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February 23, 2011

How VoIP can transform your business

Many businesses are making the switch from traditional phone systems to VoIP; will your organization be one of them? If you are still using a conventional phone system there are many benefits to switching to VoIP.

Just imagine – one system that handles your fax, voice, email, call routing, voice mail and teleconferencing. This is VoIP. Voice over Internet Protocol systems provide a method in which data and voice can be delivered through one network via the Internet. VoIP devices are user friendly, with intuitive user interfaces allowing anyone in your organization to understand and use these systems. With VoIP you can add new employees, set up remote offices, and easily contact employees at a minimal cost or effort.

One of the greatest advantages of a VoIP system is the cost savings for your organization. Switching to VoIP cuts down on your long distance phone bill. A typical switch to VoIP, according to VoIP Review, can deliver savings of up to 75% on your long distance phone bill. Because VoIP is data driven and uses the Internet to transmit calls, anyone within your organization’s network can be in contact with each other without incurring long distance charges. No longer are you stuck in one location, you can handle your business needs on the go. You can bring your remote employees and employees from other offices together for conferencing by using audio, video or Web technology.

Whenever you are a VoIP network, you are considered “local”. VoIP allows you and your employees to also be reached wherever there is access. This gives your business to give employees the option to telework while keeping up a professional appearance. With a straightforward and intuitive interface, remote employees can set up the phone systems at home and can be trusted to deliver results with easier access to management reports.

VoIP is a cost effective way to provide freedom and flexibility in your company’s infrastructure. VoIP not only saves money in your budget, but it also improves employee productivity. If you would like a consultation to see what you will need to make a VoIP upgrade, Spaulding Hill Networks offers free assessments, contact us today!

December 14, 2010

Smartphones – Tips for buying

Filed under: Uncategorized, smartphones — Tags: , , , — Administrator @ 12:48 pm

Smartphones had a big year in 2010, with sales of tablets, the iPhone and the Droid driving wireless sales. It is expected that in 2011, half of America’s cell phone users will be on smartphones. Businesses can benefit from supporting smartphones and tablets at work. With smartphone and tablet support you can answer an email or use an application from virtually anywhere – without having to be at your office. Smartphones and tablets allow access to emails, Web browsing at high speeds, ability to run business applications and the capacity to keep your projects, contacts and calendar nearby at all times. Looking to purchase your own smartphone for the first time? Here are some tips when looking for that perfect smartphone.

Try to stay within your wireless carrier. If you like the Droid but you have months left on your Sprint contract it’s best to either stick out your contract or pick a smartphone within the realm of Sprint. Termination fees from providers can be pricey and run as high as $350 (Verizon), $175 (AT&T) or $200 (Sprint and T-Mobile) per phone line.

Buy a new or second hand smartphone on the internet. Buying a smartphone on the internet allows you to bypass lengthy contracts and can save you money. You can also find smartphones that are hard to get or out of stock from retail outlets. Be sure to investigate seller feedback when purchasing online via sites such as eBay.

Chose a phone that suits your needs. Take the time to think of what features matter most to you. Do you want the ability to be able to multitask while talking on the phone? The iPhone is ideal for surfing the web while making phone calls. Do you text message and email a lot? Phones a QWERTY keyboard such as a BlackBerry may be more ideal than a touchscreen phone.

Compare smartphone features. As soon as you figure out what your needs are compare phones you like. There are a variety of magazines and websites that breakdown smartphones by what they offer. Consumer Reports is an impartial and reliable source. Compare not just the phones but also the operating systems themselves. Smartphones run on a variety of platforms, with the big hitters being iOS (Apple), Windows Phone 7, Symbian, Android, RIM (BlackBerry).

Look for compatibility. Will your smartphone be easy to configure to your business infrastructure? Make sure your smartphone is compatible with your work computer and works well with your email client. Many IT companies can help set up configuration for phone and workstation.

Make sure the battery life can fit into your lifestyle. Smartphones can have a battery span from 3 to 10 hours before requiring a charge and time can be lessened from running the internet and apps. If you get a smartphone with a short battery life look for accessories that provide charge boosting, such as the Energizer Inducter.

There are a variety of smartphones and operating systems available today. By doing the right research into price, compatibility and features, smartphones can make business life easier and add a solid return on investment.

April 7, 2010

Telecom Review: What you don’t know can cost you!

Dollar_signAn important and almost always overlooked strategy for a company to save money is for a telecom review. A telecom review is an audit of your telecommunications network billing and contracts, done by professionals who can find money saving errors. Telecom services account for one of the five largest expenses a business will face and with the many changes in the business and communications world what was good then may not be in your best interest now, so it is always imperative to stay on top of your telecom contract and here is why:

Telecom Bill contracts usually run 3 years and will typically go into automatic renewal. With confusing and complex billing-overcharges and outdated telecom fees can be easily overlooked. All too many times businesses are getting charged for services they no longer use or have cancelled. According to a study by Gartner Group, a leading information technology research and advisory company, “When it comes to telephone and data bills, an estimated $13 billion in overcharges will be generated in the next 12 months, and less than 2% of these telephone billing errors will ever be identified.”

All too often, businesses pay their telecom bill without a review of the actual charges or costs, which can lead to fraudulent and inaccurate billing. On average 85% of companies do not audit their bills which causes them to over spend by about 45%. Toll fraud hacking into corporate telecom networks is averaged to cost more that $1 billion dollars a year annually, how much of this 1 billion could be in your company?

Don’t let your company suffer from inaccurate billing and erroneous charges-by addressing cost issues and management issues you can cut costs and benefit instantly! Here at Spaulding Hill we offer a free telecom assessment. If you would like a FREE assessment please click here or call 866-441-7469.