FOX GROUP in the News

Dec. 6, 2011 - Roberta J. Fox featured in December/January 2012 issue of Broadcast Dialogue for award from Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame.

 

At the annual Telecom Laureate Awards Gala dinner and induction into the

Hall of Fame ceremonies in Ottawa Nov. 2, 2011, Roberta Fox, president of Fox Group Telecom Consulting accepted the Special Recognition Award on behalf of the Canadian Business Telecommunications Alliance (CBTA) together with George Horhota, CBTA President from 1990-1991 and Lorne Salzman, Regulatory Lawyer for CBTA from 1989 to 1997.

 

The CBTA was a major, national industry association representing telecommunications users from all sectors of the Canadian economy, and was an instrumental industry player in opening the telecom sector to full competition.  The main goals of the CBTA were to encourage innovation, quality, and choice in the telecommunications marketplace. The CBTA ceased operations in 1997.  By that time, Canada was significantly advanced down the path to full industry

competition.

 

Roberta Fox, as former Vice Chairman of the CBTA, and chair of the Telecommunications  Public Policy Committee, said, “As CBTA members, and the vendors who supported us through our various events, we are all proud to have been part of an organization and a time in Canada’s telecom industry that helped drive competition and innovation through numerous landmark CRTC filings on local and international long distance services, competitive suppliers for equipment, number portability, etc.”

Dec. 6, 2011 - Roberta J. Fox featured in IT in Canada news article in recent article on video conferencing. New Video options, new `gotchas`, written by Stefan Dubowski

 

Extract - Roberta Fox, head of Fox Group, a telecommunications consultancy, said businesses need to pay attention when signing up for video collaboration services.

“There are many ‘gotchas’ in the videoconferencing world, as interconnectivity between devices and vendors is not there yet,” she said, explaining that the situation is similar to the early days of the fax machine. “It works as long as you are with the same vendor, standard or codec, but if you try to mix and match, things will not work automatically. Let the video buyer beware.”

Fox Group recently conducted an analysis comparing customer-premises-based videoconferencing systems and hosted services for a client looking to go one way or the other. In the end, the customer opted for a hybrid system comprising on-site technology for video collaboration in its main meeting room and a hosted service for its remote locations, enabling the firm to use different manufacturers’ devices.

Fox pointed out that her consultancy has seen more customer interest in video during the last six months than it has over the past five years. And while customers may need to be careful to ensure they’re opting for the best solution for their particular needs, businesses seem keen to tap into the potential cost savings that video affords.

 

“The need is partially driven by the increased cost of transportation for employees, and green initiatives,” she said.

Sept. 19/11 - UC Panel - How to make Unified Communications work

 

Roberta Fox was featured in a video interview with Network World's Assistant Editor Howard Solomon. During the annual end user conference, she lead a session with Avaya, Bell, Genband and Microsoft experts who presented their lessons learned on designing and deploying successful UC solutions. 

 

Roberta also provided the attendees with her insight and lessons learned from their own deployment of UC internally within FOX GROUP, as well as some tips from recent client projects.

 

May 2011 - How to make Telework work for you.  This video interview done by IT World Canada features 3 industry experts giving guidance and advice on how to have successful telework corporate programs.

March 2011 - FOX GROUP Senior Partner appointed to ITBusiness.ca Advisory Board

 

Roberta J. Fox, President & Senior Partner was recently appointed to ITBusiness.ca Advisory Board. The board participants are a cross section of leading IT industry analysts and journalists.  Roberta's participation will bring the telecom and contact centre technology view to this leading Canadian IT publication.

 

She will provide ITBusiness.ca with guidance and input into the leading Canadian SMB technology trends, issues and concerns related to their acquisition and use of IT, telecom, network and contact centre technologies. She will also provide opinions and insight for their leading news announcements on the impact to Canadian business customers.  She will be one of the authors to contribute opinions on the soon to be released Advisory Board/reader blog.

 

"We applaud ITBusiness.ca for reaching out to leading consultants, analysts and writers for their input and guidance.  The world of publishing is changing and this shows that ITBusiness.ca is leading the change to supply relevant content for their Canadian IT readers", said Roberta Fox.

November 2010 - FOX GROUP wins VoIP contact centre design, vendor assistance for provincial government agency.

 

FOX GROUP was recently awarded a government bid to design and develop technical specifications for a telecom replacement solution for a provincial government agency. 

 

The project involved technical and financial analysis of legacy voice, contact centre and network environment, combined with end user and public wireless and Internet access alternatives (voice enabled).

 

The team provided the technical specifications for the government RFP as well as provided technology and vendor guidance and validation. 

September 2010 - FOX GROUP wins Unified Communications Strategic Technology Review for large distributed government organization.

 

FOX GROUP wins a government bid to complete a strategic and technology review of long-term unified communications strategy and architecture for a large government organization with many national and global locations.

 

The project involves deep technical and financial analysis of legacy voice, data, network and messaging applications, combined with end user and business analysis for a mobile, global distributed workforce.  

 

The team will use their web-based survey and analytical tools to gather and analyze the business and technical requirements as part of the technical and financial analysis. 

May 2010 - FOX GROUP wins complex government VoIP unified communications technology analysis project.

 

FOX GROUP Telecom Consulting was recently selected to complete a thorough business needs analysis and technology design for a large metropolitan area transit authority.  The project involves determining the business requirements and defining the various telecommunications, network and contact centre technologies for their overall long-term requirements. FOX GROUP also will be developing the technical RFP specifications and providing vendor acquisition guidance.

 

"We are proud to be able to leverage our extensive VoIP and unified communications expertise and experience to help our government client design and acquire the most effective telecom solutions", stated FOX GROUP President, Roberta J. Fox.

 

FOX GROUP has been working with VoIP technologies since 1997 in their next generation test labs, as well as working with designing and deploying unifiied communications solutions for over two years.   The experienced technology consultants bring hands-on VoIP and UC design and implementation experience, combined with extensive vendor relationships and strategic planning methods and processes.

Nortel Assessment Services

Avaya releases Avaya-Nortel Roadmap...what does it mean to your organization?

 

Do you wonder how the Avaya acquisition of Nortel Enterprise Products Division is going to affect you and your company as a Nortel or even Avaya customer?  Particularly now that they have developed their combined product roadmap?

 

Do you have wonder about what are your technology and service choices, how much will it cost, and when do you have to make a decision and act?


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FOX GROUP is now offering Nortel and Avaya customers four different levels of assessment services to help determine your technical, vendor and financial options for your future telecommunications and contact centre requriements.

 

We have experienced telecommunications professionals who have worked with Avaya, Cisco, NEC, Nortel and Mitel and other others for many years.  Many of them have certifications in multiple vendors environment, combined with extensive experience designing and implementing voice, network and contact centre solutions.

 

We are here to help you navigate your choices for the future, minimize your risk and get the best value for your money!

 

Contact Roberta.Fox@FOXGROUP.ca or 905.473.3369 x 1001 for further details.