Itasca's IDT jumps on the cloud

Paul Szemplinski of St. Charles founded a tech company in 1992 in Elgin that today is Itasca-based IDT.

The firm did more than provide niche services with name-brand technology that was customized for local companies. It survived during economic downturns, especially the dot-com bust, because it was flexible enough to grow with the rapid pace of technology.

Today, the company has expanded further with the “cloud.”

While it still provides its traditional core services, such as working with companies on their hardware and software choices, training and upgrading, it now offers cloud computing services.

“We made an early jump on the cloud,” he said.

Cloud computing has been growing among all types of businesses because it can store data via the web by using data centers anywhere in the world. It also can take your computer disk drive, memory, network interface, and other components, as well as a company's typical server room, and reproduce them in the cloud.

It transforms paper into images and provides a virtual repository so executives can retrieve their data and use it later to make decisions, said Szemplinski.

Using Microsoft technology, IDT partners with AT&T's data centers and can tell business executives to forget about new hardware and software and constant upgrades. Just store your system on the cloud.

“There's no need to buy more servers and backups, no need to upgrade disc space or get fixes or patches,” he said.

Some of his customers include Beanie Baby maker Ty Inc., American Chartered Bank and Bekins Van Lines. IDT recently made videos now on YouTube that explain the tools these companies used to jump on the cloud.

Szemplinski also said government agencies should consider the move to the cloud, because it would reduce overall expenses and eliminate the need for budget increases to buy new equipment and software.

“As a taxpayer, I'd like to see more government agencies go to the cloud,” he said.

Surfing: Verizon Wireless customers in Wheeling and Libertyville will be able to do more on their networks now that the wireless provider has installed two new cell sites there. And speaking of Verizon, customers can still contact loved ones with free calls to Japan through April 10. Verizon Wireless has its Midwest headquarters in Schaumburg.

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