TBL Networks announced today it has been named to CRN’s second annual list of the Tech Elite 250. Companies on the 2012 Tech Elite 250 list represent an elite group of IT Solution Providers that have invested in the training and education needed to earn the most technical certifications in the IT Channel.

 In compiling the list, CRN editors worked with the UBM Channel research group and a team of outside experts to define the most customer-beneficial technical certifications in the IT channel.  These technical certifications have enabled solution providers to deliver the most premium products, service and support to their North American customers.

 “TBL Networks is very honored to be named to CRN’s 2012 Tech Elite 250,” said Alan Sears, President and CEO of TBL Networks, Inc.  “This recognition is especially appreciated as it reflects our dedication to providing our clients with impactful technology solutions and unmatched customer service.”

TBL Networks’ dedication to training and certifications were instrumental in their selection.  Founded by three Cisco Voice CCIEs, TBL’s staff also includes the only VMware VCDX in Central Virginia, in addition to two 2011 VMware vExperts. TBL Networks is a Cisco Certified Gold Partner, a VMware Enterprise Solutions Provider, an EMC Premier Velocity Partner, and a VCE Vblock Qualified Partner.

“The 2012 Tech Elite 250 list recognizes an exclusive group of Solution Providers that have shown a dedication to helping customers innovate while reducing costs,” said Kelley Damore, Vice President, Editorial Director at UBM Channel.  “By identifying and adapting to the skills and training needed to best serve today’s customers, members of the Tech Elite 250 have proven their commitment to delivering the products and services that today’s end-users value most.”

A sample of CRN’s 2012 “Tech Elite 250” list is featured in the February issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.crn.com.

About TBL Networks, Inc.
TBL Networks is about moving forward with innovative technology. With over 60 years of combined technical expertise, we empower clients’ collaboration, virtualization and data centers to do more with less. TBL delivers these advanced solutions directly where it counts the most – the desktop. Building secure and reliable solutions that introduce efficiencies in human interaction is how we see the future. Let us take you there at www.theblinkylight.com.

In addition to great climate controlled golf, our tournament featured live demonstrations of TBL’s solutions, including a live leader board powered by Cisco WebEx,  our Cisco TelePresence 1100 rooms, a demonstration of the EMC VNX line and the future of VDI powered by VMware.  In addition, we were able to show the intersection of VMware, Cisco and EMC in the converged infrastructure of VCE’s Vblock.





    

As we did last year, TBL Networks was privileged to benefit a great organization in CJ’s Thumbs Up Foundation.  CJsTUF mission is to provide financial assistance to families of children with chronic and life-threatening illness.  

To learn about CJsTUF, check out their website,  blog, FaceBook and Twitter pages.  Also, TBL Networks Blog Home will have more information about this great organization in coming weeks.

Finally, special thanks to our corporate partners Cisco, VMware, EMC and VCE for helping make our day possible.

Check out more pictures from this event at www.facebook.com/tblnetworks

Traditional customer service has evolved over the past few years with this growth in social media usage. It is no longer enough for businesses to connect with customers on social media. They are now driven to monitor online conversations about their company then provide responsive and timely support through these channels. In addition to using social media for sales, marketing and business intelligence many companies have updated their customer service strategy to integrate these platforms. According to Gartner, 35% of all customer service centers will have social media capability by 2013.

If implemented correctly social media provide additional data streams for understanding customers’ expectations and needs. According to Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere, 38% of bloggers say they post about brands that they love or hate. And the 2nd most trusted information source for product referrals are Facebook friends. There are plenty of tools out there identifying where these conversations about your brand are occurring. The challenge has been turning the data produced by that monitoring into something actionable.

So how do you keep track of what the 800+ million Facebook users are saying or what is being written about you on the millions of active blogs out there? I think Cisco’s SocialMiner product can help by providing the bridge between social media and your customer support team along with the CRM system you are using.

SocialMiner is a customer care solution that helps companies proactively respond to customers and prospects communicating through public social media networks like Blogs, Facebook, Twitter or other online forums. It provides monitoring, queuing, reporting and workflow to organize internet postings related to your business. Then your customer care team can use this info to provide real-time responses using the same channels your customers are communicating on.

SocialMiner is part of the Unified Contact Center so deployment should be familiar if you are an existing Cisco customer. John Hernandez, General Manager of their Customer Collaboration Business Unit (CCBU), has said that SocialMiner is an engagement product, not a listening product. Check out the full list of features that support his statement and help set SocialMiner apart from traditional social media monitoring tools:

Whether you’ve established a social media presence or not, chances are that people are talking about your business online. SocialMiner is one of those products you may want to consider to help your company start listening to these conversations. Your team will be in a better position to increase customer loyalty, provide responsive service, engage new customers and protect your brand.

TBL Networks announced today that it has received for the designation of Cisco ATP – Identity Services Engine Partner in the USA.  To earn this designation, TBL Networks has met all ATP program requirements and criteria, including the rigorous Cisco certified personnel levels required for an ATP – Identity Services Engine Partner. 

“TBL Networks is honored to be named a Cisco Identity Services Engine ATP Partner,” said Alan Sears, President and CEO of TBL Networks, Inc.  “With this certification, TBL will continue to provide its clients with the most advanced solutions in Borderless Networking, Collaboration, and Data Centers.”

TBL Networks is one of only 50 resellers in the United States invited by Cisco to achieve the ISE ATP. Already a Cisco Gold Certified Partner, this designation allows TBL Networks to sell, design, install, and support the new Identity Services Engine security solutions from Cisco.  TBL’s achievements include VMware Enterprise Level Solutions Provider Partner, EMC Premier Tier Velocity² Services Partner and VCE Vblock Qualified Partner.

TBL Networks is a major source of expertise for the technology sector in Central Virginia. Recently, TBL was included on CRN’s Next-Gen 250 channel partner list. In addition, TBL was ranked 406 on the 2011 Inc. 500 list, becoming the only firm in Central Virginia to make the list, and ranked 34th overall in IT services.

TBL Networks Partner status can be found in the Cisco Partner Locator at http://www.cisco.com/go/partnerlocator.

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com.  For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

About TBL Networks, Inc.
TBL Networks is about moving forward with innovative technology. With over 60 years of combined technical expertise, we empower clients’ collaboration, virtualization and data centers to do more with less. TBL delivers these advanced solutions directly where it counts the most – the desktop. Building secure and reliable solutions that introduce efficiencies in human interaction is how we see the future. Let us take you there at www.theblinkylight.com.

In a recent blog post “The Power of Touch,”  Dannette Veale discussed how researchers at the University of Munich are developing “a solution that enables anything to be touch driven.”  As the video demonstrates, you can finally use your spare bucket as steering wheel for video games.

For more practical and immediate use, the Cisco TelePresence Touch 12 allows you to integrate touch technology into your TelePresence solution.  This 12-inch device works with the entire end point line of Cisco TelePresence line. 

As touch technology continues to progress into the enterprise, it’s novelty will fade as it becomes commonplace.   The truth is simple.  You’ve got the touch.   You’ve got the power.