Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/370759
W i re l e s s W o rl d 2 5 Th u r s d a y, S e p te m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 4 MOBILE ACCESSORIES MAKER STANDZOUT SHOWCASES NEW PRODUCTS Aspire Innovations LLC, better known by its trade name, Standzout, started making innovative iPad and tablet stands not long after the first iPad was announced. "We wanted to create an accessory that would allow users to get the most out of their mobile devices," said Brandon Barnard, Aspire's Chief Executive. "We think that a floor stand that can do any- thing and go anywhere the way that the Standzfree can was a logical offshoot of how we wanted to use our iPads." The company started with the Standzfree iPad floor stand, featuring a flexible gooseneck that allows the user to place their tablet in a virtually unlimited number of positions to use their device anywhere they like, without having to use their hands to hold it. "We realized that people would want to be able to use their tablets while laying down in bed without having to waste energy holding the device up. The Standzfree allows users to do that, and we quickly discovered that it was handy for so much more," says Barnard. After the success of Standzfree, Barnard and the Standzout team began dreaming up the next phase of develop- ment. The team set to work and came back first with a universal holder that is capable of holding any tablet available on the market, is easy to use and retains an attractive aesthetic that most universal holders lack. "The tablet market isn't just for iPads any- more," says Barnard. "Our Universal Holder will easily accommodate any tablet on the market, including the iPad Air and iPad mini." But they didn't stop there. They also created a desk-mount system that requires no tools to mount and remove, making the stand just as portable as the tablet itself. "Designing products that are as functional as they are beautiful is what's important to us," says Blake Frazier, Operations Administrator at Aspire. "There are a lot of desk and table mounts that require tools to mount or leave unat- tractive hardware sticking out. The Surmount, when it is attached, just looks like it belongs. "The Surmount takes a new approach to the desk clamping prob- lem." Frazier continues. "It uses a slide with stops that will accom- modate any table, desk, or bar up to 4 inches thick, then a discreet knob to tighten the clamp down. The result is more functional and more visu- ally appealing than its competitors." The Standzout team also created a simple and effective wall mount that allows users to set up multiple mounting sockets around the home to use their tablets hands-free in the most commonly- traveled areas of their homes and work- places. Standzout products are available online at standzout.com. Call 855-STANDZOUT (855-782-6396) to contact Standzout. NFV INSIGHTS FROM MAVENIR An interview with Ian Maclean, Vice President, Strategy & Marketing, Mavenir Systems. WW: We are hearing a lot of discussion about Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization. Which provides the most benefits to operators? IM: The industry debate isn't about which one provides the most benefits. It's more about which one is the logical first step for operators. We think that's NFV. It enables operators to start reaping the ben- efits of virtualization today instead of waiting for a payoff that may be three or more years down the road. Familiarity is a key reason why NFV is the ideal first step. The virtualized network functions are simply software instantiations of existing core network elements onto virtualized platforms. Suppose that an operator already has an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core – all of those nodes then become vir- tualized network functions, but the logical interfaces between them remain the same, as does the management interface. As a result, NFV looks very familiar to mobile operators, which translates to a shallow learning curve. By comparison, SDN radically changes the network topology. So although SDN simplifies the network, which is a big plus, it does it in a way that requires operators to think and act differently. That takes time, which means the payoff takes time. WW: How does technology such as vir- tualization change the offerings that operators will provide in the future? IM: Virtualization reduces the cost and complexity of networks, which reduces risk. That means operators can more eas- ily and quickly test and launch more offerings when it comes to developing and implementing services. Virtualization also minimizes time to market and time to rev- enue. Mobile operators have tradi- tionally taken a year or more to develop a service and implement it in the network, making them vul- nerable to rivals, such as OTT players and other mobile opera- tors. Virtualization enables operators to implement those services via software, so they can get to market much faster. WW: What do carriers need to do to get started in taking advantage of this next generation technology? IM: The first step is to decide which parts of the network they want to virtual- ize first. For example, many of the oper- ators Mavenir works with are starting with the EPC, while others are starting with the IMS core. Our virtualized solutions allow oper- ators can move at their own pace and vir- tualize whatever meets their business objectives. WW: How is Mavenir helping mobile operators take advantage of these networking trends? IM: We have more than nine years of experience specifically in this advanced area, substantial invest- ment in wireless technology, and are engaged with tier one opera- tors globally. We launched the world's first VoLTE and world's first RCS with MetroPCS, so we have the expertise and knowledge to move forward. We have a comprehensive suite of virtualized solutions, more than 30 products based on our mOne ® software platform that enables operators to devel- op innovative, reliable services and get them to market quickly and cost-effec- tively. We have a suite of functions in the network that are IMS- and EPC- based, and designed for operators to deploy on their own in-cloud infrastruc- ture today in a virtualized model. When they're ready to build out an NFV framework, Mavenir's mOne is designed to support that model, too. For more information, visit booth 4448.