Monthly Archives: March 2015

  • Bluetooth Headsets at a Glance

    Because of its ease of use and compatibility with a number of systems, Bluetooth technology is quickly becoming one of the more common forms of wireless peripheral that is used by consumers today. By choosing to use Bluetooth headsets, it is possible to have a fully-functional headset that will easily transfer from cell phones, computers, and a variety of other systems to any other system that has Bluetooth capabilities. The information below should be of some use to you in deciding whether Bluetooth headsets are right for your personal and business headset needs, while also helping you to choose the headset that will serve you best if you decide that Bluetooth is the way to go.

    How Bluetooth Works

    Bluetooth is the next generation of wireless peripherals, and is designed to allow users to transfer their peripherals from one Bluetooth-compatible device to another without the need for additional drivers or any other software installation. This cross-device functionality creates somewhat of a universal standard for wireless peripherals, allowing those who use Bluetooth to own a single set of peripheral devices which they can then transfer to whichever Bluetooth-enabled hardware they happen to be using at the time. Since Bluetooth is a wireless product as well, this can enable Bluetooth users to remain mobile while using their peripherals… combine this with the hardware-swapping capabilities of Bluetooth, and you have a peripheral that can be used on the move and which will adapt to different pieces of hardware as you use each one.

    Advantages of Bluetooth Headsets

    There are a number of advantages to choosing a Bluetooth headset to meet your needs. In addition to the fact that Bluetooth devices are wireless, you will only need to purchase a single headset in order to use it with your Bluetooth-enabled telephone, cell phone, laptop computer, or any other hardware device which you own that features a Bluetooth connection. This can allow for a more dynamic home or office, letting you cycle through different pieces of hardware depending upon which room you are in or what you are doing at the time. These devices are also on the cutting edge of technology, so even as the technology begins to age you are likely to be able to get several years of use out of the headset that you choose before the current technology begins to be replaced.

    Bluetooth Headset Compatibility

    Of course, if you are considering buying a Bluetooth headset it’s important that you make sure that your hardware is compatible with Bluetooth technology. Cell phones and other telephone equipment should have it labeled on the package whether they are Bluetooth-ready, and many other portable devices and computers will bear a sticker or symbol on the device or computer itself. If you find that some of your equipment isn’t Bluetooth compatible, you might want to see if there are Bluetooth adaptors available which will allow you to use a Bluetooth headset with a device that would be otherwise unable to utilize it.

    Choosing the Right Headset for Your Needs

    Of course, not all Bluetooth headsets are created equal. In order to make sure that you buy the headset that best meets your needs, take into account what you plan on using the headset for, whether you will be using it with a single device or multiple devices, and exactly how much mobility and overall hearing you hope to have with your Bluetooth headset in place. For work that will be done inside or if you only plan on using the headset in conjunction with a landline phone or computer, you might want to consider single or dual-earpiece headsets which can be worn comfortably for longer periods of time. If you are going to be mobile or using your headset with a cell phone, however, you might want to consider a single-earpiece or even an earbud headset as they will allow you a bit more freedom and will leave one of your ears uncovered so that you can better hear everything that is around you.

  • Deciding Among VOIP Phone Headset Options

    Voice Over Internet Protocol telephone service, better known as VOIP, is rapidly growing as an alternative to traditional land-line telephone service. Depending upon the VOIP service that is used, individuals can place telephone calls via their computer, through a mobile device similar to a cell phone in any location with wireless internet access, or even through a standard telephone that is hooked into a broadband internet connection. To make using VOIP telephone services even easier, you might consider using a phone headset that will allow you to make and receive calls in a hands-free manner once the call has connected.

