Des Plaines, Illinois - 30/11/2010 - SNET Communications introduced its suite of Hosted Phone System Services for a major group of over 200 Northeastern Illinois insurance agents gathered at their year end conference in Schaumburg, Illinois. The robust package of products shown by SNET (http://www.snetconnect.com) was designed in conjunction with highly successful insurance agencies and veteran agents.
When Ken Smith received word that his corporate home office was no longer providing phone and internet to their individual owned branches, he needed a fix. Ken had four locations that had previously operated independently from a communications standpoint. His agencies worked like separate businesses just because they were in different physical locations. Ken Smith said."I haven't stopped talking about the solution SNET provided me with for my agencies with other colleagues. It has been like productivity on steroids for us!".
The SNET offering specifically addressed Ken Smith's insurance agency's specific needs of productivity, mobility and cost efficiency. SNET teams worked with him to design off premise outbound telemarketing solutions and mobile applications, as well as solutions that integrated his multiple offices allowing them to work together. These solutions allowed Ken to expand his agencies and increase their output. Ken's colleagues at other agencies learned of his success- which SNET replicated in their agencies. SNET, working with their agent Steve Bahlmann from Broadband Options,decided to introduce the concept to the owners and producers of the larger Northern Illinois territory. Steve Bahlmann said, "In this current economic environment, agencies have to be more productive and SNET has the tools to make them optimize their communications resources!".
SNET Communications' suite of products for insurance agencies is a robust, reliable and easy to implement hosted telephone system package. The ability to connect multiple offices, empower agent mobility and enhance agency productivity have made it a welcome additional to the best practices of independently owned insurance agencies.
SNET Communications solutions cover hosted voice over IP phone services. Agencies can either use their own bandwidth, such as inexpensive cable or DSL, and supercharge it with SNET applications. Phones are inexpensive, managed from SNET's 24/7 network operations center and constantly updated with improved functionality. Since 2003, SNET Communications has provided innovative and reliable telecommunications service to companies throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Communication - My Manifesto
We are put on this earth to live. We live with other people. Communication is a necessity. Like breathing. Technology is a means to this end. Somewhere, we got lost.
I can probably trace the watershed moment of our attention span to when Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video came out. It became the gold standard for how long the general public could maintain concentration.
Faxes became the next attention grabber. How quickly could you scan a page became the determining factor for attention. E mail was soon to follow. People stopped writing. If I want to really display an emotion today, I will write you a letter or note by hand. Otherwise, it's an email. Writing is reserved for special occasions. Somehow, we all became "king baby". "I want your attention RIGHT NOW!". Email isn't good enough. Now we have texting and instant messaging. We don't care what you are doing- you will pay us attention right now. As I write these words, I have gotten three texts and one instant message. Where is my train of thought going? Are these really important? Is it highly critical?
As a wired society, we have developed ourselves into a societal attention deficit disorder. I should say, an attention deficit by disorder. What is this doing to our civility? I can text something abrupt easier than I would barge into someone's space. I can write coarsely- or post abusively because the consequences are just out in the Ether and it doesn't require a lot of courage.
Now we have "cyber bullying" - where the consequences are profound. Lives are ruined when private information is posted. What happened to slander and libel? Go to any news site and read comments to almost any article. Conjecture is presented as fact. News is a matter of opinion.
Our workplaces are permeated by "king babies". "I want what I want when I want it NOW!!!. I will send you a text, I will interrupt you, I will reach across the network and grab your attention!."
Communication is our interaction with each other. It defines our relationships - at work, at play and as a society. Civility is our way to regulate these interactions. Communication without civility is disorder. Disorder spoils the development of our thoughts. Our thoughts become our words, our words become our actions, our actions become our character, our character becomes our destiny.
I can probably trace the watershed moment of our attention span to when Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video came out. It became the gold standard for how long the general public could maintain concentration.
Faxes became the next attention grabber. How quickly could you scan a page became the determining factor for attention. E mail was soon to follow. People stopped writing. If I want to really display an emotion today, I will write you a letter or note by hand. Otherwise, it's an email. Writing is reserved for special occasions. Somehow, we all became "king baby". "I want your attention RIGHT NOW!". Email isn't good enough. Now we have texting and instant messaging. We don't care what you are doing- you will pay us attention right now. As I write these words, I have gotten three texts and one instant message. Where is my train of thought going? Are these really important? Is it highly critical?
As a wired society, we have developed ourselves into a societal attention deficit disorder. I should say, an attention deficit by disorder. What is this doing to our civility? I can text something abrupt easier than I would barge into someone's space. I can write coarsely- or post abusively because the consequences are just out in the Ether and it doesn't require a lot of courage.
