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Many companies use the stereotypical boring elevator music when customers are on hold. Businesses should be using on-hold audio that excites customers. Telcom & Data, a leader in business phone systems, is proud to introduce the Premier Technologies USB 1200 MP3 music on hold messaging system as an ideal solution. The device is perfect for small and medium sized companies that want a user-friendly system. The device uses MP3 files, removing the need to purchase physical media. Using MP3 files allows users to customize the on-hold audio. The system can promote new products and services or play upbeat music. The loading of new files is effortlessly done by “dragging and dropping” MP3 files from a computer to the USB flash drive. When the flash drive is plugged into the unit, the files automatically download. A built-in speaker allows the user to listen to the downloaded audio. The unit is protected from power outages by a constant power source and solid-state memory. The Premier 1200 will automatically re-boot the audio playback following a power outage. When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the 1200 music on hold system, he said, “I ask businesses this question: does your music on hold get your customers excited about your new products and services or bore them with songs from the 80s? This product will change the on-hold experience.” For more information about the Premier Technologies USB 1200 music on hold messaging system, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Offshore personnel work with highly combustible materials and confront many other hazardous conditions. According to the U.S. department of the Interior, there are more than 100 fires reported on rigs and platforms every year, making fire safety essential. Telcom & Data, a leader in emergency communication, is proud to introduce Cooper’s explosion-proof SM87BG manual fire alarm for offshore safety. The unit is ruggedly built, easy to install, and requires very little maintenance. The alarm is constructed with marine grade alloy or stainless steel and meets strict standards to handle the harshest offshore conditions. The alarm is UL listed for Class I, Div. 1, Groups C & D and Class I, Zone 1 safety standards. Moreover, the alarm is IP66 and IP67 rated, proving its protection against particles, water, and severe weather. The unit can operate in temperatures between –40°F and +158°F. “Since 1975, the oil and gas industry has turned to the MEDC brand for the most reliable and highly respected alarms and loudspeakers in the industry,” said Scott Hearn, president of Cooper Notification. “The Series SM87BG manual fire alarm, emergency shutdown breakglass and pushbutton units are no exception. They have been designed for the most arduous environmental conditions, featuring ease of installation and maintenance.” For more information about the SM87BG fire alarm, visit Telcom & Data's website or call 1-800-335-0229.

Whether communicating the morning announcements or an emergency, paging systems are critical for efficient communication and safe schools. Telcom & Data, a leader in school voice amplification and paging systems, is proud to introduce Bogen’s SI35A intercom system for academic settings. The unit supports up to 75 classrooms. The SI35A delivers fast and dependable intercommunication and tone signaling. The unit can distribute a variety of material from equipment such as microphones, stereos, or other background music sources. Users can select program material, as well as its distribution to selected rooms with the simple push of a button and by following color-coded guidelines. Teachers are able to converse hands-free with the control center operator over their individual classroom speaker. School emergencies such as severe wheather, fires, intruders, or injuries require immediate attention. The S135A features an emergency page capability for simultaneous announcements to all stations. Emergency paging can be made from a remote telephone or microphone. When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about Bogen S135A, he said, “This system is really cost-effective for smaller schools. It’s simple to use and provides vital safety communication. It’s something every school needs.”

Asking customers to repeat information over and over is time consuming and may lead to inaccurate orders. Sales professionals, customer service associates, and executives need reliable communication to build strong customer relationships. Telcom & Data, a leader in business phone systems, is proud to introduce the Plantronics HW251N phone headset for business communications. The headset delivers superior audio quality and all-day comfort. Users will appreciate the many performance features on the Plantronics HW251 headset. The unit boasts wideband audio for a more natural sounding voice and a noise cancelling microphone ensures crystal clear sound. The headset has an over-the-head design and soft ear cushion for comfortable wear. A Quick Disconnect cord allows users to walk away from their phone without removing the headset. When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the HW251N he said, “Plantronics is one of the most trusted names in the industry. This one is perfect for customer-service workers and has already gained widespread popularity.” Industry approval of these headsets is demonstrated to by the millions of agents that use them around the world. For more information on the Plantronics HW251N phone headset or other Plantronics headsets, visit Telcom & Data’s or call 1-800-335-0229.