    Differences Between VOIP and Landline Phones

    Though the calls that they make seem remarkably similar, there are actually several differences between a VOIP phone and a standard local landline telephone. The main difference between the two types of phone service, however, is the fact that they use different types of connections in order to allow phone calls to be placed and received. Traditional phones use a process known as “circuit switching”, which means that during the duration of the call a connection is maintained between the callers and the conversation is carried back-and-forth as an electrical charge along a circuit. While very stable, this process is also very inefficient because it requires an electrical charge or digital transmission to travel along the same stretch of cable countless times during the conversation. VOIP, on the other hand, uses a process which is known as “packet switching”; this process does not maintain a constant connection, but instead opens a brief connection and sends a small data “packet” containing a part of the conversation to the recipient on the other end. While the opening and closing of the connection occurs too quickly to be noticed, the savings in energy during even brief calls can be significant.

    Using a Headset with VOIP

    Though the connection used with VOIP service is significantly different from that used with a landline telephone, many VOIP systems are compatible with the majority of telephones and telephone peripherals that are on the market today. Modern headsets, especially those which utilize digital audio and microphones, are usually compatible with most VOIP systems. Through the use of VOIP codecs, the audio from your headset can be converted into a digital signal if it is not in a digital form already; this digital signal can then be broken into packets and sent along the VOIP connection in the same manner that your call would be if you were using your standard telephone instead of the headset. Should you have any question as to whether a particular headset is VOIP-compatible, then take the time to research VOIP-specific headsets in order to make sure that the headset you choose can be used with your VOIP service.

    Choosing the Headset that Suits Your Needs

    Of course, there are a number of different options which are available to you when looking for a VOIP compatible headset. In order to make sure that you ultimately choose the headset that will best fill your specific needs, take the time to consider exactly how and where you plan on using the headset that you purchase. Consider whether you would best be served with a wireless headset, one that is attached to a portable receiver, or perhaps even a headset that can be used with a variety of different devices in addition to your VOIP line. Don’t forget to take into consideration personal preferences on whether you want full earpieces or earbuds, and the length and style of boom mike that you would like with the headset that you choose. By taking the time to weigh your options, you will end up choosing the VOIP headset that will allow you both freedom and comfort.

  • Work From Home Using VoIP Phone Systems

    Working from home is becoming a great way to cut down on travel time, stress, fuel costs and is becoming a major employee benefit. Implementing work from home technology is easier then ever. Microsoft's Windows XP already includes a program for remote access to your office PC. The other key component is the office phone. Being able to work transparently is essential to your working from home. But adding this component is easy. First you need high speed internet access in the form of DSL or cable.

    The next thing you will want to explore is adding either a VOIP enabled phone system or adding VOIP to your existing phone system. VOIP technology allows you to harness the features and benefits of your company's phone system remotely. Dialing from your office's phone lines, having calls transferred, checking voice mail, intercom and conference calling are all typical system features needed to work successfully from home.

    VOIP enabled phone systems offer the most flexibility. Pure IP based phone sets can be taken from office to home office providing the same functionality whether you're providing customer service, sales support or happen to be the operator. A Softphone is essentially software that can be loaded on to laptops to provide a mobile IP phone solution. Add a wireless card and connect to your office from any Starbucks or other wireless hot spot. From a USB headset you can connect to the office and intercom , page dial out, transfer and receive calls all while sipping your Grande Latte. Do you have a road warrior in your office? Check out Avaya's affordable IP Office System that delivers powerful phone system features from two phones to 360 phones.

    If you have an existing phone system you can also easily and affordably add VOIP. There are two solutions that are very unique. One solution (MCK) allows connectivity of proprietary digital sets, the other solution (Multitech) allows you to use any analog phone or allows you to connect two or more office phone systems to allow transparency to outside callers.

    MCK provides a great solution for Avaya and Nortel phone system users. MCK provides a device that enables a company to use proprietary phone sets such as the Avaya Magix or Definity 8400 series phones. The MCK solutions are great for both the home office or branch office. One phone to twenty-four phones can be connected to digital phone ports off the main company system to the remote location for seamless VOIP connectivity. It's like having a really long phone cord from one office to another except the phone cord is the public internet.

