About The Founder
way back in 2000
High Tech Talk
Beyond the Cutting Edge
Have you ever wished for an instant Internet connection in your car, faster than the average home computer? With Mobile Interactive Office System (M.I.O.S.), it’s possible. You can send and receive email and faxes, produce and send invoices, access entire files, and use its GPS system to find the nearest Starbucks—all from the driver’s seat. Plus, you can replace all those CDs with MILO.S., which stores and retrieves your entire music collection and any DVDs you or your passengers want to watch, at the touch of a button.
Perhaps you’d like a complete home entertainment center to calm the kids bouncing around in the back seat. Or maybe you’re in a strange town craving Thai food. Believe it or not, all this and much more is as close as your fingertips when you have M.I.O.S. installed in your car.
The first prototype of M.I.O.S. is up and running, thanks to Zee Tawasha, a local businessman and award-winning authority on mobile electronics. Tawasha has been involved in the wireless industry since its inception and has been named four times to the list of top 100 installers in the country by Mobile Electronic Specialist, an industry magazine. He is widely recognized in the communications industry, with giants like AT&T regularly seeking his expertise to solve specific client problems.
Tawasha’s curiosity in electronics began early; he recalls dismantling his grandfather’s Rolex watch at the age of 6 and being captivated by its inner workings, despite getting into trouble. Now, he’ll be sharing his knowledge through a regular column, “HiTech Talk with Zee Tawasha,” in Modesto Homes and Lifestyles, serving as the electronics “answer man.” His column will address questions submitted by readers on all aspects of electronics, from practical tips like optimizing cell phone carrier deals to tackling complex technical issues.
For questions about M.I.O.S. and any other electronics subjects, you can email Tawasha at hitechtalk@aztouch.com.
Dear Friend
Zee Tawasha Founder of XtreamData
My name is Zee Tawasha, Founder & Managing Partner of XtreamData. I’ve been actively involved in Information Technology for over twenty years. I have always had a passion for computer technology as well as a fascination for what makes businesses of all types successful.
Award winning professional in telecommunications and wireless technology. With experience developing sales-driven marketing collateral resulting in up to 125% in product sales growth, expanding multi-retail locations and developing key partnerships as a global service wireless provider. Since the early 1990’s Mr. Tawasha has been a leader in developing, marketing and selling cutting edge electronics and wireless communication products and services.
EXPERIENCED LEADER WITH AN entrepreneurial SPIRIT
Since the early 1990’s, I have been growing businesses and leading multi-million dollar projects and initiatives in partnership with some of world’s largest wireless domestic and international distributors. Creating various roles for myself both domestically and internationally, from Business Owner of one of the many successful Verizon Wireless Superstores to the Founder and CEO of XtreamData, a software development company offering scalable technology solutions. I offer a wide range of expertise from software development and management to company-wide sales generation and account management.
AWARD WINNING CAREER
Over the course of my career, I have received many distinct honors and awards commending my contributions to the electronics industry. As the only four time nominee for Mobile Electronics Specialist Magazine’s Top 100 US Installers List and Mobile Electronics Retailer Award of Merit for the most installer of the year nominations over six consecutive years, I bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and passion around cutting edge technology and electronics.
PROVEN RESULTS
I have been recognized for my ability to successfully increase performance and product awareness through the use of strategic campaigns and promotions. These results include overseeing and assisting with all efforts in the development and launch of new product lines. These acknowledgements are simply a testament to my ability to provide effective and successful leadership and direction that is innovative and industry leading.
EXPERIENCE
XtreamData, Founder & CEO (2012- Present)
XtreamData is a custom software development company offering end-to-end, scalable-technology solutions.
- Provides company-wide strategic vision and direction for marketing, sales, and R&D.
- Develops all technical, conceptual and content development of sales-driving collateral.
- Responsible for lead generation, new accounts, and developing new markets.
- Successfully grew sales by 120% year over year while increasing operating efficiencies.
- Writer for all technical specifications, software engineering, rules and requirements for entire company.