Telcom & Data, a leader in business phone systems, announced today a reduced price on an exceptional USB Phone Recorder. The recorder is ideal for keeping accurate records of important phone conversations such as conference calls, interviews, and sales calls. The phone recorder gives professionals peace of mind and business power. It ensures contractors deliver on price quotes and verbal agreements are kept. Moreover, the device guarantees important client information is never lost. It easily records calls right to a PC or laptop. Small and medium sized businesses and home office workers will especially love this product because of its ease of use and simple set-up. The device is perfect for attorneys, doctors, brokers, day traders, contractors, and salesmen. The USB recorder boasts many great features. The recorder is the size of a credit card in length and width and can be easily hidden. The recorder and accompanying software takes less than 10 minutes to install. Once connected, users can automatically or manually record outbound and inbound calls. The recorder also stores the name and number of inbound calls on your computer. No tapes or batteries are needed, making the recorder maintenance free. Recorded calls can be played back immediately in crystal clear digital sound or they can be saved to a network drive, PC, CD, or FTP site. Saved files are compressed to reduce hard drive space requirements and can easily be searched. As a further convenience, the sound files can be sent via e-mail. When Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was asked about the benefits of the recorder, he said, “It’s small and incredibly simple to use. These recorders will allow users to provide excellent customer service, while protecting themselves from false claims.” For more information about the USB phone recorder, visit Telcom & Data’s website or call 1-800-335-0229.

If you are thinking about purchasing a new business phone system take some notes here. First and foremost only buy a phone system that can actually help improve your business. What is the sense of buying a new phone system if it can’t help improve your business?

Avaya recently released the IP Office 500 R7 system and it is by far the best release yet to date, This latest platform should prove Avaya’s dominance in the SMB arena. The IP 500 offers scalability for small offices of 4 up to 1000 employees and offers networking for businesses with multiple locations.

A phone system should be able to improve business in several areas including growing sales, enhancing customer service, reducing costs and employee retention.

How can a phone system grow sales? Avaya IP Office when integrated with Tapit Call Accounting can track all of your sales peoples out bound and inbound calls. A sales manager with out reports will have a hard time trying to get sales people to make customer calls. Call reporting can identify how many calls are being made, what numbers are being called, the most frequently dialed numbers, the longest calls, total connect time for the day and much more. Getting reports can help your sales reach their targets and that will bring in the big bucks.

Call accounting can help sales reps bring in new customer but customer service helps you keep them. The Avaya IP Office offers many customer service tools to help track how many calls are going to customer service, how long customers are waiting on hold, how many customers hung up before being helped. Call reporting can help you determine that right amount of agents to have in customer service. Other features like call recording can help you identify what your customer service people are saying to your customers. This is invaluable training tool in unearthing best practices. What, how and the way a customer service agent talks to your customers will often make the difference between success and failure. Most customer relationship management programs such as ACT, Goldmine, and other CRMs are able to integrate with AVAYA IP Office to do screen pops as well as automatically dialing customers. Auto Dialing customers can reduce the amount of time to connect calls and increase total dials for the day, week month, etc. The call recording feature can help you understand how calls are being handled and what is being said to customers. Call recording can be very effective in training sales reps on the phone.

Enhancing Customer Service.

Enhancing customer service is always a good investment. Here are several ways to this. Speeding up call completion can help your customers get to the right person as fast as possible. Look for ways to help speed call completion including adding direct dial numbers to departments and individuals. Adding a message on hold player to keep callers on hold longer and more patiently is a good idea and provides an opportunity for customers to learn more about your business.

If you have a large volume of incoming calls adding Call Center Manager software can help you manage staff on hold times of customers with complete reporting off all calls.

Lowering Phone Bills with IP Office

The converged communications platform benefits users by helping to reduce phones costs. Newer technology such as SIP trunking can help lower phone bills. Unlike other phone systems the Avaya IP Office allows users to use regular analog POTS lines, PRI/T1 and SIP giving customers all options available to connect calls. SIP trunks are about 40% less than analog pots lines and there are some FCC and tax advantages as well.

Multi location businesses can reduce point to point calling costs by networking locations. Point to Point calls made over the network are like intercom calls.

Conference Call bills can be eliminated by using the built in conference bridge on the IP Office. The IP Office conference call system can handle up to 64 conference participants.

Employee Retention

How can your phone system help with employee retention? Offering key employees the ability to work from home on a full or part time basis is a huge low cost benefit. Ask any employee if they would like the ability to work from home and you will get a resounding YES. Working from home makes things easier for employees to spend a little more time with family and lower commuting costs. More and more companies are offering work from home options and if you are not your employee could end up at a competitor that does. All your employee needs is good high speed internet and an IP phone set. The IP Office allows users to connect back to the office with out losing any functionality. Telecommuters usually work longer and better from home.

