In the wake of the tragic suicide bombings in London last week, the media spotlight has been turned on video surveillance, and how the technology is being used to safeguard places such as transit systems. A company in the middle of this space is Ottawa-based March Networks, which develops IP-based digital video systems. It would be no surprise is March Networks' salespeople have been getting a flurry of inquiries from potential customers looking to beef up their security. Last month, the company, controlled by entrepreneur Terry Matthews, signed a deal to install digital video recorders in 80 rail cars operated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in San Jose, Ca. In Toronto, there are growing calls for the Toronto Transit Authority to replace its aging video surveillance equipment. As much as no company wants to take advantage of terrorist acts, March Networks has found itself in the right place at the right time.

Russell Shaw still thinks Sprint is the most logical buyer of Vonage in light of Rich Tehrani's posting on a $3.5-billion marriage between BellSouth and Vonage. Russell believes BellSouth's conservative corporate nature would probably preclude from making a play for Vonage. So why does Russell favor Sprint? To quote him directly, he says: "Out of all the major national telecom providers, Sprint is the only one without a major, direct-to-consumer VoIP sales play." As for the $3.5-billion proposed price-tag, I think it's a pipe-dream but never under-estimate the enthusiasm of irrational investors excited about a new, hot technology. Rich Tehrani also has some thoughts about how Vonage's valuation should perhaps take into account the hype and valuation surrounding satellite radio service providers - XM and Sirius.

The Globe & Mail - Canada's other national newspaper - had an interesting story earlier this about how some music labels are working with music bloggers rather than trying to take them to court. V2 Records, in particular, is working with 20 blogs by supplying with them new CDs before their commercial release. V2 believes this will create buzz using well-respected, passionate "partners". How about that - a music industry actually using creative ways to market new music with non-traditional sources rather than paying their lawyers more fees!