Opinion: That’s T[life]

It seems that every vendor has to have its own store these days.
Despite the hoopla surrounding Apple’s new glass-fronted mega-shop in Sydney, the same architect who designed Apple’s New York retail therapy clinic was responsible for the Telstra T[life] shop just across the road, which opened last November. This week Telstra has opened another T[life] shop down in Melbourne. According to the telco, the shops are just what customers have been demanding, and are designed to give you a hands-on preview of exactly what life will be like with one of their phones. Oh really? Sure, they have sections for [my]business and [my]place and even [my]network to entice punters with the possibilities of perfection in phones. But is this reality? There are several departments missing from this store. First off, where is the [my]rural section? That’s where you can’t get a signal no matter what you do, but there would be ladders and ledges for you to climb on while you try and get connected, and several people trapped under a tractor.Another desperately needed department is [my]invoice. This would let customers know what it’s likely to cost them when they choose to sign on the dotted line, and how many body parts they’ll need to sell in order to pay the outrageous bill. Right alongside would be [my]callcentre. In this department, nobody would speak the same language as you do, and this would be truly global. If you happened to only speak Urdu then you’d be connected with English-speaking call centre staff instead.In the far corner of the store would be [my]technicians. Parked there would be a T[life] van, with several techs eating sandwiches, having a smoke and talking to their mates on their company-provided mobile phones. If you go over and ask them for assistance they’ll ask you to call [my]callcentre first to make an appointment. Then they’ll return to eating, smoking and chatting amongst themselves. Alongside them would be [my]backhoe with a tangle of fibre-optic cables drooling from its bucket.Nobody in the shop would be able to help you with your questions, but an army of annoying drones would [my]phone you at random to offer you things you don’t want or need. You’d also get [my]SMS messages inviting you to participate in fabulous giveaway contests for tickets to last year’s grand finals. Now that’s what I call a reality T[life] store.

By Ian Yates 27 June 2008 12:12PMTags: telstra

People Telecom to get 3G from M2 Telecommunications

Australian-owned supplier of retail and wholesale telecommunications, People Telecom, has signed a two-year agreement with M2 Telecommunications Group for the wholesale supply of Optus 3G and GSM mobile services.
People Telecom’s CEO, John Stanton, said under the agreement People Telecom will be able to offer 3G and GSM mobile and Wireless2Go wireless broadband services to existing and new customers. “The agreement provides stronger operating margins for People Telecom’s existing mobile business, which will assist our earnings growth,” he said.Stanton said further details about People Telecom’s multi-network mobile arrangements will emerge in the coming weeks. This new agreement will pave the way for the telco to become a mobile virtual network operator.“[This offers] our customers the flexibility to operate on a range of different major mobile networks across Australia,” said Stanton.

By Lilia Guan 27 June 2008 02:34PMTags: people telecom 3g m2 telecommunications

cheers

GS

Commander forced to keep Affinity IT Recruitment subsidiary

Embattled Australian service provider, Commander Communications, has been forced to take its Affinity IT Recruitment subsidiary and internal recruitment services off the sales table.
Commander has previously announced its intention to sell the Affinity division, but after extensive discussions with external parties, the service provider wasn’t able to conclude a suitable deal for the Affinity, said Commander’s managing director Amanda Lacaze.“When we identified the ‘Turnaround Plan’ for Commander we identified Affinity as a subsidiary that was not core to our strategy,” she said. “We are disappointed that we were unable to conclude an external sale of the Affinity IT Recruitment business and therefore have taken the decision to close down operations,” she said. According to Lacaze, a full review of Affinity’s operations has been completed and management now believes it can be cost effectively managed within Commander’s internal HR division, rather than a separately run division.“Commander will no longer seek to divest the Affinity business as an ongoing operation. Instead, certain recruitment professionals from Affinity will be appointed to new roles within Commander,” she said.Affinity IT Recruitment will no longer provide services to external clients. However all current candidate selections will be finalised and Affinity will manage its existing contractor base until the expiry of the contracts, said Lacaze.However 15 employees, mainly from the sales and administration division, will be retrenched, due to these changes and consequent reduction in overheads, said Lacaze.

By Lilia Guan 27 June 2008 02:09PMTags: commander forced keep affinity recruitment subsidiary


cheers

GS

Telstra claims T [life] store boost to Melbourne CBD

Australian telecommunications provider, Telstra has opened what it claims to be one the “largest state-of-the-art interactive telecommunications store in Australia”.
Telstra believes the T [life] store transforms the Melbourne CBD landscape and brings a touch of 'Times Square meets 5th Avenue' to the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets.Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo, said the T [life] store is an “interactive retail environment” that allows customers to experience Telstra products first hand. "Australians told us that they want a store where the display mobiles work so they can play before they buy, where one-on-one expert advice accompanies live demonstrations, and where how to classes are available,” he said.The store is accompanied with a 22 metre x 2.5 metre LCD screen. Telstra consumer marketing and channels group managing director, David Moffatt, said the new T [life] store in Melbourne followed on from the success of the Sydney store. “The Melbourne store is equivalent in size to seven tennis courts and brings to life what's possible, showcasing the present and the future. It also has two levels that encompass a dedicated area for business customers called [my]business and [my]place – which offers free advice; and [my]networked home where customers can see for themselves how to connect at home and while on the move," Moffatt said.According to Moffatt the store also features an interactive zone to explore and play with over 100 live and working devices, technology where customers can interact with future products and a TelePresence meeting room for face-to-face state of the art video conferencing.