    If you are looking for VOIP on the cheap, check out Multitech's VOIP Voice and Fax Gateways. If you have an Avaya Definity, Merlin Magix, Partner, Merlin Legend or any other phone system, you can add VOIP functionality to your existing phone system while protecting the investments you’ve already made. Connect remote offices and home offices to your phone system. Our Voice over IP gateways integrate voice and fax communications to allow remote offices connectivity to your phone system. Allow remote offices to bypass toll expenses by using the internet to transfer calls and intercom each other. Work from home with Multitech and use the features of your office system. Dial 9 to make a call, have calls transferred to you seamlessly, intercom and page just like you were in the office.

    There are hundreds of reasons to enable workers to work from home including, working mothers, executives needing more perks, transit strikes, or the threat of the Avian Flu pandemic.

    If you're thinking about VOIP you are not alone. VOIP is one of the hottest technologies available. We can show you how your company can take advantage of voice over internet protocol.
    Call us at 1-800-335-0229 ext 152 to get a FREE Working From Home Telephone System Quote.

  • Daylight Saving Time Change - Update your Phone System for Daylight Saving Time

    2007 Daylight Saving Time Changes

    The United States and Canada recognize a new US Government policy regarding Daylight Saving Time. Starting in March 2007, Daylight Saving Time will begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday of November. Below are instructions for updating your computer and phone systems.

    Year DST Begins at 2 a.m. DST Ends at 2 a.m.
    2006 April 2 October 29
    2007 March 11 November 4
    2008 March 9 November 2
    2009 March 8 November 1
    Update Your Computer System (Windows XP)

    Your computer will need to be updated for the new DST (Daylight Saving Time) changes. You can find out exactly on how to do that by visiting Update Daylight Saving Time.

    Update Your Date and Time On a Merlin Legend System

    To change either the Date or the Time on the Legend system, you must program it from the main System Programming console (MLX-20L). This will change the Time or Date on all the display phones throughout the system, except the ATL (Analog) display sets. These phones must be programmed on each individual set.

    How to change the Date in the Legend system:

    Press Menu.
    Press System Program.
    Press Exit.
    Press System.
    Press Date.
    Enter date in following format: mmddyy (where MM is the month, DD is the day, and YY is the year).
    Press Enter.
    Press Exit.
    Press Home to exit programming mode.
    How to change the Time in the Legend system:

    Press Menu.
    Press System Program.
    Press Exit
    Press System.
    Press Time.
    Enter the time in military/24 hour format: HH:MM (where HH is the hour, 01-24, and MM is minutes, 00-60).
    Press Enter.
    Press Exit
    Press Home to exit programming mode.
    To change the date, day or time on an ATL set:

    All ATL display telephones have the ability to show the time, day, and date on the display.

    Note: When you touch the Set button the first time, you will see the word ALARM in the display screen. If the Alarm is not to be set, press the Set button two more times until just the Hours and the A or P (A - AM, P - PM) are flashing in the display window. If you do not need to set a particular item, press Set to bypass it.

    Press Set until the item you want to change flashes.
    Press Fwd or Rev to advance or reverse the Time, Day or Date.
    When you have the correct Time, Day or Date, press Set.
    If you only want to set a particular item, such as Time, Day, or Date, press Exit after programming it.
    If you have programmed them all (Time, Day and Date) just press Set not Exit. (If you press Exit, you will see four zeroes in the place of the Date. This is for the Timer. Press Exit again to display the corrected Time, Day and Date.)
    Update Your Date and Time On a Merlin Magix System

    The time and date is a system feature rather than an individual telephone feature.

    To change the date in the Magix system, from the System Programming console:

    Press Menu.
    Press System Program.
    Press Exit or Start.
    Press System.
    Press Date.
    Enter date in following format: mmddyy (where MM is the month, DD is the day, and YY is the year).
    Press Enter.
    Press Exit or Back.
    Press Home or Exit to exit programming mode.
    To change the time in the Magix system, from the System Programming console:

    Press Menu.
    Press System Program.
    Press Exit or Start.
    Press System.
    Press Time.
    Enter the time in military/24 hour format: HH:MM (where HH is the hour, 01-24, and MM is minutes, 00-60).
    Press Enter.
    Press Exit or Back.
    Press Home or Exit to exit programming mode.
    Update Your Date and Time On a Partner ACS System

    To program the System Time on Basic Partner Release 4.1:

    This System Programming procedure sets the time that appears on system display phones.

