(◠‿◠) Your top 5 highlights, a year in review, the eNetworks way ✩

What a year it has been! Sex, drugs and rock and roll? And then there was 2010. As we wind down and bid farewell to 2010, we look back and reflect on the top highlights.

Our top 5 highlights of 2010 includes:

1. World Cup Soccer
1. The "gees" was electric, everyone got along, and although there were disruptions in standard working days, it was a pleasure to be part of the World Cup placing South Africa as a World Class destination. We laughed, we cried and we had a blast. Memories will remain forever.
2. New / bigger premises
1. After 11 years, we finally moved / expanded into 592 sqm. Starting from a humble 13 sqm,  we have grown from strength to strength and plan to continue.
3. Company growth
1.  SCS - Staff, clients and space. 2010 has been a year of growth in all areas. We added our eDSL product to the existing range and focus exclusively in providing the best ADSL service we can. Thank you to the team for all the efforts throughout the year.
4. World Cup Soccer
1. I have mentioned it already, but ....... World Cup 2010, worth mentioning twice ✩*•
   
5. 11 years and still counting
1. Congratulations to eNetworks and our team working tirelessly to ensure that our clients' are happy and that the service delivery we have always provided remains of top priority. We celebrated our 11th Anniversary in 2010. Something we are very proud of.

There were many highlights, such as all the events we attended, (Google SA event and iWeek), but those are the TOP 5 we felt we needed to highlight. We would add to this list a BIG thank you to the eNetworks team and to end off the year, we hosted our year-end function on a boat in true Cape Town style.

Last, but not least, we would like to thank you, our client who without, we would not be here today.

We wish a happy ¸.•* ✩ festive season ¸.•* ✩ and an easy entry into 2011.

Moustache Mafia strikes again - a mu'ving way to end Movember ..

They're back! The "Moustache Mafia" strikes again and this time, they mean business.

As "Movember" draws to a close, the business of making sure everyone remembers the month throughout the year is their top priority.

They're serious about "Movember" and about showing their support.

What they do leave us with looking at the photo above reminds me of a scene in the Godfather where Al Pacino, (who plays Michael Corleone) meets with his "family" because something "big" is going on.

But in true "Moustache Mafia-boss-style", "Corleone" calmly stares into space and leaves us with these famous last words as we end of the month, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse".

Let "Movember" be on your mind all year and remember, the "Moustache Mafia" is watching .... dah dah dahm..... (cue cheesy mafia movie music).

Moustache Mafia Mu-ving through Movember ..

I love the "gees" the team at eNetworks sprouts throughout the year. From Valentines Day, to Halloween, the team spirit is always visible. BUT, we have to compliment the guys for their "Movember" spirit.

The team has officially been named "Moustache Mafia", sprouting their "Movember" 'taches and matching outfits, one has to commend their support for the month of mo's.

But what IS "Movember" and why all the fuss surrounding facial hair? Movember (formerly known as November), is a month long moustache growing charity event held each year to help raise funds and awareness for men’s health.

Having started in Australia seven years ago, Movember has grown to be an international event, taking place in six countries. This global expansion looks set to continue with demand from Mo Bros and Sistas around the world wanting to grow moustaches and celebrate Movember in their own countries. As a direct result, six new countries have been added to this year’s campaign, of which South Africa is one!

Nice "growing" team eNetworks. We love that your spirit is fun and cause all rolled into one.

Happy Movember!

What IS the excitement of checking into a hotel room? You guess it, FREE WIFI

You're a regular traveler, whether locally or internationally. As you sit at the airport waiting for your flight to board, your notebook is whipped out and away we go. Most airports have wireless access providing a multitude of service providers to choose from, wonderful!
 
Time to board (wishing all airlines had on board Internet access), we may or may not whip our our notebook again to work (it all depends on the flight schedule) and sooner than later, arrive safely at our destination. Either a driver from the hotel collects us from the airport, or we hire a car and voila, we arrive at our hotel.