SMC signs deal with Mitron to distribute Skype phone in Australia

Mitron has been appointed the sole Australian distributor for SMC Networks Wi-Fi Phone for Skype.
Technology provider of LAN hardware, broadband devices and wireless products, SMC Networks, has signed with Mitron to launch the SMC WSKP100 Wi-Fi phone for Skype in the Australian market.“We are very pleased that Mitron will partner with us to spearhead the Australian distribution,” said Becky Ho, general manager, SMC Networks Asia Pacific.The handset provides access to a Skype account through any internet-enabled wireless access point. SMC claimed that Mitron was chosen not only for its understanding of the Internet landscape, but also for its extensive contacts within the Australian channel.“They have excellent credentials within this industry and we are looking forward to a very successful relationship with this product,” said Ho.The distributor stated that the relationship will enhance its product offerings to the channel and bolster Mitron’s presence in the local communications market. Michael Boorne, managing director, Mitron, said: “With more than three million Skype users in Australia, there is a large potential market for the SMC WSKP100. Its prospects look bright particularly as connectivity becomes a necessity.”

Internode hits ADSL2+ milestone

Continuing its push to become one of Australia’s dominant broadband players, Internode has installed its own DSLAM equipment in over 100 telephone exchanges.
The South Australia-based ISP has a further 50 exchanges planned for its ADSL2+ rollout schedule.Simon Hackett, managing director at Internode, said the deployment schedule was being hampered by Telstra.“Of the 106 exchanges we have equipped with our own DSLAM gear, 10 have limited capacity due to Telstra either restricting access to the exchange or declaring it full,” he said.Hackett has previously criticised Telstra, arguing the carrier should open up access to its nationwide ADSL2+ network, and arguing that access for competing ISPs is being held up by delays.Despite the restrictions, Hackett said that Internode remains committed to providing its customers with the best Internet experience possible.“With our ADSL2+, ADSL1 and Naked ADSL2+ services, we provide customers with a great range of options for Internet access,” he said.“ADSL2+ delivers the real Internet experience by letting us deliver a full range of rich online applications including our NodePhone voice-over-broadband service, great streaming video and games and business systems such as high-speed tails for our Internode Business Connect (IBC) private IP network.”The ISP is continuing its partnership with Optus Wholesale to provide its Naked ADSL2+ service across 350 exchanges Australia wide. Naked DSL allows broadband over a dial tone-free phone line, avoiding the monthly line rental charges usuallu required for ADSL broadband.Internode currently has 45 of its own DSLAM exchanges in its home state of South Australia. NSW has approximately half this with 21 exchanges, followed by the ACT with 13 and Victoria with 12. Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania trail behind with 10, 3 and 2 respectively.

By Mitchell Smith 23 June 2008 03:50PMTags: internode


cheers

GS

Garry Sholl used Siemens phones

HiPath 1220 System
Key Features:
Sophisticated low-cost solution.
Up to 3 ISDN2 services (6 lines) and 16 extensions.
Fax, answering machine, modem integration.
Internal Voicemail.
You run a medical practice, a legal practice, a small business, or you work from home? Direct contact with your customers is crucial to your success, which is why you expect far more from the perfect telephone system than simply the standard features? You want easy-to-use, convenient terminals? And all that without breaking the bank? No problem. With HiPath 1220, Siemens brings all the features of a professional telephone system within the reach of small companies.
With the HiPath 1220 telephone system, Siemens offers an exceptionally high performance communications system for small, but nevertheless demanding, companies. A multitude of professional features supports all phone-based communications processes– at every workstation and in every working environment. You want to grow – no problem. With HiPath 1220, you have the freedom to expand with ease, two-by-two, to as many as 14 phones. Decide for a new quality in telecommunications.
You can buy them here http://www.everytel.com.au/
Cheers
GS

Consumers to pay 15 percent more for Telstra built network

Australian consumers will have to pay 15 percent more for broadband access if Telstra is successful in its bid to build the Federal Government's $4.7 billion funded national broadband network (NBN), according to a new report.
The report, titled estimates Telstra would have to charge 15 percent more for network access for it to achieve its publicly-stated 18 percent after-tax return profit target.The report was conducted by independent economic consultancy group, the Centre for International Economics (CIE), at the request of the Competitive Carriers Coalition (CCC) – whose members include Telstra rivals; Macquarie Telecom, iiNet and TransACT."To be able to achieve its targeted return on equity of 18 per cent, Telstra would have to extract additional revenue from the network users through higher prices," said the report's authors, Mayela Garcia and CIE director Kerry Barwise. "Higher prices in industries will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for consumer goods and services, leading to a general increase in the level of prices."Exacting a further 15 percent from consumers’ pockets for network access would equate to an additional $897 million in Telstra’s coffers, claimed the report. If the network was to cost $15 billion, an estimate Telstra boss Sol Trujillo recently quoted to The Australian, consumers would pay an additional $1.4 billion a year for broadband services.The CIE estimates were based on Telstra’s calculations that the NBN would cost approximately $9 billion to build and comparisons of what consumers would pay for broadband services from an alternative operator. The report also hypothesised that a network build based on Telstra’s cost estimates would increase inflation, reduce national growth, lower wages and reduce national consumption.Telstra Wholesale managing director Kate McKenzie lashed out at the report, branding it as a “bogus”."This is a completely bogus report that has been bought and paid for by a bunch of competitors who want one thing only — to stop the building of Australia's national broadband network and keep their current cosy arrangements," she said in a statement."The report has no basis in fact. It is a dishonest distortion that is designed to do nothing but delay the process."