    Enter the time in 24-hour notation. In this scheme, the hours of the day are 0000 (12 midnight) to 2359 (11:59 p.m.). Since each time must have four digits, use leading zeros when necessary. For example, to set the time to 9:00 a.m., enter 0900. For 4:45 p.m., enter 1645.

    The time appears on system display phones as a.m. or p.m. (not in 24-hour notation).

    To change the System Time using a display phone at extension 10 or 11:

    Press Feature 00. Press System Program (Left Intercom button). Press System Program (Left Intercom button). Press # 103. Enter the time in 24-hour notation. For example, to set the time to 2:15p.m., press 1415. A display similar to the following appears:

    System Time Data 1415 Note: The time will appear on system display phones as 2:15p.

    Select another procedure or press Feature 00 to exit programming mode.

  • Business Phone System “Fail Safe Routing” Can Prevent Financial Losses

    In the aftermath of disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, or events like the New York Transit Strike, businesses can keep phone calls coming in if they plan ahead.

    A disaster recovery plan can keep businesses operating even in the event of widespread power outages, transportation strikes, or natural disasters. Business telephone systems can be backed up and distributed to remote locations.

    “In watching the news break after hurricane Katrina hit and the flooding started in New Orleans I noticed only one building lit up at night and that was Bell South, said Trinidad. “Bell South had a power generator on the roof plus it also had a major battery back up system in the local central office. This is significant because calls could be re-routed. Realizing that the central office was still up I immediately went our customer West Way Holdings to let them know we could transfer the main numbers on their T1 to route to a another location. They would not miss calls. This is true for most businesses that have T1 , PRI or 800 numbers. Having a fail safe routing plan is essential to avert catastrophe.”

    Fail safe routing is having a plan to which in the event of a catastrophe phone calls can be re-routed. It could be as sophisticated as having a full disaster recovery plan in which you might have a back up voip phone system in waiting to allow your office to become virtual or as simple as having calls re-routed to a cell phone. Having a fail safe routing plan is a must for all businesses. You don’t have to operate on a fault line or on the coast to have a plan in place. Fail safe routing can protect your business when a cable has been cut and your phone service with it.

    A fail safe plan should contain a few things:

    Escalation phone number list. This list should contain the phone numbers of both your phone company and PBX vendor. It should have the names and numbers of everyone up the ladder. The higher you can get it the better. You are probably going to receive faster resolution to your problem if you have the VP of Services’ number then just the customer service number.

    Have a designated number to which you can receive calls in case of phone service interruption. You should talk with your carrier ahead of time so they have the number as well. Some carriers like Globalcom in Chicago offer this as part of their service. When they detect an outage they automatically send calls to another number. Do not assume a carrier will offer this to you in the event of an outage. On recent service call we received from a new customer who had been completely with out phone service for the day we asked the carrier why they had not offered fail safe routing to the customer , who had two other locations, they said ” they never asked us to”.

    Make sure the plan is in the hands of a few key people. When problems occur it’s always at an inconvenient time. Make sure everyone knows the drill.
    Other things to consider is having a full disaster recovery plan. PD Management recently added a disaster recovery plan which included a fully loaded phone system that could be dropped shipped and set up in days notice. When asking Joani Baskins the PBX manager about it she said ” it is essential to our business operations to keep phone service up in the event of a hurricane”. PD Management has locations in Texas and Louisiana.

    Having a VOIP phone system set up as a back up system could enable a company to work virtually. Workers could work from home or other locations with VoIP enabled phones or PCs with softphones. Avaya IP Office is a VOIP phone system that can be set up and installed as a virtual PBX. It offers both VoIP phone sets and softphones.

