomes useful information. Remember my piece on IT and BI? The information was/is intended as a teaching and encouragement format to aid any and all American Information Technology and Computer Science Students in their technology endeavors, be you a person of color or not (“Tech Assimilation and Warehousing of Talent”).

My last entry brought about some interesting opinions and comments. A friend of mine made a profound statement to the article. What he said is so on target; it had to be shared with the aspiring Information Technology, Computer Science, and Business students and those who are not. I left the quote in its pristine state due to its consistency. Two other friends made excellent comments to this teaching platform as well. Their examples portray the direct result of what this reporter was alluding to where it affects and the effects of a non-techie person’s ability to interpret the language and structure within the world of Enterprise Wide Technology Information and Communication.

My friend Irma:
What was the phone call about any way? What I am trying to get at is if it was some form of wrong doing why only a phone call then try to treat you like a misbehaved child of hers to boot?
The next time maybe you should put it on tape or speaker- phone so that the demeaning tone, and words used can become a counter complaint. One should always demand respect as well as give respect…for example, my phone is in my home /my possession as one does not ever (even my children) disrespect a home, be it mine or anyone else’s home!!! ! I am sure by now you have gathered I am from the old school (smile)

Irma’s question pertains to the investigation of my “Enterprise” web site as it relates to people who use the Internet for employment searching and the displaying of abilities for potential employers to view. The telephone interviewer/investigator was from the Unemployment Compensation.

My friend Mozell:
Interesting story, it said little but it said something. It sort of read like a recruitment/poor me piece. I failed to get the point but then again maybe I was not supposed to. Sort of like you say prospective employers…If there is in fact a shortage of qualified IT folk, and this void can be filled by qualified black applicants…is it implied that the schools you mentioned have active recruitment components that you wish us to know? Rhetorical…Like my friend I am at a loss to the reason for the ill-tempered caller. To what end was the call initiated? What information did she dispute, or dislike you sharing on your page. Honestly not being privy to your page I do not understand how this post if related would help you obtain employment other than to say you were informed that IT people are in short supply and …you are qualified to fill a position in the field. If your are an instructor, your students are…I shall await further info to form a solid opinion. In the mean time if your goal is to raise awareness of the plight of IT folk you were moving in that general direction. As far as security is concerned and the sharing of info…that’s a tricky topic. Granted they are supposed to be on the same side. I find it a lil crazy, and tend to think hacking is the undercurrent of your piece. I will retire there until you are forthcoming with more info you are dangerously close to the same behavior that you say the non-compliers you speak about practice. Compartmentalized.

Mozell’s comprehension of the IT BI Community is limited. This example should be made aware to people who are lead to believe that they are computer literate because they have the ability to navigate through a few applications and utilize the script-written software and its’ peripherals allowing the portal entry onto the “Information Highway.” This is not to say that there aren’t many skilled individuals who can operate, navigate, and communicate within the IT world without formal training. One of my sons is so talented in the operations and machinations of software and hardware that I sometimes consult with him. I’m the one who is supposed to have the IT/BI and Business Administration Training. Yes?

Now we get to the crux of this message!

My Friend Clark Maxwell:

First of all, assuming that person that called you about your website was from the unemployment office, she was an idiot. That has not happened to me, but I have heard of that before where it is assumed that because you have a website you are actually working.

Part of the problem with IT in this country is that it is the most misunderstood of all of the “industries.” In most cases the people making the decisions regarding who is hired, what projects get done and how resources are allocated lack the understanding of IT to be making such decisions. Most people like to think they are tech savvy but have little understanding. And most projects are doomed before they even start because of it. The stories I could tell…

First of all, there is no IT shortage in the US. That is a myth that has been floated by corporations who have sought to undercut IT workers here using the H1-B program. H1-B for those of you who may not know is a program that essentially allows employers to hire someone, mostly from India, to perform an IT role within an organization. It first started out where that was allowed only if they could not find a person in the US with similar skills, hence the myth of an IT shortage. The thing with H1-B is that employers pay these people far less than the going rates for IT skills in the US, thus undercutting US workers. At the same time, “outsourcing” became popular, wherein on any given IT project; they would send portions of the project, like the programming, quality assurance/testing and other components to shops in India, where they would charge far less. A programmer in India can be paid $10/hr and that is considered high. That same person coming here will get paid more than that but far less than what a US programmer is typically paid. The perspective of the H1-B worker is I make my money here and send it home. When my H1-B visa expires, I go home and live like a king. Companies would hire H1-B workers over US workers simply because of the up front cost savings.