Now we have "cyber bullying" - where the consequences are profound. Lives are ruined when private information is posted. What happened to slander and libel? Go to any news site and read comments to almost any article. Conjecture is presented as fact. News is a matter of opinion.
Our workplaces are permeated by "king babies". "I want what I want when I want it NOW!!!. I will send you a text, I will interrupt you, I will reach across the network and grab your attention!."
Communication is our interaction with each other. It defines our relationships - at work, at play and as a society. Civility is our way to regulate these interactions. Communication without civility is disorder. Disorder spoils the development of our thoughts. Our thoughts become our words, our words become our actions, our actions become our character, our character becomes our destiny.
Monday, November 8, 2010
How to choose a phone system for your business
Overview
No matter what the nature of your business, communication is a key to your success. As a business owner you have many different choices for business communication, including traditional land line service, voice over IP service and cell phone service. To get the most for your money, you need to evaluate your needs, seek out quality service providers and consider each plan carefully.
Step 1
Determine your company's needs, including how many phone lines you will need and how many employees your business expects to have. Quantifying the scope of the project will make it easier to get quotes on the business phone system your company needs.
Step 2
Find out which companies serve business customers in your area. You can find this information in your local telephone directory and in local business journals, newspapers and periodicals as well.
Step 3
Compare traditional land line service and voice over IP services. In many cases, VoIP can provide lower rates than traditional services, but it is still best to compare both kinds of phone service.
Step 4
Compare the total costs of each plan, including the basic cost of service and any add-ons you might be required to pay. Choosing a business telephone service with a set monthly fee makes budgeting and business planning easier.
Step 5
Get a list of the standard services that come with each plan. Plans that include popular services, such as voicemail, call forwarding and caller ID, can make your business telephone service more useful and versatile.
Step 6
Compare the warranty plans for each business telephone system. A lengthy warranty plan can be very valuable as it can save the company money down the line.
No matter what the nature of your business, communication is a key to your success. As a business owner you have many different choices for business communication, including traditional land line service, voice over IP service and cell phone service. To get the most for your money, you need to evaluate your needs, seek out quality service providers and consider each plan carefully.
Step 1
Determine your company's needs, including how many phone lines you will need and how many employees your business expects to have. Quantifying the scope of the project will make it easier to get quotes on the business phone system your company needs.
Step 2
Find out which companies serve business customers in your area. You can find this information in your local telephone directory and in local business journals, newspapers and periodicals as well.
Step 3
Compare traditional land line service and voice over IP services. In many cases, VoIP can provide lower rates than traditional services, but it is still best to compare both kinds of phone service.
Step 4
Compare the total costs of each plan, including the basic cost of service and any add-ons you might be required to pay. Choosing a business telephone service with a set monthly fee makes budgeting and business planning easier.
Step 5
Get a list of the standard services that come with each plan. Plans that include popular services, such as voicemail, call forwarding and caller ID, can make your business telephone service more useful and versatile.
Step 6
Compare the warranty plans for each business telephone system. A lengthy warranty plan can be very valuable as it can save the company money down the line.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
SMB Concern: Viruses, Trojans and Malware! Lions, tigers and bears!
I came across the following article by Mathew J. Schwartz in Information week today. I was truly impressed and alarmed. The "boogeyman" is out there for small businesses- and it takes the form of malicious hackers who can pose a catastrophic failure of information infrastructure for small businesses. I highly encourage every business owner to have a network security plan in place - and make sure it is reviewed and updated. Please read the article- and
By Mathew J. Schwartz , InformationWeek
November 4, 2010 11:40 AM
When it comes to information security concerns, small businesses still fear the virus. Indeed, according to a new survey of 1,600 end users in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and United States, conducted by antivirus vendor Trend Micro, viruses are the leading concern for 63% of small businesses.
Small business respondents' other top concerns were Trojan applications (60%), malware designed by criminals expressly to steal data (59%), data leaks (56%), spyware (55%), and fake AV (52%). Spam and phishing threats ranked lowest.
Most of today's antivirus software suites protect against many viruses and worms. But when it comes to data-stealing malware, 21% of small U.S. business respondents said that their IT department could do a better job of protecting end users. Notably, only 47% of small businesses install security software to help stop such malware, 30% offer related security policies, and 28% provide relevant education or guidance.
Another interesting finding is that, compared with midsize or large organizations, the typical small business in the United States tends to be less worried about data loss. While 74% of respondents at large U.S. enterprises ranked data loss as a top threat, only 49% of small U.S. businesses said the same. Also 22% of respondents at large organizations in the United States think their employees have actually leaked data, versus 10% at small organizations.