My first question to the con-siege, "Is there WiFi in this hotel?", one of three responses occur which affect the mood of my entire day:

1. yes, it is included with your package, free access, enjoy! (I hear my favorite rock tune start playing in my head, head banging, the works, feels great!)
2. yes, it is accessible via a voucher, which only costs Rxx (may as well be a million dollars, since it is always a rip off)
3. no, sorry, but we do have an Internet cafe, just around the corner (doh!)

As you can see, the price for convenience when traveling is priceless.  If I have a 3G card around, no worries, but if I made the mistake of a) not having one or b) leaving it at home, the sound of inconvenience makes me cranky.

Hotels should realise (by now) how important reliable, consistent internet access in a hotel and especially the rooms are. Business people who travel frequently play catchup after the working day is over and not having connectivity in a hotel room adds strain to the day, since we cannot proceed with a daily catchup.

Today's tip: when booking a hotel, check if there is connectivity / WiFi access. Even if not used, the benefit of quick, easy, free access is definitely worth paying an extra buck for. Here are a list of hotels in SA, offering (or including WiFi, caveat, we cannot vouch for any of these hotels and always check their websites before you book, includes WiFi does not mean FREE ;))

• Cape Town - WiFi friendly
• Johannesburg - WiFi friendly
• Durban WiFi friendly
• Port Elizabeth WiFi friendly

Happy traveling and remember to check before you travel to avoid disappointment. However, if your favorite hotel does not have WiFi access in the room, how about suggesting they start offering it to guests. After all, a happy guest is one who returns.

Why not add some Fiber to your Broadband diet?

Fiber (not the kind you have for breakfast) and Broadband, (not the kind used in the gym) makes headline news on a daily basis. "Uncapped" (although really"Capped" in disguise) is all the rage. But the question we often hear is, what is it or why would you need it?

Let's examine the term "Broadband". Now we could go into the fancy explanation mentioning frequencies, channels, carriers and signals, but we won't. Simply put it is "the ability to access the Internet and Be on the Phone, At the same time. ... "

 

Simple process with some efficient and cost-effective benefits:

• "always on"
• Fast loading of web pages and e-mail
• Equally fast downloading of files, programs, and computer updates
• It does not affect the phone line
• Unlimited access and you won't be charged based on the connection duration
• Provides cheap phone services via VoIP technology.
• Connection sharing

Makes sense to go this route if your business is starting off and there is a high demand for voice and data transmission.

Next up, Fiber-optic cable. Again, we could use words like transmission, digitized pulses or wavelengths. Instead consider it to be "technology used for transmitting data, voice, and images through very fine, flexible glass or plastic fibers (a bundle of optical fibers)".

Apart from the "space-age" look it displays, it has many advantages and have revolutionized the way the telecommunication industry operates, here's why:

• Less expensive 
• Thinner - Optical fibers can be drawn to smaller diameters than copper wire
• Higher carrying capacity - Because optical fibers are thinner than copper wires, more fibers can be bundled into a given-diameter cable than copper wires. This allows more phone lines to go over the same cable or more channels to come through the cable into your cable TV box
• Less interference - light signals from one fiber do not interfere with those of other fibers in the same cable. This means clearer phone conversations or TV reception
• Digital signals - Optical fibers are ideally suited for carrying digital information, which is especially useful in computer networks 

Well there you have it. If you are starting a business, going Broadband is a given. How you access the Internet all depends on the type of business you have. Given the advantages listed for the Fiber-optic option makes sense for growing businesses to consider, even at an early stage for the long-term benefits are clear.

Happy surfing and remember, if its not always on, what is it? And if your feeling slow and clogged up, perhaps it's time you added more fiber to that broadband diet of yours.

eNetworks

Connectivity questions? Free yourself from downtime and high costs, we can help!

