If you are planning to move into new offices within the next twelve months, it is not too early to consider your telecommunications systems. Do you want to move your existing systems or obtain the latest technologies? If your system is at least four years “young” it may be worth considering the additional benefits gained from the latest technologies. That last statement shows how quickly the technologies for telephone systems have been changing over the last few years.

Some technologies to consider are voice mail, unified messaging (receiving e-mail, voice mail, and fax mail to a single “mailbox” on each individual’s computer), video conferencing, computer-telephony integration (linking together your computer and telephone systems), IVR (interactive voice response) systems, and ACD (automatic call distributors). Technologies that were costly and therefore only affordable by very large corporations just a few years ago are now affordable with even more capabilities to small and medium businesses.

Whatever you decide — to move your existing systems or to buy new systems — take this opportunity to evaluate your internal communications processes and those with the outside world — your customers, prospects, and suppliers. Although the following checklist focuses on moving your existing telephone systems, most of the points apply equally well to buying a new system and having it installed.

• Make sure you have work, beeper, emergency,
  Change Stinks or Does It?
  This morning as I walked the two miles around a neighborhood lake, I noticed that the leaves have begun to change and I marveled at the consistency of nature’s changing schedule. I realized that change is constant. There is always something changing in our lives.Some changes have more of a life impact than others: changing a hair style, a career path, a vehicle, a marriage. So if change is constant, what we have to examine is how we respond to change.Two years ago, after almost 18 years with Pearle Vision, I learned that I was no longer needed. I wasn’t alone in this d
  ward. Should you move your current telecommunications systems or buy the latest technologies that offer more capabilities?

  If you are planning to move into new offices within the next twelve months, it is not too early to consider your telecommunications systems. Do you want to move your existing systems or obtain the latest technologies? If your system is at least four years “young” it may be worth considering the additional benefits gained from the latest technologies. That last statement shows how quickly the technologies for telephone systems have been changing over the last few years.

  Some technologies to consider are voice mail, unified messaging (receiving e-mail, voice mail, and fax mail to a single “mailbox” on each individual’s computer), video conferencing, computer-telephony integration (linking together your computer and telephone systems), IVR (interactive voice response) systems, and ACD (automatic call distributors). Technologies that were costly and therefore only affordable by very large corporations just a few years ago are now affordable with even more capabilities to small and medium businesses.

  Whatever you decide — to move your existing systems or to buy new systems — take this opportunity to evaluate your internal communications processes and those with the outside world — your customers, prospects, and suppliers. Although the following checklist focuses on moving your existing telephone systems, most of the points apply equally well to buying a new system and having it installed.

  • Make sure you have work, beeper, emergency,
    Should You Buy Text Links?
    You can rank number one (Or at least in the top ten) for just about any search phrase by just buying text link ads, even if the web site isn't related to the search phrase in anyway, it can still rank in the top ten of the search results. Some web site owners see this as the only true way to the top ten. So, should you buy your way to the top? Or should you play it safe?Some say it's better to be safe than sorry. While others say if you play it safe and never make it to the top ten of the search results, your losing anyway. So, it must be much better not to play by the rules and g
    rth considering the additional benefits gained from the latest technologies. That last statement shows how quickly the technologies for telephone systems have been changing over the last few years.

    Some technologies to consider are voice mail, unified messaging (receiving e-mail, voice mail, and fax mail to a single “mailbox” on each individual’s computer), video conferencing, computer-telephony integration (linking together your computer and telephone systems), IVR (interactive voice response) systems, and ACD (automatic call distributors). Technologies that were costly and therefore only affordable by very large corporations just a few years ago are now affordable with even more capabilities to small and medium businesses.

    Whatever you decide — to move your existing systems or to buy new systems — take this opportunity to evaluate your internal communications processes and those with the outside world — your customers, prospects, and suppliers. Although the following checklist focuses on moving your existing telephone systems, most of the points apply equally well to buying a new system and having it installed.

    • Make sure you have work, beeper, emergency,
      Preparing Financially for Disaster
      Disasters, be it hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, or wildfires, are sadly an inevitable fact of life. And just as you might protect in advance your house and personal belongings from disasters, so too you must prepare your personal and financial information.But what does that entail? What is the near equivalent of boarding up your windows for your personal and financial information? In short, it simply means that you need to backup, document and record all of your personal and financial information to go along with those records (photos, vid
      integration (linking together your computer and telephone systems), IVR (interactive voice response) systems, and ACD (automatic call distributors). Technologies that were costly and therefore only affordable by very large corporations just a few years ago are now affordable with even more capabilities to small and medium businesses.

      Whatever you decide — to move your existing systems or to buy new systems — take this opportunity to evaluate your internal communications processes and those with the outside world — your customers, prospects, and suppliers. Although the following checklist focuses on moving your existing telephone systems, most of the points apply equally well to buying a new system and having it installed.

      • Make sure you have work, beeper, emergency,
        Patent - Business Method Patents - Part I
        In this first of a series of articles we're going to discuss a specific type of patent called a business method patent.If a company develops a new method for conducting an e-commerce business they may be able to prevent other companies from using this method for almost twenty years.The truth is, since 1998 an increasing number of software and Internet companies have been issued patents for designing new ways of doing business. Examples would be new online ordering processes or a unique Internet advertising method. These kind of patents which are usually the combination of
        ew systems — take this opportunity to evaluate your internal communications processes and those with the outside world — your customers, prospects, and suppliers. Although the following checklist focuses on moving your existing telephone systems, most of the points apply equally well to buying a new system and having it installed.
        • Make sure you have work, beeper, emergency, home, mobile, and any other telephone numbers for your vendor’s key sales and technical personnel throughout the move process. At the very least, insist on a 24 hour number availability to at least one person at the vendor’s company who has the authority to track down anyone who is necessary to fix any problems.
        • If changing phone numbers, you may want to set up forwarding for your old number rather than just have the telephone company put a recording on the old number that says the new number is xxx-xxx-xxxx. Your calls can be forwarded without having to physically keep your old lines in place. Ask your local telephone company about this service, sometimes called Telebranch. If your calls are forwarded, have the calls sent to a special number where you can track the volume of traffic. When it dies down, stop the forwarding and switch to the recorded message from the phone company. Test out the call forwarding to make sure it works. Test it every day first thing in the morning for the first week after it is initially set up and again for the first week after your move.
        • Work with your telephone equipment vendor to inventory your current system and peripheral components and verify how they are currently set up and used. Take this opportunity to re-evaluate your use of the features of your phone system. There may be many that you’re not using and from which you could benefit. Ask your employees what they would like to do with the system that they cannot do now. Ask your vendor what else you could be ta