cheers
GS

Little Secret About Your Next Phone System

One of the most important decisions a small business has to make is how they are going to manage their communications. After all, communications are the back bone of any small business. If they cannot communicate clearly and efficiently with potential and current customers, they will not be in business long. It can be very stressful trying to determine which communications system is going to be best for your business. Adding to the confusion and stress of making the decision is the number of options available when it comes to telecommunications. There are standard hard line PBX systems, standard POTS lines from the local carrier, virtual PBX systems, local numbers, toll free numbers, virtual fax, standard VoIP and hosted VoIP PBX systems… and you could probably find at least a hundred providers for each. It’s enough to make you crazy.
One of the biggest mistakes that small business owners make as they wade through all the choices available to them is that they start at the end and work their way back. Usually they will do an Internet search for “phone systems” and from the thousands upon thousands of results choose a provider. Then they will go and see what systems and features are available. The problem with finding your telecom provider in this way is that you are trying to fit your small business communications needs into a cookie cutter phone system. And there is a dirty little secret in the telecom industry that perpetuates this problem. Small businesses end up finding a provider and then trying to fit their needs into the phone systems that the provider has to offer. Sometimes they fit and sometimes they don’t and that is when the small business loses out. The dirty little secret that these telecom providers are keeping from you is that it doesn’t have to be that way. You do not have to try to squeeze your small business communications into one of their pre- designed, one size fits all solutions.
Instead of finding a provider first and then trying to fit your needs into their solutions, you need to start at the beginning. The beginning is you and your small business. Before you even start looking for a phone system you should know exactly what it is that you want. Finish this sentence, “If I could have everything I wanted in a phone system, it would include….” Then start making your list. Here is a list of questions to help you get started:
How many employees will have extensions?
Would I like to be able to have a dispersed workforce taking calls?
Do I want to incorporate my Internet and phones together?
Do I need my phone system to grow with me?
Do I want to combine my fax and phone system together?
Do I want to be able to do inter-office/inter-extension transfers?
Do I want an automated attendant to answer and direct calls?
Do I want voicemail accessible by email and/or over the Internet?
Do I want to be able to monitor all calls on the system either live or through reports?
Do I want to be able to create forwarding groups so that calls can be forwarded to all extensions within a group of employees?
Once you decide what your small business needs, you can then search for a provider to fulfill those needs instead of finding a provider that you can try to fit your needs into. Having even just a basic understanding of the options available will help you understand your choices and not allow a provider to mold your needs into what they offer. Here is a breakdown of the most popular options:
POTS lines (Plain Old Telephone Service) can be a simple solution for a one man band that does not need an automated attendant to route calls nor any enhanced features such as voicemail to email, virtual fax, follow me call forwarding, etc. Start up costs will depend on if you already have lines established on site or if you are starting from scratch.
A standard PBX (Private Branch eXchange) includes onsite equipment to route calls between employees. These systems are usually cost prohibitive for small businesses due to their large up front costs, they have maintenance requirements, and they are not very flexible in their ability to grow with the business. Your start up costs will depend on how many users you have
Virtual PBX systems include all the features of a standard PBX, but without the initial cost of the switching equipment, ongoing costs of maintenance and will allow for growth. Many small business owners like the virtual PBX set up because it allows them the flexibility that a small business needs and features that help them maintain a professional image. Specific features that benefit small businesses include the follow me call forwarding, automated attendant, multiple extensions/voicemail boxes, and online administration and retrieval of voice and fax messages. Virtual PBX solutions are usually only efficient for inbound calling only.
Hosted VoIP PBX systems take the virtual PBX a couple steps further with the addition of VoIP technology and IP (Internet Protocol) phones so that you have inbound as well as outbound calling happening on one system. It will use your current Internet connection so an increase in bandwidth may be necessary. A hosted VoIP PBX also allows you all of the flexibility of a virtual system because it is scalable and can be used with a dispersed work force whether they are across town or across the country. The start up costs will be a little bit higher than a virtual PBX because you also have to buy the phones.
intimidated into trying to squeeze your needs into a cookie cutter phone system. Your small business is not like anyone else’s and only you know what it needs. So first sit down and write down everything that you would like your phone system to do, learn the basics about what is available, and then find the provider that can fulfill those needs. Don’t allow the telecom providers dirty little secret force you into a phone system that isn’t a perfect fit for your business.

