Nationals say NBN broadband plan inadequate

Nationals say broadband plan inadequate
22 Feb, 2010 01:30 PM
THE RUDD Government's broadband plan will still bypass towns and villages of less than 1000 people in the New England area, according to The Nationals Duty Senator for the electorate, John Williams.

Sen Williams said he has identified 14 localities in New England including Ashford, Moonbi and Bundarra that will not receive the much-trumpeted high speed broadband, yet towns like Mt.Isa which is ‘already well served by broadband will get the new service’.

“In the meantime Attunga, Gilgai, Tingha and Deepwater have been waiting for more than two years for Labor to make good on its election promises,” he said.

"The so-called National Broadband Network is an uncosted $43 billion plan that is seemingly going nowhere and being run by a Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, who is trying to deflect criticism of other issues in his portfolio.

“By admitting it will only reach 90 percent of the population, the Rudd Government is neglecting residents in Bendemeer, Delungra, Nundle and Emmaville and telling them there is no equity of service.

“In fact, given that the network will take eight years to build there is every likelihood larger towns and cities like Tamworth, Armidale and Inverell will be at the end of the list.”

More about my background

The best Australian Telephone Company in - Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Perth & Adelaide

Sholl Communications (Aust) Pty Ltd was established by myself in 1986.

Sholl Communications was a privately owned Australian company that grew over a period of 20 years with 80 full time staff and true offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney. We also had licensed partners in Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin.

We were authorised dealers for AVAYA, Alcatel, Samsung, Aristel, Telstra, Chubb, Krone and Clipsal and had clients with 2 – 20,000 phone extensions. We were one of the few companies that could offer full in house services for Voice & Data Cabling, Security and Electrical Installations. We also had an IT Service Department for networking Voice and Data (VoIP)

We use to installs Fibre Optic Networks, Dslams and Satellites across Australia.
We had a pre-owned Telephone System Department and as an authorised Telstra Dealer can assist in ordering/relocating new phone lines and internet needs such as ADSL.
All this gives you, one company to help with all your needs.
The could help you with New Telephone Systems, Used Telephone Systems, Mobile Phones, Headsets, Home & Business Security and ADSL Broadband solutions.



Sholl had an outstanding customer service record, and strived to maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction.

The service managers, project managers and administration staff work together to actively monitor and respond to all customer requests.

The competitive advantage is the personal relationships our experienced representatives have with our customers. By providing you with a name and face you could trust, you can enjoy greater confidence in knowing that we are committed to you as your communication solutions provider.

We were committed to bringing you the highest quality of telecommunications services regardless of whether you are simply buying a used commander handset for your current phone system or require a more complex, integrated voice and data solution. We use both leading edge and proven technologies to provide powerful communications tools for you and your business.

We also partner with the best companies in each of our business divisions, companies like Chubb Security, Telstra, Avaya (AT&T), Samsung, Polycomm, Plantronics and Australia Post to name a few.

I sold Sholl Communications to a Publicly Listed Company which I remain a major shareholder and still trades today ASX (HTC)

FixTel and Alcatel Telephone Systems

FixTel can supply you with quality Alcatel products.

Alcatel DECT for On-site Mobility Alactel-Lucent 300/400 DECT Handsets FixTel can supply the Alcatel-Lucent 300/400 Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) handsets offer an easy-to-use, cost-effective and reliable voice communication solution that addresses the mobility needs of evolving business environments. The Alcatel-Lucent 3oo DECT handset provides a convenient and practical solution for the basic personal mobility needs of most business environments, while the Alcatel-Lucent 400 DECT handset addresses more intensive and shared mobility needs. Both models offer simple and efficient voice communications, enhanced usability and compatibility with the ex Alcatel-Lucent base station portfolio. They also offer all of the Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX Communication Server value-added voice services (such as dial-by-name and multi-line management) the Alcatel-Lucent fixed desk phones support. Alcatel-Lucent has leveraged its extensive voice expertise to ensure that the new Alcatel-Lucent 300/400 DECT handsets deliver high quality calls since voice is still the preferred method of communication. Alcatel Business Phone Features and Benefits The features and benefits of the Alcatel-Lucent 300/400 DECT handsets include: Supports Alcatel-Lucent OmniPCX telephony protocol Lightweight, ergonomic design and intuitive operation Vibrate mode Display backlight Belt clip Colour display (400 DECT) Keypad backlight (400 DECT) Speakerphone (400 DECT) Headset connection (400 DECT) Infrastructure investment protection (compatibility with deployed Alcatel-Lucent base stations - subject to server software support policy) Excellent voice quality and business telephony features throughout the workplace contributing to improved user responsiveness and productivity Long battery life (Lithium-ion technology) Durability in harsh environments (use of carrying case is recommended) FixTel have qualified trained Alcatel Technicians that will install and service new or second hand Alcatel business phone systems across Australia For a wide range of Second Hand Telecommunications products go to EveryTel EveryTel Buy and sell all ranges of Business Telephone Systems including: Samsung, Nortel, Omni, NEC, Panasonic, Alcatel, AVAYA, Commander, Ericsson and LG Aria.

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

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

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