Connectivity may be the buzz word of the day, but with hosting and server hardware costs dipping, none of that matters if downtime is an issue. Why struggle with looking for the cheapest service provider to save money? Does it not mean more find a provider that will take care of things for you and save you time and money?

As consumers of connectivity, and perhaps a different generation we often forget that moving from one service provider is as simple as making a telephone or sending an email.

BUT, before you make that call, ask yourself:

• is going the cheap (no frills route) worth the hassle of dealing with connectivity issues and/or downtime
• are they really "cheaper" or are there built in hidden costs?

Then ask the question, what is best for me and my business? ADSL or Diginet? Is it all Greek to you? With so many choices out there, what are your connectivity needs? We've decided to help make this choice easy for you by showing the benefits of ADSL vs. Diginet lines.

Benefits of ADSL?

• ADSL has the potential for higher speed internet access with low latency when compared with most other access services.
• Fixed monthly cost (as long as the monthly limit is not exceeded if you decide on a capped package).
• Uses existing analogue telephone line.
• Less expensive than a Diginet or Martis 64kbps digital leased line.
• More convenient than a dial-up connection because it is almost "always on."

Benefits of a Diginet fixed line:

• Diginet services can convey digital speech and video signals on a point-to-point basis, allowing users to develop highly efficient integrated voice/data networks offering new opportunities in the growing broadband multimedia market.
• Improved performance, reliability and quality of service are provided at a fixed monthly cost.
• High quality digital network ensures high-speed, clear connectivity for delay-sensitive applications
• Faults are rectified quickly (often a fault is located and repaired before a customer even knows about it)
• International connectivity
• Higher speed range compared to analogue leased lines

A little more clear? We hope so. Should you have any questions we can help you with, email
sales@enetworks.co.za or visit their websites for quick (free) efficient support.

Get connected today!

New digs after 11 years and still going strong ..

Attending the office warming party earlier this week, I am proud to be associated with a company who has and continues to stand the test of time and grow along with their clients. eNetworks and their staff celebrated the official office warming in style as well as unveiling their new logo.

 The eNetworks culture seems to be one of quality service delivery (with a smile) and an office environment which encourages creativity and fun.

It is very rare to see staff of all levels engaging with each other in positive "team-like" behaviour and truly celebrate the company they are and how much they have achieved.

Proud moments are many these days.

More photos are sure to follow, but for now we celebrate and remember how it all began in the basement of a house and look back at the growth from their first office occupying 13 sqm to presently securing an impressive 592 sqm. Yes, eNetworks has literally grown from strength to strength.

Good staff and a supportive management team goes without saying. And more important than that, are the clients who support them. Relationships are continuously nurtured and held, even through the "growing pains" which is normal for all growing companies.

The staff and management of eNetworks would like to thank their clients', old and new for their continued support and to leave a message which says "service IS and will continue to be ... everything!"

http://www.enetworks.co.za - visit their website to view their products or follow them on Twitter.

Author: Shana Kay

eNetworks celebrates Women's month and more ...

August is Women's month and at eNetworks we are proud of the dynamic women we have supporting us. From our call centre to our Directors, we acknowledge the team of women that make things happen. Our focus this month is our senior team management team. They are:

• Dumisa Melane - Customer Services Manager, eNetworks Director
• Leslie Maliepaard - General Manager
• Danielle Guignet - Sales/Procurement Manager
• Karen Swart - Senior Accountant

We're celebrating more than just Women's month in August. Added to this, we've expanded our office to accommodate for future growth. Having started the business more than ten years ago, we have grown in both the services we offer and the office space we occupy. But most importantly, our promise of delivering a service beyond the call of duty remains our focus.

Dumisa Melane happens to be responsible for this. She provides the interface between customers, suppliers and most importantly, the technical team. Apart from having one of the most important roles, she has been with us since 2001 and this year, she celebrates her decade with us. Well done Dumisa!