Brandi Cummings, an expert author on the unique issues facing small and home based businesses, recommends checking out http://www.freedom800.com/ a leading provider of business class virtual telecommunications solutions.

Cheers
GS

Telstra to join Optus and Vodafone on the iPhone bandwagon

It appears as though Telstra will belatedly jump on the iPhone bandwagon and will offer Apple’s 3G mobile device some two weeks after rivals Optus and Vodafone make it available to the public.
According to reports, Telstra will launch Apple's new 3G iPhone in mid July, approximately two weeks after Telstra did not respond to iTnews’ requests for confirmation of its iPhone plans, but according to The Australian, sources close to the telco said it would target a sale date of July 22.Although Telstra has not yet made public its agreement with Apple the telco had previously hinted that sale of the iPhone would be inevitable."Telstra is the market leader in mobiles and we aim to stay that way, so while [we're] not commenting on iPhone or our plans specifically, watch this space,” Telstra spokesperson Peter Taylor previously told iTnews.With Telstra joining Optus and Vodafone as stockists of the 3G iPhone, Australia will now become one of the most competitive iPhone markets in the world.It’s highly likely that Apple’s new Sydney store will also stock the 3G iPhone after the company’s senior vice president of retail hinted at the possibility of it appearing in the shop’s windows.“You might find a phone there in a little bit, but we’re not here to talk about that today,” said Apple’s senior vice president of retail, Ron Johnson,Vodafone and Optus announced their intention to sell the 3G iPhone earlier this month. However, neither Optus, Vodafone nor Telstra, have revealed how they will structure the accompanying data plans for the device.The 3G iPhone will include built-in GPS for real-time mapping and location-based services. It will also feature new iPhone's 2.0 software that will provide support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, allowing users to send and receive Microsoft Exchange email.

cheers
GS

Alexa

Alexa History
1996
Founded in April 1996, Alexa Internet grew out of a vision of Web navigation that is intelligent and constantly improving with the participation of its users.
1997
September of 1997 the Alexa Toolbar version 1.0 was released. The toolbar featured Site Information, Related Links, access to archived pages, access to Encyclopaedia Britannica content, and an instant messaging feature.
1998
In 1998, Netscape built Alexa into the 4.0 version of the Netscape Navigator browser as the centerpiece of the "Smart Browsing" feature set. Meanwhile, the Alexa toolbar had clocked over 1 Million downloads. Alexa began a long partnership with the Library of Congress, donating a copy of Alexa's crawl of the web to the new digital library.
1999
In 1999, following Netscape's lead, Microsoft built Alexa into the browser. Alexa popularity was reaching an all-time high with over 3 Million downloads. In June of 1999, Amazon.com purchased Alexa Internet.
2000
In 2000, Alexa released the version 5.0 toolbar, incorporating shopping features and search functions. Total downloads exceeded 7 million. Alexa's donations of crawl to the Internet Archive 8 Terabytes in size (about 6 million floppy disks.)
2001
In 2001, Alexa released Alexa Toolbar 6.0, incorporating a new sleeker design, and the Wayback button. Alexa's crawl donations to the Internet Archive surpassed the 100 terabyte mark. All pages were fully indexed and made available in the way which is now the largest database in the World. The Wayback Machine, built by Alexa Internet for the Internet Archive, was named the site of the year by Yahoo Internet Life magazine.
2002
In May of 2002 Alexa released Alexa Web Search and Alexa Toolbar version 6.5. By partnering with Google, Alexa has built a new kind of search engine, one that helps users find detailed information about sites on the Internet. Alexa's crawl donations to the Internet Archive have now surpassed the 200 terabyte mark.
2004
July 2004, the Alexa crawl increases in size to over 100 Terabytes covering 4.5 Billion pages.
In October of 2004 the Alexa Web Information Service beta was released on the Amazon.com Web Services platform. Now developers can build a whole new generation of useful tools based on Alexa's extensive information about the web. The services include URL Information, Browse Category, Web Search, Web Map and Crawl Meta Data.
2005
In November 2005 the Alexa Web Information Service version 1.0 was released on the Amazon.com Web Services platform.
In December 2005 the Alexa Web Search Platform was released in limited beta, allowing developers to have direct access to access to Alexa's infrastructure to create wholly new services based on Alexa vast repository of Web data.

What is IP Telephony?

What is IP Telephony
IP telephony combines different types of communications-such as data, voice, and video-over a single packet cell-based infrastructure.
IP telephony extends the value of the network with these non-traditional applications. By combining different types of traffic on a single network connection, small and medium-sized businesses and small branch offices can dramatically reduce the costs of their voice and data networks.
Cheers

GS

Hello World

Yesterday I went to a Call Centre Lunch and meet some great people in my space,

Mr. Zamil Chowdhury General Manager of Soul Victoria http://www.soulaustralia.com.au

Mr Peter Spoto CEO of http://www.pipevines.com.au

Mr Shane Stredwick National Channel Excutive of http://www.pipevines.com.au

and

Mr. Kevin Panozza CEO of http://www.salesforce.com.au

Cheers

GS

Fring release API, mobile developers take note

Fring release API, mobile developers take note
Got a note today from Gil over at Fring regarding their release of the Fring API.
Today Fring are introducing the fringAPI.
We’re making it available for free, to any developer who wants to create new mobile applications or offer their own web services to the fring community.
We’re very excited about this, as with the fringAPI we are adding mobile applications by welcoming in an entire world of talented developers (they only need a working knowledge of basic server-side language such as PHP, JSP, ASPX etc and XML). These mobile applications will bring users a richer experience and, potentially, an unlimited selection of mobile games, services, communities and more.
All newly developed applications will be available as fringAdd-ons, accessed free of charge, from the fring Catalog, inside the regular mobile application. Developers can get started today by logging into the fring Developers Section, the catalog is to go live sometimes in July 2008.