But long term there has been a cost associated with overuse of H1-Bs and outsourcing. In many cases the projected cost savings were eaten up in rework of application code, in inadequate test plans that produced software with many bugs that required fixing after a system is in production, which is always more costly. This happens mostly because of the language barrier and also in some cases because of the time difference and coordination of meetings with key individuals that don’t happen because of it. I have been called in to “fix” many projects that have been outsourced because of the adverse effects of some or all of the above. The reasons these lessons are not being learned as quickly as one might think is because in most organizations IT is a service and the purse strings are held by those who require the service of IT and not the IT organization itself. They tend to call the shots and in too many organizations it is still not understood that when it comes to some decisions regarding how monies are to be spent, that MUST come from IT, or IT at least there has to be considerable input, if they want that money to be spent most effectively.

I have worked for myself as an independent contractor for over 15 years. In that time I have worked every role there is, from programmer analyst to software engineer to systems analyst and project manager. In most cases I work as a lone wolf, but in some cases contracts I take on require a team in which case I bring in my own people as subcontractors. On many of the projects I’ve worked on I have worked with H1-B workers, and, for want of putting it better, just because the person is from India doesn’t mean they are better, even though for many hiring managers that is what it comes down to. While I have worked with some very smart H1-Bs, I have also worked with some not so smart, and even the cheap rate they accept is not worth it. But the perception is entrenched. On the flip side, I can honestly say that some of the smartest people I have worked with in IT have been African American.

And speaking of hiring managers many of these gate keepers are clueless not only about how to properly evaluate the skills of prospects, but also do not understand the technical requirements for the projects and departments for which they seek to hire. I’ve had recruiters call about projects and ask the most ridiculous questions that have no bearing and indicate that the most they can do is say words and little else. If anyone asks you “where do you see yourself five years from now,” you may as well stop the interview right there, as I can almost guarantee you it’s a waste of time. The changing dynamics of technology and working in general makes that question just plain stupid.

In short, the biggest obstacle to the US IT industry is the US IT industry itself. We have skilled workers here who can fill a lot of these roles but for the desire of corporations to go cheap. We can’t nurture a strong IT workforce here if we continue to put people in a position where they cannot make a living. In a sense, we are ceding our homegrown technical edge for the short-term gain of profit. In the long run it’s not worth it.

That said, here’s the advice I would give to persons of color in the industry or just starting out and seeking to get in.

1. The most successful IT person today is going to be one who understands the Big Picture. You should understand the SDLC, e.g. software development lifecycle process, and how your role fits into that, as a programmer/analyst, business analyst, systems analyst, QA analyst or implementation person. That means you understand not just your role but the roles before and after yours in the development process.

2. Strive to not be a one trick pony. Many people will bill themselves as a .Net Programmer, for example. Hiring managers are looking for people who can do multiple things, like write documentation, specifications, understand database design, etc. Focus your professional development on skills that are ancillary to yours.

3. If you are someone in college seeking to get into the industry, the best place to be is a consulting firm where you are likely to be exposed to different technologies. Experience is favored over education. Most managers will take any day, the person who has experience in, Unix shell scripting, vs. someone who just completed a course. The person who has a diversity of skill sets is going to be the person most attractive to hiring managers. If you hire on to a company early on in your career that is wedded to one technology after only a few years your market value may be in jeopardy, as what is “hot” technically changes all the time.

4. Develop on your “soft skills.” I tell people I mentor all the time: the IT industry, more than being about technology, is a “people” industry. People tend to hire those who can demonstrate confidence in their abilities and have the ability to develop trust. Verbal communication and body language is very important. Also understand how to be a team player as well as a leader; someone who can put together and run a meeting, as well as thrive in a team environment. Develop the skills to be a “self-starter” and that is someone who has a clear grounding in #1 such that they do not need to be told what to do in most cases, they already know. Look for ways to “add value” above and beyond your role.

5. Invest time in networking. Join local chapters of IT organizations; create profiles on IT-related sites that promote networking. If someone passes a job to you that is not a good fit, think of whom you can refer it to.