- Develops and maintains strategic working relationships with existing local network providers.Business to Business Solutions, TAWASHA INC. Consultant (2001- Present)
Business to Business Solutions provides Wireless Direct business support, but also consumer support.
- Manages corporate Wireless Bills and activates new line of communication services, such as: Air Cards and cellular Telephone services.
- Wireless solutions provider for major corporate accounts.
- Provides ongoing customer Technical Support/ Market Research and demographic profiling to identity and capitalize on unmet market needs.
Verizon Wireless Superstore, Business Owner (2000- 2010)
- Served as Owner and Operator of business. Provided Verizon Wireless telephone service to individual clients as well as corporate accounts.
- Expanded client base by 78% in two years by consistently delivering goal-surpassing wireless activations, results and ensuring complete client satisfaction.
- Responsible for growing new private and corporate accounts
- Developed a blackberry training class, the first public data training class available.
- Earned commendations from clients for communication deliverables focused on target audiences and articulated the value of products and services.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Four-time nominee for Mobile Electronics Specialist Magazine’s Top 100 US Installers List
- Featured in Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show & Trucking Magazine’s Business Solutions.
- Mobile Electronics Retailer Award of Merit for the most installer of the year nominations over six consecutive years.
EDUCATION
- Business & Corporate Communications
San Francisco State University - Audio Engineering
University of San Francisco
Voice recognition goes wireless
A number of companies are developing voice control for mobile devices as more consumers use their handsets to surf the Web, shop.
Zee Tawasha is an unabashed BlackBerry addict, constantly sending urgent e-mails to employees at 30 mobile phone stores he owns across California, Arizona and Nevada.
Until recently, he used his fingers to painstakingly type out messages on the wireless device’s cramped keyboard.
But with a new service launched by his network provider Sprint Nextel on Friday, Tawasha can press a button and say the recipient’s name and dictate a message of up to 20 words into his BlackBerry’s receiver.
Within about a minute, the full message appears on the screen and he can send it off with one keystroke.
The technology was developed by privately held MobileVoiceControl, one of a number of companies developing voice control systems as consumers increasingly use mobile devices to surf the Web, shop and download ring tones.
While handsets have long incorporated voice controls, the features have not yet been embraced by many consumers because of limited functionality and accuracy.
“It really works,” said Tawasha, who has been testing MobileVoiceControl’s product for about three months. But he said that the new technology has its limitations: “You have to learn to speak slowly and clearly.”
The product has been available on Sprint Nextel since late last year, although the carrier only formally launched it to business customers on Friday.
Analysts said other mobile networks could begin rolling out next-generation voice control services before the end of the year, hoping the improved functionality will spur demand for high-speed data services.
IBM and Nuance Communications, two developers of voice-control technology, said recently they are working with major wireless carriers on similar products, although they declined to give details.
Motorola has said it plans later this year to start selling a phone with local language voice commands.
“Text is about the most difficult and awkward user interface for anything on the cell phone. The best way is to talk to the damn thing,” says Roger Entner, an analyst with research firm Ovum.
U.S. carriers have spent billions of dollars beefing up their networks for high-speed data services, but are still waiting for the investments to pay off. Usage remains limited partly because it is tough to surf the Web using small screens and keyboards.
A Reuters reporter testing the MobileVoiceControl product on a Sprint Treo 700p smart phone found text responses were 100 percent accurate on 10 e-mails entered by voice, although it took the system an average of 53 seconds to generate each e-mail, with response times ranging from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
The $6 a month service offers about 15 voice command functions, including e-mail, text messaging, calendar entries, address book searches, Google searches and weather reports.
It is now available on high-end Sprint and Nextel smart phones. The carrier plans to start rolling it out on conventional cell phones before the end of the year.
Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester Research, said it will take three to four years before mainstream mobile phone users embrace voice controls.
“The technology has come a tremendously long way, but it’s not 100 percent,” he said earlier this week. “I think people get frustrated.”
Story Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.