    Telcom & Data is a nationwide business telecommunications equipment and service provider based in Chicago. In addition to phone system service, Telcom & Data sells Plantronics Bluetooth Headsets and Avaya Telephone Systems for small, medium, and large businesses. If you would like more information on fail safe routing call 800-335-0229 or visit us on line at www.telcom-data.com

    ###
    Contact: Ricardo Trinidad
    Phone: 312-432-1192 x152
    Email: rtrinidad@telcom-data.com

  • Benefits of Using an Emergency Response System

    With the uncertainty of the world today, you never know when you might have a need for an emergency response system that you can use to contact employees and family members with instructions should the unthinkable happen. Too often situations get out of control because those on the outside of the situation have no idea what's going on or are unsure of what they should do; this can lead to conflicting orders being given, confusion setting in, and damage prevention plans not being put into effect until it is too late. By choosing to implement an emergency response system to handle such situations, you can help to keep these sort of incidents under control should they occur.

    Automatic Messaging

    One major benefit of implementing an emergency response system is that it can automatically send out a message to the telephones, cellular phones, and pagers of those who should be the first to be informed of the situation that is developing. Depending upon the emergency response system that you are using, you may be able to choose from several different messages which will relate more of the specifics of the problem and let the message recipient know what steps should be taken next. This will enable those in charge to be aware that there is something wrong even when away from the office, and will also let them know who they should contact to arrange for the emergency to be taken care of as well as what steps have already been taken by the system.

    Contacting the Authorities

    Depending upon the nature of the emergency, the emergency response system may go ahead and contact the police, fire department, ambulance services, or any other emergency services provider that would be equipped to deal with the particular situation. This can make things much easier for the on-site manager who is attempting to coordinate employee response to the emergency as it will be one less step that they have to take in order to get everything under control. In many cases the emergency response system will make this call as a form of "silent alarm", so that in the case of a hostile situation or panicking employees the addition of alarms or an audible notification system won't make things worse than they already are.

    Mass E-Mail and Information Distribution

    A useful feature of many emergency response systems is the ability to send out a mass e-mail to all employees and anyone else who is on a designated list to let them know the specifics of the situation as well as the steps which have been taken thus far in order to get the emergency situation under control. It may be possible with certain emergency response systems to follow this up with a recorded telephone message as well, for those individuals who do not have access to their e-mail or who may not be prone to check it often. Both e-mail and telephone messages can be updated as needed or re-sent at set intervals until a response is received or the emergency situation has passed in order to ensure that the proper information has been distributed to everyone who needed to have it.

  • New Emergency Notification Systems for College and University Campuses Available

    Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 25, 2007 -- Telcom Data announces the availability of two new emergency notification systems for college and university campuses. The new systems, the Advanced Messaging Server (AMS) and the SAFEPATH SP40/S, can be found online at Telcom Data’s Web site, www.wheelock-products.com

    Both systems allow for one-step notification through the transmission of voice messaging, text messaging and automated voice-instructed messaging through a campus paging system. Such messaging will notify faculty, the student body and first responders in the event of an emergency situation.

    The AMS emergency notification system allows simultaneous delivery of voice and text messages to tens of thousands of people within minutes. Through one phone call, the system instantaneously launches a message to devices such as home phones, cell phones, pagers, e-mail inboxes and PDAs. In addition to colleges and universities, the AMS can be employed by governments for quick dissemination of emergency information to large sections of their populations.

    AMS is centered on a Web-based user interface that can be accessed anywhere via the Internet. This makes it easy to administer a messaging session, especially when dealing with an emergency. In addition, the AMS has multiple message delivery modes, such as pre-recorded message delivery and text-to-speech voice message delivery. The system also allows for on-the-fly delivery of messages, in which AMS will instantaneously deliver a recorded message to all members of a specified group.

    The SAFEPATH SP40S is another university notification system now available from Telcom Data. The SP40/S comes standard with an on-board digital voice messaging system with eight standard messages, a hand-held microphone, power supply/battery charger and many additional features. In addition to functioning as an emergency notification system, the SP40S can function as an evacuation system, paging system and background music system. The SP40S can also be connected to pagers for private alerting of emergency situations.

    Ricardo Trinidad
    312-432-1192
    rtrinidad@telcom-data.com

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