Video Conferencing

New hardware and cheaper telecommunication pipes have paved the way for the next generation of video conferencing according to Polycom.
Polycom recently showcased a range of solutions, from handsets and desktop offerings through to portable emergency video setups and boardroom video conferencing (VC) installations, at its new in Sydney.Michael Chetner, country manager A/NZ at Polycom, said vertical markets such as banking, insurance, and mining industries will become increasingly hungry for VC capabilities - alongside established demand by verticals such as education, healthcare and government. He added that Polycom’s broad range of solutions have helped the company's growth in the region.

cheers

GS

IPL adds New Media Software

hello world

Telecommunications vendor, New Media Software, has chosen IPL Communications to distribute its products in Australia.
The agreement will see the value added distributor supplying New Media Software’s Adaptive series of software products.The Adaptive product integrates phone and computer systems to increase efficiency and extend functionality for the contact centre. The products are available for individual purchase or as a complete suite in the form of the Adaptive ContactCentre integrated solution.Phill McGowan, managing director of New Media Software, said the agreement will help the company achieve a greater share of the Australian market. “We are delighted to be working with IPL Communications in one of our key international markets. IPL bring a wealth of talent and experience to play in the distribution of our products and we are confident that their business partner support programs and activities will ensure our Adaptive Series of products gains market share,” he said.According to Paul Scanlan, general manager of IPL Communications, the addition of New Media Software will enable IPL's partners to benefit from an even greater range of telecommunication products.“IPL Communications always endeavours to deliver best of breed communications solutions to allow our partners to deliver the best offerings to their customers,” he said. “The NMS Adaptive suite allows organisations to streamline their contact centre operations by harnessing the operational efficiencies that integrating phone and PC systems allows. We feel that this is a strong fit with our existing offerings.”

cheers

GS

Unified Communications

Business uptake of unified communications (UC) tools is on the rise, but according to Market Clarity Research Manager Richard Chirgwin, the market could still be in the process of recovering lost ground.
Speaking at the Unified Communications Conference in Sydney this week, Chirgwin speculated that proprietary telephone systems have inhibited the voice communications market despite the appearance of UC servers in the 1990s.In comparison with competing technologies such as landlines and mobile telephones, UC often is viewed as a “difficult and fragile” technology, he said.And while IP telephony has been used by hobbyists for more than a decade, the UC-related technology has only been considered business-ready in the past five years.Conference keynote speaker Don Van Doren, Principal of UniComm Consulting, attributed the recent rise in the enterprise uptake of UC to technological changes and business imperatives.Functionality such as presence information, messaging, collaboration tools and the ability to integrate with existing business applications and directories is expected to make a compelling argument for the adoption of UC software suites.And with the UC market heating up, vendors such as SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft and IBM are expanding their offerings to address a range of enterprise demands.“We’re in the middle of transforming the voice communications industry from a vertically-stacked industry to one that is horizontally spread across multiple functions and capabilities,” Van Doren said.“Everyone is getting into everyone else’s business, because unified communications is going to drive so much of businesses going forward.”Van Doren observed that enterprise adopters tend to start with implementing basic tools that impact individual workers, before adding tools that affect teams, departments and the enterprise.Noting a hesitation in the market to replace existing infrastructure in favour of new investments, he said that while IP technologies are usually a catalyst for UC adoption, IP is not always necessary.“While IP can be helpful, there are plenty of applications for unified communications that don’t require you to rip out what you have today, and replace it with new systems,” he said.IBM’s Vice President of Unified Communication Software, Bruce Morse, agreed, adding that the company currently is in the process of dispelling the rumour that UC implementations require businesses to get rid of existing communications investments.In a 2007 survey of 1,100 CEOs, IBM identified change management, innovation, global integration and environmental concerns as major “painpoints”.“In a global economy now, after a decade of focussing on cost, the focus is now on innovating and how to differentiate yourself from competitors,” he said.“CEOs right now are seeing incredible change both technologically and economically, and the gap between managing change and experiencing change is increasing.”UC tools could meet the demands of new business models by enabling collaborative communities and real-time business processes; addressing diverse user preferences; providing mobile access and availability; and creating a virtual workplace.And with a new generation of employees entering the workforce, collaborative tools may be essential in retaining workers while protecting the enterprise network.Morse identified three differing work styles that he expects to be prevalent in businesses. Employees who entered the workforce at the turn of the millennium were said to be people-centric, displaying a preference for multi-tasking and real-time technologies.Older workers were said to be document-centric, while the newest generation of workers were said to be community-centric, having grown up with social networks and a culture of online collaboration.“As you are bringing new workers in, you’ll find that if the tools aren’t sufficient you may lose workers to other organisations, or find that employees are bringing online tools -- that may not be secure -- into your network,” Morse said.“Ultimately, the goal here is to allow people to find the resources they require, reach out to those people, and freely collaborate,” he said.