In general, of course, small businesses have fewer security controls or policies in place, owing to a paucity of investment in information security technology, awareness, or talent. That may explain small businesses' approach to data-leak prevention. While small businesses are worried about data leaks -- more than spyware -- only 44% of them have data-leak security policies in place, compared with 61% of large enterprises.
Interestingly, however, the odds of actually being trained on a data-leak policy -- if it exists -- were about the same, with 70% of respondents at large organizations, compared with 61% at small ones, saying they received such training.
By Mathew J. Schwartz , InformationWeek
November 4, 2010 11:40 AM
When it comes to information security concerns, small businesses still fear the virus. Indeed, according to a new survey of 1,600 end users in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and United States, conducted by antivirus vendor Trend Micro, viruses are the leading concern for 63% of small businesses.
Small business respondents' other top concerns were Trojan applications (60%), malware designed by criminals expressly to steal data (59%), data leaks (56%), spyware (55%), and fake AV (52%). Spam and phishing threats ranked lowest.
Most of today's antivirus software suites protect against many viruses and worms. But when it comes to data-stealing malware, 21% of small U.S. business respondents said that their IT department could do a better job of protecting end users. Notably, only 47% of small businesses install security software to help stop such malware, 30% offer related security policies, and 28% provide relevant education or guidance.
Another interesting finding is that, compared with midsize or large organizations, the typical small business in the United States tends to be less worried about data loss. While 74% of respondents at large U.S. enterprises ranked data loss as a top threat, only 49% of small U.S. businesses said the same. Also 22% of respondents at large organizations in the United States think their employees have actually leaked data, versus 10% at small organizations.
In general, of course, small businesses have fewer security controls or policies in place, owing to a paucity of investment in information security technology, awareness, or talent. That may explain small businesses' approach to data-leak prevention. While small businesses are worried about data leaks -- more than spyware -- only 44% of them have data-leak security policies in place, compared with 61% of large enterprises.
Interestingly, however, the odds of actually being trained on a data-leak policy -- if it exists -- were about the same, with 70% of respondents at large organizations, compared with 61% at small ones, saying they received such training.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Tradition still determines how we communicate!
Plantronics has released a study that reveals a lot about the way professionals use communications in the workplace. And, as it turns out, traditional mediums still rule.
"How We Work: Communication Trends of Business Professionals," looks at the communications habits and preferences of 1,800 employees worldwide. The findings show that for the most part, professionals rely on more traditional forms of communication to drive results. E-mail is critical to the overall success and productivity of 83 percent of respondents, of which 81 percent say the same thing for phone calls. Audio conferences were rated critical for 61 percent, while sending or receiving IM was for 38 percent of respondents. Social media came in last at 19 percent.
The study also showed definite preferences in the ways employees collaborate; if collaboration is more critical to success and productivity, in-person and video-driven meetings are preferred over text-based communication. Despite its popularity, e-mail is not the preferred method of communication for mission-critical decisions, and only 3 percent of respondents prefer it for complex or technical discussions.
"'How We Work' shows that, given the demands of work today, professionals are essentially creating communication tool belts that allow them to pick the right tool at the right time," said Clay Hausmann, vice president of Corporate Marketing at Plantronics in a prepared statement. "Video, voice and text-based communications all have a role, as does social media, and one isn't growing at the expense of another. The pace of innovation around new communication technologies is astounding, and yet it is the end user who ultimately decides which technology will play a key role in their business communication and for what purpose."
The full study can be found on Plantronics' website.
"How We Work: Communication Trends of Business Professionals," looks at the communications habits and preferences of 1,800 employees worldwide. The findings show that for the most part, professionals rely on more traditional forms of communication to drive results. E-mail is critical to the overall success and productivity of 83 percent of respondents, of which 81 percent say the same thing for phone calls. Audio conferences were rated critical for 61 percent, while sending or receiving IM was for 38 percent of respondents. Social media came in last at 19 percent.
The study also showed definite preferences in the ways employees collaborate; if collaboration is more critical to success and productivity, in-person and video-driven meetings are preferred over text-based communication. Despite its popularity, e-mail is not the preferred method of communication for mission-critical decisions, and only 3 percent of respondents prefer it for complex or technical discussions.
"'How We Work' shows that, given the demands of work today, professionals are essentially creating communication tool belts that allow them to pick the right tool at the right time," said Clay Hausmann, vice president of Corporate Marketing at Plantronics in a prepared statement. "Video, voice and text-based communications all have a role, as does social media, and one isn't growing at the expense of another. The pace of innovation around new communication technologies is astounding, and yet it is the end user who ultimately decides which technology will play a key role in their business communication and for what purpose."
The full study can be found on Plantronics' website.
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