MaSSSoftech

Arlington, VA, August 30, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Blue River Information Technology, a globally recognized leader in Data Center Enterprise Architecture, IT Consulting & Training Services, today announced their first awarded Multiple Award General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Contract #GS-35F-0624V for Information Technology Professional Services.

This competitively awarded, Multi Service GSA Contract in accordance with SIN 132-51 IT Professional Services, offers unlimited IT related services & products, as well as, full management/maintenance services to all Federal Agencies. A few of the Labor Categories included are: Just a few of Blue River’s Labor Categories include Program Management, Engineering, Systems Analysis, Quality Assurance & Web Design. Blue River was also recently awarded additional categories in Training & Curriculum Development, as well.

Just weeks after headlining the expansion of their existing headquarters in Arlington, VA, with a new, fully functional, data storage laboratory; the new GSA contract promises additional opportunity in servicing their new & existing Government vehicles.

Blue River began its operations, only a year ago, and has already succeeded in establishing a huge influence among the DOD, Federal & State agencies, as well as, an impeccable reputation among the contracting community. Partnering with the most sought-after, technology leaders, has given this promising & enterprising small business, the leading edge above its competitors.

“We are highly anticipating this new contract to provide our customers with a complete range of opportunity & overall mission success in the procurement process,” said Blue River’s co-founder & CEO, David McLaughlin.

With expanded offices in San Diego, Munich, Germany, Hampton Roads, VA & New Bern, NC, Blue River offers GSA “best-practices & services” as value added integrators.

The time has come to declare that the beginning of the end for the traditional approach to Information Technology. The party is over.

The End of IT 1.0 As We Know It – has begun. To borrow a phrase from my previous IBM colleagues who wrote, “The End of TV As We Know It” with which I became familiar while working on IP Television (IPTV).

You may wonder whether it’s too early to make the call given the lack of interoperability standards, security concerns, and common definition of cloud computing. Well, the IPTV space shares many of the same similarities – emerging technology, emerging standards, emerging adoption, varying definitions, and yet the call was made in that space.

Cloud computing is a shot across the bow for the giants of the IT industry. They are on notice. Certainly, some will make the transition, slowly, at the speed which the overall market develops or slower, as they have no incentive to drive the market and rapidly cannibalize their existing businesses for a less lucrative business model even if it is more cost effective, flexible, and efficient for most of their clients.

Just think of the companies that provide hardware, software, services, consulting and systems integration. Now consider the cloud computing paradigm.

* No packaged software to order, install, configure, test, implement, manage, support, and maintain on client premise.
* No hardware to order, install, configure, test, implement, manage, support, and maintain on client premise.
* No hardware and software / systems integration on client premise.

Now look at the companies that provide these services today, EMC, HP, IBM, Oracle, SAP, Accenture, Infosys, and others. Are these giants ready to quickly accelerate the cannibalization of their own product and services offerings? Will they transition from mega projects to micro projects? How will many of these companies who rely upon an on-premise installed base make the transition to the much lower revenue model that cloud computing represents?

To be fair, most of the high tech leaders already have cloud computing groups, and many of the technologies that underpin cloud computing capabilities comes from these very companies. Certainly, they face many challenges ahead as the industry further transitions to this computing paradigm.
One can easily see the giants of IT playing with other large non-IT industry leaders which will leverage cloud computing through an on premise model, and provide many custom services for those clients.

Besides, for many years to come there will still be a need for large (non-cloud) IT projects and large, financially stable companies to undertake those, that’s why it’s not the end of the end, or the middle of the end, but the beginning of the end for some companies, as not all will survive the transition.

Not to worry though, traditional IT will still be around for many years to come, even if the days of traditional IT are numbered.

THE country’s largest mobile operator, Econet on Friday launched the 3G technology that will allow subscribers to access internet on their mobile phones in a boost for the country’s information and technology sector that has undergone years of under investments.


Econet subscribers will now have access to the internet on their mobile phones, one of a range of services 3G technology will make possible in the near future.


General Packet Radio System (GPRS) will enable subscribers with compatible handsets to send and receive emails on the move.


GPRS can also be used by banks and shops to support payment devices for credit cards.
While the roll-out of GPRS is itself very exciting, the real excitement will be on the launch of a range of new generation services under 3G, Douglas Mboweni, Econet CEO said.


He says for business users, the most important application “will not only be what you can do with your cellphone but what you can now do with your computer or laptop”.


“A computer can be linked directly to the 3G network using a data card, which will be available at Econet service centres,” he said.


This eliminates the need for a dial-up line or expensive satellite dishes.


The bandwidth speeds on the 3G system as well as the capacity is unprecedented, according to Mboweni.
He said the mobile operator has installed an earth station just to uplink the 3G system.


“This is probably the most advanced cellular technology in the world," said Mboweni.


Zimbabwe has 2.5 fixed lines per 100 inhabitants, 6.5 mobile lines per 100 and less than 9.5 internet users per 100 meaning that the country is ranked below all the Sadc countries except the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009.


But Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa believes the sector is on its upward trend spurred on by massive roll out programmes by operators.


All the three mobile operators - Econet, Net One and Telecel - have announced massive roll out programmes to increase the subscriber base.