And here is the problem with a lot of the academic programs. The curriculum that many offer for Computer Science degrees are just outdated and/or inadequate. Students come out of some of these schools and they lack the skills to even get in at an entry level. And the vast majority of the people that I have worked with have not had CS degrees. Back in the day before there was such a thing as Computer Science, if someone wanted to get into computing they would seek a degree in Electrical Engineering. I would still recommend that as engineering curriculum better prepares a student for being able to diagnose, analyze and solve problems, which is a big component of what an IT professional does. An IT professional, if nothing else, is a solution provider.

Early in my career I have often been the “only black.” The problems I encountered with that is a big part of the reason why I went out on my own, and in retrospect it’s been the second best decision I ever made (marrying my wife was the first!). But you don’t see much of the overt racism that we dealt with back in the day, although its still there it’s not as blatant. In many if not most cases, the cost of IT services is such that most organizations cannot afford the foolishness of race, and while hire and promote those that can deliver, regardless of race or sex. Speaking of my own experiences, I’m still not ready to say if that is the rule rather than the exception though.

I would advise and encourage the preceding statement(s) as it is (in my opinion) one of the most prolific and profound statement and explanation that I have heard in a very long time. IT/BI students should especially take heed to what my friend(s) have said. One day it could be you that is searched out for the absorbing of knowledge and guidance.

For individuals who have found themselves out of work and receiving UC Benefits, use the Internet to gain employment contacts. Do not allow anyone to sway your diligence in the pursuit to gainful employment. The one thing that U.S. workers have as a financial backup is the Unemployment Compensation Insurance Structure. Thank God for its existence! Many of us would be ruined without it!

How many of you have initially applied to companies and/or the various organizations with a paper application? Today’s job searching platforms just don’t allow it! It doesn’t matter to what organization…everyone is utilizing the Internet for the hiring process! Don’t believe? Try it for yourself…let us know if you can still apply for a job in today’s market without the utilization of the Internet, regardless of the profession, business, and/or industry.

“Sister Irma, Thank you as well. Your sentiments are right-on! The respect of my home is not an option, as I believe to be true of other folk’s homes. The woman made an ass of herself and it makes no sense in arguing with an ass.” Yes?

“Brother Mozell, I hope that Brother Clark has answered your question.”

In reiteration, “I Don’t Know A Lot Of Things But…The One Thing That I Do Know Is…I Don’t Know!”

Til Next Time…

Acknowledgment(s):
Ms. Irma Robinson, B.I.A.
Mr. Mozell Fleming, B.I.A.
and
Mr. Clark Maxwell, B.I.A.
Thank you to all my Friends and Visitors at “Black In America”

Thank you Mr. Maxwell, you are a master communicator as well as the meanest tech dude I have ever heard speak. I know this is a open blog but you need to bottle that wisdom and sell it. You are nothing short of amazing in your insight, experience and knowledge. Your words are simple enough for the least educated tech person like me to understand and full enough for the seasoned tech person realize that you are the real deal. Bottle that my brother I think you just built the better mousetrap!
Posted Monday, June 8th 2009 at 1:35PM
Mozell Fleming

By: Gregory V. Boulware

If you are looking for a mobile phone to buy, LG is just one of the many brands that you can choose from.

The manufacturer of the LG mobile phones which are available in the market today is LG Electronics, which is a multinational corporation based in South Korea. It is the region’s largest maker of electronic appliances, and the world’s largest appliance maker.

So far, LG Electronics has released the following line of mobile phones under their name:

- CE and CU series
- KE, KF, KG, KP, KS and KU series
- MG and ME series
- PM series
- U series
- VX series

The VX series is the line of LG mobile phones which includes the popular LG Chocolate mobile phones.

LG KS360 Review: A Mobile Phone Aiming for the Texters-at-Heart

When the first series of mobile phones came out, its main functionality was to accept and make phone calls. However, as technology improved and more features were incorporated in mobile phones, sending text messages have become as much of a functionality of mobile phones as being able to make and receive calls.

Now, if you are looking for a mobile phone which targets those who love to send text messages, the LG KS360 mobile phone is exactly what you are looking for.

LG KS360 Specifications

First up, here is a full list of the specifications of the LG KS360 mobile phone:

- 240×320 pixel, 144-colour display
- 2-Megapixel camera
- MP3; AAC; AAC+; eAAC+ player
- 15 MB internal memory
- Bluetooth and USB connectivity

A Deeper Look into the Features of the LG KS360 Mobile Phone

As you can see, the features of the LG KS360 mobile phone are pretty basic. However, the thing that sets the LG KS360 from all the other slider mobile phones in the market today is the design.