cheers

GS

AVAYA

Business communication vendor, Avaya, has built a finished goods distribution centre in Singapore as part of its new supply chain management strategy for Asia Pacific.
According to the telephony vendor, the first phase of the centre is estimated to see an annual turnover of over 500 tones of IT equipment worth around USD$100 million out of Singapore.Tim Barnes, director of operations APAC at Avaya told CRN, the centre will help Avaya to deliver products to business partners and customers across Asia Pacific, including Australia, much quicker than before. “We are expecting lead time for product delivery to go down from 14 days to as short as two days for most of the region. Shorter lead time translates to significantly reduced freight costs for our business partners. We foresee cost savings of over 80 per cent,” he said.According to Barnes, the centre is located at the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore and close to the Changi Airport - its location is in a Free Trade Zone – which ensures cost savings through tax benefits. “From our manufacturing facilities in China, Thailand and Indonesia, our products will now be consolidated and shipped from Singapore to our regional business partners and customers. This will include our customers and channel partners in Australia. Inbound traffic will be through ship freight while delivery to customers and business partners will be by air,” he said.Barnes claimed the new centre will help with faster product delivery times to Avaya’s channel partners and distributors. “We are expecting lead time for product delivery to go down from 14 days to as short as two days for most of the region. Shorter lead time translates to significantly reduced freight costs for our business partners,” he said.Global integrated logistics service provider DB Schenker will manage the finished goods distribution center for Avaya in Singapore, said Barnes. The distribution center is housed at DB Schenker Megahub, which is one of the largest integrated freight and logistics facility in the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS).

Cheers

GS

10 most popular phone system features

June 15th, 2008
1. Voicemail
Voicemail saves time and money. Handwritten messages waste time, resources, and are often to blame for ineffective communication.
Just like your mobile phone voicemail, phone system voicemail allows callers to tell you exactly what they want, while maintaining their privacy. Voicemail saves unnecessary return calls and allows you to prioritise call backs.
Which staff members actually receive voicemail is entirely up to you. You may only opt to give it to key staff, or everyone - it’s your choice.
Some systems charge for voicemail and others include it free. Make sure you do your homework.
2. Daytime & after-hours greetings
This is arguably the most important feature on any new system. Day and night greetings ensure your business never misses a call day or night and they ensure you sound professional!
For example, if your receptionist hasn’t picked up after 5 rings the system will pick up the call for you and greet them with your own customised message. “Thank you for calling XXX, your call is important and we will be with you in just a moment…”
Some phone systems can even answer multiple callers at once. While other phone systems allow you to present callers with options to choose from such as “press 1 for sales, Press 2 for admin etc”.
No matter which option you select for your business and customers, the result is you will never lose another opportunity, compromise professionalism or hurry through one call simply to take the next! You will now give every caller the best impression, every time.
At Infiniti we also program the system to answer with time specific messages at different times of the day, week or year. That’s intelligent call management! Some systems charge for greetings while other brands include it free. Make sure you do your homework.
3. VoIP Compatible
VoIP is the latest technology and a fantastic way to slash costs. Any reputable phone system can integrate with cheap VoIP calls but not every system can actually offer VoIP phone system features.
VoIP system features are used for linking multiple sites, or remote workers. They allow other users on the phone system to see, transfer, and receive calls, from other sites and staff no matter where they are located.
If you’re only after cheap calls then it really won’t have any bearing on the system you buy (unless you want to use SIP trunking which is more technical).
4. Music & tailored on hold messages
If you genuinely care about your company image then nothing has as much impact as messages on hold. Not just music but messages about YOUR business. They sound incredibly professional whilst also educating and entertaining your callers.
When you consider that over 70% of callers are left on hold for a staggering 43+ seconds it’s not difficult to see why messages on hold are so popular. At Infiniti some of our phone systems include messages on hold for FREE. Enquire today and see how you can save over $1000 with your own tailored message on hold package with your new phone system.
5. Transfering calls
Even though it is a basic option, “transferring calls” is a key reason many small businesses upgrade to a phone system. It’s important that you and your staff can transfer incoming calls to the right person easily and efficiently. Different brands achieve this in different ways and you need to understand how the system you’re looking at actually works (not just looks). It may not be the right option for you.
6. Speed dials
When you look at how frequently you dial the same phone numbers you soon realise that speed dialling can be a fantastic feature to have.
Whether you use a database, ACT, Goldmine, Microsoft outlook, or just a list of your customers or associates, phone systems can make calling people as easy as clicking a mouse button.
If you are running a computer database or CRM then you should look at how you can tie this into your phone system. Imagine if when a customer calls their whole file could pop up on your screen ready for you.
Some systems charge for this feature whereas others include this at no charge. Make sure you don’t pay for something unnecessarily.
7. Speaker phone
Speaker phones are great for conferencing or just being able to talk, or dial numbers, without having to pick up the phone.
There are a whole range of different handset models to cater for every taste and budget. It is very important you know exactly what your handsets can and can’t do. Most basic models do not offer speaker phone capabilities. Make sure you get the right handsets for your staff and their needs.
8. Warranties & guarantees
Technology is not infallible and ensuring your new system comes with a warranty is a must. You wouldn’t buy a new car without one and a phone system is no different.
In terms of ongoing maintenance and support it is important to check the bona fides of the company you are dealing with. If you are buying from a one man operation then they may not be available when you actually need them. You need to know that a company won’t only install a system, but that they have the staff and technical expertise to quickly resolve any problems that arise.
Alternatively, for maximum peace of mind and insurance you may prefer to opt for a maintenance agreement. An MA guarantees your business a specific service level agreement and response times to any problems you may experience over the life of your phone system.
9. Conference calls
If you conference, or would like to, then make sure you get the right phone system and handsets. Some systems offer sophisticated conference bridging etc while others only offer basic functionality. If you conference then it pays to know a system’s limitations. For example, how many parties can conference simultaneously?
If conferencing is important to you then make sure you ask about full duplex conference phones. Full duplex makes a massive difference to call clarity and quality.
10. Headset compatibility
Headsets are great for mobility, call clarity and noisy environments. They are comfortable and allow staff to multitask while they are on the phone. Headsets are a great addition to any solution however you must ensure that the handsets you get are also headset compatible.
Regards
GS