She is passionate about many things. One of them is the ability to continuously learn from mentors and peers around her. The difference here is that as much as she loves learning, she gives back even more. In her spare time she likes reading, listening to music and likes playing handy "man" around the home and enjoys working on various DIY projects.

She cites one of her career highlights as the day she was offered the opportunity to become a Director in the company.

Official job title: Customer Service Manager

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Leslie Maliepaard is a woman of many talents. She joined eNetworks out of a need to free up time for one of the Director's to focus on Business and Product Development.

The role called for a General Manager and she fit the criteria perfectly. Not much persuasion was needed for her to join the company. She has a strong Financial Management and HR focus as well as heavily driving Sales and Marketing.

Leslie cites her career highlight as being awarded a US grant to attend a Women Entrepreneurship programme in the USA. It was a 180 degree career changing experience where she learned about the power of women in business and how important, (no critical) their roles in business are.

She loves reading, cooking, yoga, photography, scuba diving and her passions are linked to food, travel, wine and cool gadgets of all sorts.

Official job title: General Manager

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Danielle Guignet, a newbie to the team, has 16 years of experience under her belt. She became involved with eNetworks after being part of the Tarsus Technologies team.

She cites her career highlight as "knowing that every company I have worked for would employ me again".

Painting, spending time with her children (her passion in life) as well as her dogs, is how she likes spending her down time.

Official job title: Sales/Procurement Manager

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Karen Swart another newbie to the team, is responsible for a critical aspect of business, the Accounts Department. She ensures that the accounts are processed smoothly. She enjoys the atmosphere in the office and the dynamic energy of the team.

"Never a dull moment in the office" she says.

Official job title: Senior Accountant

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Visit our website: http://www.enetworks.co.za or follow us on Twitter for the latest updates on ADSL, remote backups, technology trends and more.

Monopolistic Principles and Poor Service Stifle Players

Jonathan Maliepaard, MD of eNetworks, says the biggest hurdle to progress is the cost of bandwidth from the likes of Telkom and Neotel, which is disproportionately high.
"Local bandwidth now costs more than international bandwidth," he comments.
He says when the 5.6 gigabit West Africa Cable System (WACS) undersea cable lands in SA in 2010 the biggest problem will be affordable local bandwidth to access it. "The cost of deploying long-haul fibre is expensive, so the same old big companies are installing it and keeping prices high."

eNetworks polishes ArcelorMittal South Africa’s Saldanha Works enterprise network

28 April 2010 – eNetworks, the enterprise network services provider, has vastly improved the performance of local area network (LAN) for Saldanha Works, one of the plants of leading steel company, ArcelorMittal South Africa.

eNetworks diagnosed and optimised the company’s existing LAN topology in order to increase performance and uptime. The LAN is used for both the network monitoring system of the steel plant as well as general administration functions. Poor LAN performance and downtime can mean a direct cost to the company from a production point of view and by preventing staff working at maximum capacity, along with the associated frustration of a slow system.

What does uncapped broadband mean for the consumer?

By Jonathan Maliepaard, MD eNetworks

What does uncapped ADSL mean to the consumer right now, well it depends. The recent exuberance expressed by so many might be short lived when they realise that they might not be getting the same performance that they had before. Why you might ask? It is simple mathematics. Infrastructure and bandwidth cost lots of money and the only way to make an uncapped service sustainable is to make lots of clients share the same bandwidth. ISPs have been doing this for years, but it was easier to do when you were being paid for what you used. Now the playing field has changed and massive oversubscription ratios and caching will be the only way to survive.

Downside of Uncapped

According to Jonathan Maliepaard, the managing director of eNetworks, the South African enterprise networks services provider and ISP, the recent exuberance expressed about the uncapped rate might be short lived when they realise that they might not be getting the same performance that they had before.
"It is simple mathematics-infrastructure and bandwidth cost a lot and the only way to make an uncapped service sustainable is to make lots of clients share the same bandwidth.