George Bardissi

It's amazing that the internet has been around for as long as it's been, yet certain organizations have not realized the digital movement until recently. Since roughly 1996, the internet became part of the main stream world partly due to its affordability at the time, and ties to dial up internet providers such as American Online, NetZero, and others. Of course we then saw companies emerge because of the internet like Google, Netscape, Amazon.com, eBay, and so on. Billions of dollars have been generated worldwide from online sales and subscriptions. However, billions of dollars have also been lost due to viruses, hacking, identity theft, and fraud. Nevertheless, it seems like some recent events are finally showing some movement due to the internet which in my opinion should have happened a long time ago.

First, let's talk about print media outlets. The New York Times announced this week that it will start charging users to access content on its website. Now we have yet to know exactly what the prices are and if there will be different pricing levels for different content. This move is one that has been tried before by print media and failed. Why? Maybe at the time there was no incentive or maybe these print media outlets didn't build up their online presence enough to warrant users paying for content.

Obviously, the New York Times is no small player when it comes to media and news content not just in the US but around the world. With newspapers losing circulation as they steadily appear to be and many starting to close up shop, the move to the web might but a final push to stay alive. With content so easily accessible due to inexpensive high speed broadband internet, internet enabled cell phones, and computers as far as the eye can see the demand for online internet media is definitely there.

The push for books to become electronic came just recently with the release of devices such as the Kindle where one could purchase hundreds of books in an electronic format and simply load them on to an easy to read flat panel device that you can put in your bag and use at your leisure. It seems that print media entities are finally jumping on board and switching strategies to publish content primarily in electronic form which is where more subscribers are going to be found rather than at the news stands. It makes one wonder, had this happened earlier, if some of the newspapers and media entities would still be around that have since closed up shop! So, where is the government at in all this and are they up to par with the information technology changes that have taken place and continue to push forward?

Time and time again I have heard the idea that the government is years behind the technology and internet revolution. The laws that govern our lives have yet to be manipulated or changed to really address what we use almost every day in technology and the internet. There have been a number of items that have come to light which show the tide may just be turning on this as well.

In the past we have written articles about the FCC's push against Comcast for unfair network practices that infringed on consumer's unfiltered access to the internet. We have also written articles about the cell phone industry and the push for wireless internet access on mobile devices which have caused the FCC to sell more wireless spectrums in order to try and keep up with the demand. You have seen cases in which hackers and spammers have been caught and sent to jail. All of these events have been on the extreme end of the spectrum. Obviously, when money is lost or someone has been harmed or there is a shortage of something then legal bodies, the court system, legislators and the lobbyists behind them, will begin to make some sort of movement.

Recent news suggests that things are starting to go much deeper at the government level than has been previously seen. Just within the last few weeks, Google, our favorite online search engine, has said it will pull its Chinese search engine if it cannot find a way to deliver an uncensored version of its services under Chinese law. This of course is a huge business decision for Google as China is no small market. The US government has now stepped in and it seems to have started an initiative to entice US companies to follow behind Google and threaten to get out of China if the Chinese government does not allow Internet and information freedom for its citizens. Right behind this Google vs. China debacle, comes news that Italy wants to now censor sexual and violent online media through Italian internet providers for the entire country. Apparently, this censorship will start with online videos and then, the question becomes where will it go from there?

There are many more initiatives being conducted, by other countries to curtail numerous aspects of the Internet and the World Wide Web. So many, that it would take a lot more time and space to cover them all.

We may be fortunate here in the US to have laws governing freedom of speech which should allow for uncensored media and news access even though many believe we only hear what we are allowed to hear. It looks like the government intervention of worldwide internet access seems to be the big topic and today it looks like governments seem to want to restrict access to the internet which could hamper its continued growth. It is interesting that all of a sudden law creating bodies are starting to get involved in internet access and content after at least 15 years of no interference at all. Maybe after all this time the people running the show are starting to realize that technology plays a greater role in our lives and now they feel the need to have control over it as well! Time will tell where all of this is going and how it will truly affect us and our use of the internet. Stay tuned and strap in, because it's going to be a bumpy ride!

Near the end of last year, Microsoft launched a new campaign called Microsoft® Community Connections, which is a new initiative that provides an opportunity for non – profit organizations and the local business community to get connected with Microsoft's newest solutions starting with Windows® 7—Microsoft's highly anticipated operating system. As Microsoft partners Bardissi Enterprises is joining with Microsoft® Community Connections to do the actual presentations for several non-profit organizations throughout Montgomery County, Bucks County and the Tri-State area. The benefits for any non – profit organization who joins with the Microsoft® Community Connections is that they will receive free copies of Windows® 7 for their office, which will help to put you on the cutting edge of technology. Plus, by leveraging your networking, existing events, or special offerings, this national initiative is designed to help bring awareness of Windows® 7 to your members along with incentives and implementation help by Bardissi Enterprises, your local Microsoft partners. So, if you're a non –profit and you would like to host a Microsoft® Community Connections, just contact Andino R. Ward, VP of Marketing & Operations, at 215 853-2266 ext. 151 and we will help you get the process started and give your organization a great Windows 7 presentation.

Virtualization is becoming a big area of the information technology arena. It has long been something that larger companies and corporations use and the small to medium size business was left out in the cold. Well not anymore! As a result of the increase development of new products in the hardware and software areas of information technology the small to medium size business is no longer being treated like the unseen stepchild, but instead is now welcomed into the family of virtualization.

In the coming months, we will be doing a complete column on virtualization and how the small to medium sized business can not only partake of it, but benefit from it as well. Until then, here’s a little something to wet your appetite from Dell. It is a link that has a very informative video from Dell, on the subject. We hope you enjoy it:

Click here if the video does not load

Bardissi Enterprises would like to extend our sincere thanks to our new customers who have contracted with us for the provision of managed information technology solutions and service. We are pleased to be providing IT Solutions for the following new companies:

• DJB Specialties, Inc.
  North Wales, PA
• InboundProspect, Inc.
  Newport Beach, CA
• RTL Consulting, LLC
  Exton, PA
• Shenandoah Biotechnology, Inc.
  Warwick, PA
• Starr Insurance
  Chambersburg, PA
• Stith & Associates Health Insurance
  Glenside, PA

This month's spotlight is on Harvest Financial Planners, which is a Financial Planning firm serving the Mid-Atlantic Region. As we all know, the last few years have really been quite devastating for the financial market, which in turn, has had a negative effect on our everyday finances and it has created a lot of distrust in many of our financial institutions. In light of this, Harvest Financial Planners is a firm that really stands out as being at the forefront of providing very sound and ethical direction in the field of financial planning. Guenter Wesch, the chief financial advisor for the firm is sincerely dedicated to taking the time to help the firm’s clients get not only the best financial guidance, but to also get the exact plan that will they need to accomplish their present and future financial goals. Harvest Financial Planners services range from helping their clients get on a budget to pay off debts or evaluate insurance and protection needs to secure comprehensive financial planning for the future. You can be assured that Harvest Financial Planners will help you develop your present and future financial goals and get you on the right path to achieving them. The firm will manage your assets and investments, help you open the right types of accounts for college funds, retirement, savings, opening a business or other needs. If you are a business owner, they will provide you with health insurance, 401k, SEP IRA, or Simple IRA solutions that you need at a price that you can afford. IF YOUR FINANCES ARE IN QUESTION, THEN CALL HARVEST FINANCIAL PLANNERS AND THEY WILL RESURRECT THEM!! For More information, and a financial planning consultation please contact Guenter Wesch by phone at 215-368-4706 or by e-mail at gw@harvestfinancialplanners.com.