Apple iPhone

THE next-generation 3G Apple iPhone will be available in Australia on prepay plans without a contract when it is released here next month.
Both Optus and Vodafone – the first carriers to announce an iPhone offering – today confirmed they would offer the handset on a prepay plan, a key concern among the phone’s target demographic.
Vodafone spokesman Greg Spears said customers would be able to buy an iPhone outright and purchase credit without being locked into a contract.
Features such as applications downloads, online synchronisation and email would be available on certain prepay plans, he said.
Both carriers have begun allowing customers to pre-register for an iPhone online and in retail stories.
Apple launched its new 3G iPhone this morning and slashed the cost to almost half the price of the existing model during the Worldwide Developer’s Conference in San Francisco.
Related stories
In-Depth: The iPhone in Australia
Apple: Live coverage of the announcement
Related videos
Video: Next-generation Apple iPhone unveiled
Chief executive officer Steve Jobs said the new phone would be smaller and faster and would appeal to the 56 per cent of people – Apple says – who want an iPhone but have not bought one because of the price.
The new version will be released in Australia on July 11th. Specific contract and pricing details for Australia have not yet been released.
In the US, the new 3G iPhone will cost from $US199 ($209.32) for the 8GB model to $US299 ($314.50) for 16GB.
Despite selling 6 million iPhones in one year, Apple said its research showed the cost of the previous model had put off would-be buyers.
The new model has 3G speeds faster than the Nokia N95 and Treo 750, according to Apple, and is almost on par with WiFi speeds.
It has better battery life, with almost 5 hours of 3G talk time, and sports a slimmer form. Some of the phone’s more innovative features stem from Apple’s software development program.
Apple is internationally launching a new App Store that will make applications available for download onto the iPhone. Games, office tools and even learning aids will be available for free, or around $US9.99 ($10.50), according to demonstrations.
Third-party developers will keep 70 per cent of revenue for applications sold through the App Store, which will add FairPlay digital rights management (DRM) to the files.
The company also announced MobileMe today, an online synchronisation tool that unifies data between computers and the iPhone using a web-based interface. This feature, which includes iDisk integration for online file storage and sending, will replace Apple’s existing .mac service.
The iPhone 3G will be released with version 2.0 software, which includes support for Office and iWork documents, live contact search, bulk message delete, image saving, scientific calculator, language support and parental controls.
Mr Jobs’ keynote address at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference did not mention the iPhone’s camera – which was expected to be upgraded from the existing 2 megapixel configuration – or video chat.
The next-generation model will be released in 22 countries on July 11th and will eventually reach 70 countries in total.
Links
iPhone 3G – http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/iPhone on Vodafone – http://iphone.vodafone.com.au/iPhone on Optus – http://www.optusiphone.com.au/

