Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

You are here: Home / Posts

Posts

Strata-SERIES: RMR – Smart Help for a Quick Start in RMR

by 5 Comments

Strata-SERIES: RMR[NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles on recurring monthly revenue programs we call Strata-SERIES: RMR. It will likely make more sense to you if you start by reading our Series Introduction here… and then our Topic Introduction and First Installment here…]

Because he had worked with an alarm company for the last twenty years, Matt Walin of Costa Mesa, CA-based Brilliant AV was very familiar with the concept of RMR programs as it related to central station security system monitoring. But as it specifically relates to residential AV and home automation solutions, it was about two years ago when they began exploring the process of offering their clients some form of a maintenance agreement covering their system installations.

Residential AV RMR, it turned out, was a horse of an entirely different color… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR – Smart Help for a Quick Start in RMR

Control4 Acquires Ihiji Validating Importance of Remote Management

by Leave a Comment

BREAKING NEWS

Control4 logo, newControl4 announced today that it has acquired remote system monitoring and management pioneer Ihiji of Austin, TX. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal sends a strong signal of the growing importance of remote installation monitoring and management systems for integrators moving forward.

See more on this new acquisition by Control4… [Read more…] about Control4 Acquires Ihiji Validating Importance of Remote Management

Monte Wood, Behind-the-Scenes Hero, Dies

by 22 Comments

Photo of Monte and Mavis Wood
Mavis and Monte Wood

Sad news to report this holiday season – Monte Spencer Wood, a behind-the-scenes hero at Tampa, Florida-based Perpetual Marketing Associates and PGW Distributing, died peacefully in his sleep in the early evening of December 26, the day after Christmas. Monte, a personal friend of mine and many, many others, was a big man with an even bigger heart. His lively, bigger-than-life presence will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He was just 58-years old.

See more on the life of Monte Wood… [Read more…] about Monte Wood, Behind-the-Scenes Hero, Dies

Happy New Year from Strata-gee!

by Leave a Comment

2018 new year graphicWith 2017 nearly over, we’ve wrapped up another year – our best ever, thanks to Strata-gee readers and SYNCH subscribers! With more readers, and more engagement in the form of reader comments, we are lucky to count the smartest readers in Tech among our regular readers. THANK YOU!

See our new year message for you here… [Read more…] about Happy New Year from Strata-gee!

Thanks to You, A Record Year for Strata-gee

by 2 Comments

Strata-gee 10th Anniversary graphicWow…what a way to wrap up our TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY! My head is spinning! At the risk of sounding boastful, please indulge me for a few moments while I share with you what I think are some remarkable results from 2017 for Strata-gee.com. First and foremost, let me say that it is completely thanks to you…our readers…that we have just had the best year in the history of our website.

Read more about the year we had in 2017 – thanks to you, our readers… [Read more…] about Thanks to You, A Record Year for Strata-gee

Strata-gee Editor’s Pick: The Top Stories of 2017

by Leave a Comment

Top 6 GraphicWith this being the traditional end-of-year holiday period, there is an irresistible pull for editors to review their top stories reported on in the year that is now fading fast from view. I am certainly not immune from that pull. And while every year seems remarkable, I can say with certainty that 2017 appears to earn that lofty designation as well.

So here then is our list of 2017’s most important stories… [Read more…] about Strata-gee Editor’s Pick: The Top Stories of 2017

My Wish for You…

by 7 Comments

It has been an amazing year for Strata-gee.com, the SYNCH, and The Stratecon Group. With the holidays upon us, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you so much for continuing to visit Strata-gee.com, read my posts, and for adding comments to stories on the site – or to me personally at shows or via phone/email. You have no idea how much your ideas, thoughts and comments mean to me.

I feel a strong sense of responsibility to make your time here worthwhile by offering interesting, thoughtful, and useful stories. When I miss the mark, it only motivates me to work harder…I never want to let you down.

So with that, I’d like to share My Wish for You [click image below to enlarge]… [Read more…] about My Wish for You…

On Its 10th Anniversary, Technology & Business Summit Adds Event

by Leave a Comment

Separate CASTLE Event Directly Addresses Convergence

Photo of exterior of MetLife StadiumA couple of months ago, I visited the first New York Metro area Technology & Business Summit at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and reported to Strata-gee readers about my experience. These events, smaller local shows, are fun to attend and offer some definite advantages to attendees as compared to the large national shows, such as more face time with brand executives, more hands-on displays with local representatives who truly know your business, and perhaps most importantly, much easier and more convenient to attend. Literally, these shows are a short drive from your home base, making it easier to fit show attendance into your schedule no matter how busy you may be.

Now celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the organizer plans on offering more events this year and is launching a new show concept called the CASTLE (Converging Audio/Video Security Technology Lighting & Entertainment) Summit.

See more on these new Technology & Business Summit developments… [Read more…] about On Its 10th Anniversary, Technology & Business Summit Adds Event

Sonos to Seek Injunction to Stop HEOS Sales of ‘Infringing Technology’

by 14 Comments

BREAKING NEWS

Case May Have Major Impact on Wireless Speaker Business

Exhibit F Sonos MotionAs we recently reported, a federal jury gave Sonos a sweeping victory in the first “bellwether trial” in Sonos Inc. v. D&M Holdings Inc. et al, siding with Sonos on all counts and awarding them nearly $2 million in damages. Furthermore, the jury affirmed the validity of the three Sonos patents at issue, and disagreed with D&M’s assertion that the patents were not valid.

Strata-gee spoke with both sides of this case and, this decision notwithstanding, neither appears ready to back down, even as this is just the first of what will ultimately be three trials in the case – two where Sonos is the plaintiff, and a countersuit by D&M Holdings where they will be the plaintiff. Sonos won round one, but this is a multi-round fight.

Both Sonos and D&M Holdings talk to Strata-gee in wake of trial verdict… [Read more…] about Sonos to Seek Injunction to Stop HEOS Sales of ‘Infringing Technology’

Strata-SERIES: RMR – Reducing Truck Rolls by 82%

by Leave a Comment

[NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles on recurring monthly revenue programs we call Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs. It will likely make more sense to you if you start by reading our Series Introduction here… and then our Topic Introduction and First Installment here…]

Strata-SERIES: RMR Programs #4In our last installment, we learned how Ben Lentz and the team at Cyber Technology Group launched an RMR program designed to help their clients understand that sophisticated technology systems require regular maintenance – just like their cars, their pools, and their landscaping. By getting clients on their Client Care Program, which includes regular “wellness visits,” Cyber Tech saw their upgrade sales increase during these visits.

Like Cyber Tech, Ron Wanless of Technology Design Associates (locations in Washington and Oregon) had a slightly different motive for pursuing a recurring monthly revenue program. Little did he know that it was a pursuit that would result in fundamental changes in how they service their clients and run their business.

See how Technology Design Assocs. RMR program cut service costs… [Read more…] about Strata-SERIES: RMR – Reducing Truck Rolls by 82%