When the mobile phone is closed – it looks just like your typical slider mobile phone. But when you open the slide-out keypad, it contains full QWERTY keys, which should delight all the avid texters out there. If you like typing away a pretty long text message using your mobile phone – then you will have a blast playing with the keyboard of the LG KS360.

Are there Any Disadvantages to Purchasing the LG KS360 Mobile Phone?

Again, on your next mobile phone deal, you should definitely place the LG KS360 on top of your list if you want a budget phone with a basic set of features – and if you are an avid texter.

However, just like any other type of mid-range mobile phones, there are disadvantages to purchasing the LG KS360. First is the lack of 3G calling or 3G connectivity. There is also no flash on the camera. So, the 2-Megapixel built-in camera is only suitable for the occasional daytime snapshot.

The Final Verdict for the LG KS360 Mobile Phone

The LG KS360 is by no means perfect of feature-packed – and it does not claim to be one. What the LG KS360 is a solid, reliable mid-range mobile phone with solid messaging features.

If you are a ‘wordy’ text message sender and you want to have a full QWERTY keypad on your mobile phone at a decent price, the LG KS360 is just the thing for you. Just don’t expect it to come with a complete set of features that you will enjoy from similar, but slightly higher-priced mobile phones in the market today.

By: Caroline Telford

In today’s business world, it is difficult to survive on incompetent supports and thus, most of the intelligent owners are striving hard to ensure the best of services for their business. For this kind of a requirement only, the facility of outsourcing has developed in the business fraternity. Every big, small and medium sized company is actively forming alliances with outsourcing firms, where accounting has been discovered as the most prominent field associated with this application.

Accounting outsourcing is basically a mechanism where business organizations attempt to outsource their quotidian accounting tasks to hired professionals from a reputed vendor dealing in the business of providing outsourcing services. The accounting experts recruited in the outsourcing firms are highly qualified and have updated information about various tools, techniques and softwares launched in the market for better execution of the work. Moreover, the accounting professionals can easily adapt the software techniques and programs that are already being used in the company of the client. Such kind of avid proficiency is beneficial in dissolving the requirement of learning or training and the accounting job processing can be continued in a similar manner.

Nowadays, most of the companies are applying for a more safe and convenient option of accounting outsourcing by getting their accounting jobs done through the efficient source of a third party vendor. In turn, the vendor hires competent accounting personnel, efficient in managing and maintaining all financial transactions of the clients. Outsourcing service providers ensure that the client has direct access to his financial records. The regularly updated accounts generated by the experienced accountants benefit the company by offering accurate image of the company for the analysis of the shareholders,creditors, investors and the public in general. On the other hand, the client is also allowed to keep a direct check on the work efficiency of the accountants through the online services. Suggestions and amendments are accordingly made by the client whenever required. In total, the entire concept of accounting outsourcing is advantageous for the business firms in every aspect if the execution is carried out on favorable terms and conditions.

As far as the small business organizations are concerned, the chances of finding a well qualified accounting team are almost negligible. What usually has been observed with such low profile firms, is the fact, that it is basically their clerical staff which is held responsible for managing their accounting projects. However, such inappropriate work strategy ultimately acts as a catalyst in lowering the quality as well as the efficiency of the company. Therefore, even the small business organizations should focus on the task of accounting with deep consideration and sincerity. Any kind of leniency or disregard to this requirement can result in the downfall of the company. Therefore, for accomplishing an expected growth rate, the owner should immediately opt for an experienced accounting service or an outsourcing firm. Hence, do not waste any more of your precious time in rescheduling your accounting management or recruiting new intelligent team of accountants on a higher payroll. Simply contact a decent accounting outsourcing firm and let all your worries collapse with this added hand of assistance.

However, while searching for a good vendor to take up your task of accounting management, it is recommended to conduct a planned background research on the available vendors, so that you can ensure a beneficial deal. The most demanding requirement of a substantial accounting outsourcing service is the reliability and the authentication of the vendor. Moreover, the entire outsourcing network should be intelligently programed with suitable security tools to avoid the chances of misuse and hacking of confidential data and files shared by the client. For the research, you can contact the previous clients of your preferred outsourcing company as they can offer correct information about their performance and time management. Once you have handed over your accounting work to an appropriate vendor you can then stay assured regarding the maintenance of your company records.

By: Michelle Barkley