cheers

GS

Telstra is threatening legal action against Optus

Telstra is threatening legal action against Optus over claims the Singapore-owned telco made misleading comments about the speed of the 3G iPhone on its new 900Mhz high-speed network.
At the time of the announcement, Optus chief executive Paul O’Sullivan claimed iPhone users would be able to enjoy 3G services on a new network it has slated to build by December 2009 that will cover 98 percent of the Australian population.
“With Optus, more iPhone users can enjoy 3G services as we expand our network to 96 per cent of the population by December 2008 and 98 per cent by December 2009,” Optus chief executive Paul O’Sullivan said.
In a letter sent to Singtel Optus corporate council, Telstra voiced concern that the high-speed services promised by Optus would not be delivered on the iPhone as the device is not compatible with Optus’s 900Mhz 3G network.
“As you are aware, 3G devices operate on limited frequencies (the most common frequencies in Australia being the 850 and 2100 MHz frequencies). As such, some 3G devices will be incompatible with Optus’s 900Mhz 3G network,” wrote Telstra Consumer and Marketing Channels general counsel, Jennifer Crichton.
Crichton warned Optus that claims of compatibility between its 3G services and its proposed 900Mhz network would amount to misleading and deceptive conduct, and would breach section 52 of the Trade Practises Act 1974.
Telstra spokesperson, Peter Taylor reiterated the Crichton’s view, saying that “not all 3G networks were created equal.”
“Just this week Singtel Optus CEO was claiming a new mobile would operate on its proposed 3G network but failed to mention it was on the wrong frequency. It’s like someone claiming they can get cable TV without a cable,” Taylor said.
“It’s important that consumers understand when they are choosing their mobiles that some of these new phones simply won’t work properly on other frequencies like 900,” he said.
An Optus spokesperson did little to diffuse Telstra’s veiled threats, simply stating: “Optus will continue to be clear with customers about the compatibility of devices on its networks.”
Although Telstra has not yet made an agreement with Apple to offer the iPhone on its Next G network, Taylor hinted that the popular device could be headed its way soon.
“Telstra is the market leader in mobiles and we aim to stay that way, so while not commenting on iPhone or our plans specifically, watch this space,” he said.
cheers
GS

Revenue from consumer telecoms

Revenue from consumer telecoms network services will hit $2tn globally by 2012 as the digital divide between developed and developing nations deepens, market watchers predict..
In-Stat expects the sector to grow at a steady annual pace of about 5.7 per cent, on average, over the next five years.
The strongest growth will be in the broadband and pay-TV sectors, but 60 per cent of total revenue will be derived from consumer mobile services, the research firm notes in a new report.
“The digital divide will continue to grow. By 2012 broadband penetration in developed countries will exceed 85 per cent, while developing countries languish at less than 10 per cent,” said In-Stat analyst Keith Nissen who wrote the report.
“Mobile operators in developed nations must look to new 3G applications and bundled services for increased average revenue per customer.
“Despite the anticipated rapid growth of telco TV services, 73 per cent of total pay-TV households worldwide in 2012 will still be cable TV service subscribers.”
The report forecasts that the number of VoIP subscribers will more than double in the next four years. It expects 2008 to be the year that revenue from pay-TV services surpasses revenues from fixed voice services.
By 2012 broadband revenue will be “getting close” to fixed voice service revenue, according to the study.
cheers
GS

Hello from Garry Sholl

The Tasmanian government has lodged the $5 million bond required to take part in the federal government’s $4.7 billion national broadband network project, rounding out the now known participants to seven.
Those parties to have confirmed their participation include Telstra, the Terria consortium (formerly G9), Optus and TransACT. Both the Macquarie bank and Canada based Axia group are also believed to have lodged the bond, but are yet to publicly confirm their involvement.

Quote.

“This announcement shows that the state government does recognise the unique challenges Tasmanians face in getting affordable and fast broadband access through their chosen ISP,” said Digital Tasmania spokesperson Andrew Connor.“We have already seen considerable delays in awarding Aurora the Connect Tasmania tender. We understand this was partly due to the state government waiting for the outcome of last year’s Broadband Connect Infrastructure Program, eventually awarded to OPEL Networks. The state government must not make the same mistake twice.”Connor said that even though the Basslink fibre project was on the drawing board before the NBN was even conceived, the two projects would remain complementary.He said that the commercialisation of the Basslink fibre would serve large enterprises and the wholesale market, while NBN was aimed at consumers and small business broadband users.

Regards

GS

Hello from Garry Sholl,

This company gets my full support as they are professional and on the ball.
I used them for a client of mine and the clients feedback was very impressive and positive
They used them to buy a new AVAYA telephone system and data cabling including terminating fibre.
The company is called FixTel Pty. Ltd.

check them out at http://www.fixtel.com.au/

Cheers

GS

Why buy new? Save, Save, Save

Hello from Garry Sholl,

Why buy new if you can purchase pre-owned Telephone equipment for half the price. I have found a great company called EveryTel,
www.everytel.com.au they speacialize in pre-owned telephone equipment.
They sell Commanders, Samsung, Alcatel, Fujitsu, Panasonic, AVAYA, Aristel, Omni, and Siemens.

Check it out!

GS

Exitreality.com

Hello from Garry Sholl,
Yesterday I looked at this really cool website that turns the web site you are viewing into 3D
check it out http://www.exitreality.com/
I think this will change the way we interact on the web as you can talk to other customers on the website you are on about their service and goods.
Have a great weekend!

GS

New beginning

Hello, my name is Garry Sholl, I founded a company called Sholl Communications Aust. P/L.
http://www.sholl.com.au/ After starting and running this company for the last 21 years I recently sold it to a public company which I remain a major shareholder of. I have just started a new business called Garry Sholl and Partners which is a consulting business for the Telecommunications industry. We specialize in looking after the clients who are purchasing new telephone systems and or data networks. AVAYA, Siemens, Commanders, Alcatel, Samsung etc.

watch this space..............