(Research Triangle Park, N.C.) A Cisco(R) CSCO -0.47% survey released today identifies new ways for retailers to “catch” and “keep” channel-hopping customers to revitalize brick-and-mortar stores. Conducted by Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) — the company’s global consultancy — and Cisco’s retail marketing team, the study surveyed 1,000 U.S. and 1,000 U.K. shoppers. Among the research’s many key findings was that retailers must respond to technology-savvy consumers by creating digitally-rich, easy-to-use, technology-based experiences in the store to expand basket size and increase margins. These experiences “mash up” physical retailing with the best of rich online content. (more…)

(Hickory, N.C.) The ongoing volatility of copper pricing has created a major concern for the telecommunications industry, in which telecoms operators traditionally use copper ground wire for network grounding and bonding. Rising copper prices negatively impact operating costs by increasing the price of wire and maintenance costs, as copper wire becomes an attractive target for thieves intent on stealing it for sale to recyclers. To help the industry battle these issues, CommScope, Inc. has developed a copper-alternative grounding wire designed to deter copper theft and lower maintenance costs for telecoms and data applications. (more…)

(High Point, N.C.) North State Communications (NSC), the leading telecommunications provider in the Piedmont Triad region, today announced their Plex high speed Internet as the official sponsor of the Plex North Carolina State Criterium Championships. The competition will take place on Saturday, May 28th as day two of the High Point City Criterium event (sponsored by Smart Choice Insurance). (more…)

(Cary, N.C.) Mobile311, LLC has recently expanded its existing smart phone application onto the Android and iPhone platform.  This latest advancement, with single-click connection from an Android or iPhone, reinforces the ease of use and flexibility that this company was built on. (more…)

(Apex, N.C.) Business phone services provider FeatureTel has expanded to the Atlanta market, making its private, cloud-based telecom services available to businesses in the city and the surrounding region. Triangle-based FeatureTel has been providing hosted VoIP business phone services to customers across North Carolina since 2003. Providing phone systems as a service over a private voice network, FeatureTel eliminates the need for clients to purchase a premise-based phone system while clients also benefit from the cloud technology. (more…)

(Sanford, N.C.) WiSpots Inc. has entered into an agreement with Thawer Ashcroft Crowne & Co. to offer investment collateral to the backend structure of the venture, where it will provide investors with a guarantee of up to full principal investment in case of a default. An in-depth study and simulation was performed by the associates of Thawer Ashcroft Crowne & Co. which yielded outstanding results. (more…)

(Apex, N.C.) Inc. magazine today ranked Apex, N.C.-based FeatureTel no. 2,424 on its fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. (more…)

  (Welcome, N.C.) The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), which represents the manufacturers of broadband equipment, products and services for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, announced earlier this month that it has elected Mark Walker, President of Walker and Associates, Inc. to its Board of Directors. (more…)

(Raleigh, N.C.) Telit Wireless Solutions, Inc., the U.S.-based mobile technology arm of Telit Communications (AIM:TCM), announced today that the UC864-G module has earned certification on the AT&T wireless network. The UC864-G is a 3.5G wireless data module designed for smart, embedded cellular applications requiring the global portability afforded by a radio structure comprised of quad-band support to GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA. (more…)

(Cary, N.C. ) Strategic Guru, a full service marketing and communications agency, announced today the launch of their “Second Annual Worst Website Ever” contest. The purpose of the contest is to find the website of a business or organization that is most in need of a makeover. The winning entry, chosen by popular vote, will receive a prize package valued at over $9000 that includes refreshed design, copy-editing, development and search engine optimization services. (more…)

(Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C.) Windstream (NYSE: WIN) announces the expansion of its converged communications services to the Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C. markets. Windstream’s Dynamic Office and Total Office solutions combine voice, data and Internet services over the same connection for maximum value and flexibility. (more…)

(Research Triangle Park, N.C.) TapRoot Systems, Inc., a leading developer of software solutions for the smartphone market, announces TapRoot’s 3GPP 27.010 telephony CSY for the Symbian platform is now available as open source. TapRoot has open sourced their 3GPP 27.010 multiplexor telephony CSY under the Eclipse Public License (EPL). The CSY enables serial communications for low-level data point-to-point technology, and is used as the basis for customizing the logic for specific interprocessor communications between the applications processor and baseband devices. (more…)