To learn more about AVAYA IP Office call 800-335-0229 or visit us at http://www.telcom-data.com/avaya-ip-office.aspx

From the desk of Ricardo Trinidad

If you have purchased an AT&T, Lucent or Avaya manufactured phone system or voice mail system you might have also had a maintenance agreement. The maintenance agreement could have been from AT&T, Lucent Expanets or now Avaya. Avaya purchased Expanets in 2003. Chances are if your phone system is passed it’s prime Avaya may have discontinued or limited the scope of Maintenance Services for your phone system. Once Avaya has declared "end of life," "end of service," "end of support," "manufacture discontinue" or similar designation ("End of Support") you were pretty much out of luck in getting your system serviced by Avaya. However you can still receive expert support from Telcom & Data. Telcom & Data offers maintenance services for most AVAYA end of support products. Systems that we still support and maintain include: Definity PBX All Versions Merlin Legend Merlin Magix Merlin 410, 820, 10/30 30/70 Spirit 308/616 and 12/24 System 25 and 75. Merlin Mail Merlin Messaging Audix Intuity Audix If your company still has one of these systems and you require a service maintenance agreement or a certified technician call Telcom & Data at 800-335-0229. Service calls start at only $ 145.00 per hour with only two hour minimum. To receive a fast maintenance quote click here. http://www.telcom-data.com/phone-maintenance.aspx

Commercial paging and sound design will typically call for wall mount speakers to provide full range sound in a host of indoor and outdoor environments. When choosing a wall mount speaker several points should be considered. Restaurants, bars, bistros, department stores, institutional, outdoor venues and schools all require commercial sound and life safety capabilities from their sound systems. Wall mount speakers can be classified into 3 categories of indoor and outdoor sound reproduction including commercial voice, premium wall mount speakers and super premium speakers. Depending on the application and budget there are several types of speakers in these categories to choose from. Another consideration is if the system design will be 70V mono, self-amplified or 8 OHM. By far the most common is 70V mono system. 70V is the most efficient and mono speakers provide the full array of sound so the listener can hear all parts of music reproduction. Commercial sound systems use centralized paging amplifiers with 70V output signals because 70V commercial sound systems can handle extremely long lengths of wire to connect the speakers to the amplifier, and they can power a large number of speakers in each system.

Wall speakers work well with rooms and hallways that are 20' to 60' wide. Layout starts at one end of the hallway or room. The first speaker should be installed 10' from the end of the hallway or room. The next speaker on that wall should be installed 20' from the first speaker, as should any
additional speakers required to cover the length of the hallway or room. The first speaker on the opposing wall should be installed 20' from the end of the hallway or room, thereby staggering the speakers. Each additional speaker should also be installed 20' apart from the previous one.

The number of speakers needed to cover an open area and the layout of those speakers is contingent upon the availability of suitable mounting points in the area to be covered. Layout starts in one corner of the room. The first speaker should be installed 10' from the corner of the room with each additional speaker in the first row installed in increments of 20' from the first.

For more information on Wall Mount Speakers or FREE commercial paging and sound design please call 800-335-0229 or visit www.bogen-paging.com

Outdoor speakers come in an array of choices for many applications. This buyer’s guide is for commercial sound applications of 70V sound systems although most of the information can be used for home audio systems. Outdoor speakers can be broken down into two categories. The first one is Outdoor speakers for voice paging only and outdoor speakers for music reproduction and or paging. Outdoor speakers for voice paging only are metal horn speakers. Metal Horn Speakers use a traditional horn shaped design with, rugged construction and high Db. level to allow using these horn speakers in large and me­dium sized public address and voicing evacuation sys­tems, where high efficiency of sound announcements is required. Because of the high DB levels these horns are perfect for noisy outdoor environments.

Outdoor speakers for music reproduction should be designed to with stand the elements in hot, cold and wet environments. A well designed outdoor speaker provides durability and excellent sound reproduction. Outdoor speakers should have molded speaker cabinets made from UV-inhibited mineral-filled polypropylene, which would make them extremely durable and giving them excellent acoustic properties. All mounting hardware should be rust-proof heavy-gauge aluminum or stainless steel brackets, and powder-coated to resist chipping and scratching.

A check list for a solid out door speaker should include the following:
The speaker cabinet should be made from UV-inhibited mineral-filled polypropylene enclosure. The speaker design includes die-cast aluminum frames with hard anodized aluminum cones instead of paper or plastic, and anodized aluminum voice coil formers, proprietary rubber compound for speaker surround, high-temperature adhesives, a sealed magnet gap and voice coil against moisture, and corrosion powder coated aluminum, perforated PVC plastic grilles, threaded brass inserts, and gold-plated connectors for speaker wire connections.

For more information on outdoor speakers for paging or music call 800-335-0229 or visit www.bogen-paging.com

CyberData's new VoIP Phone Paging, intercom, loud phone ringer and IP phone strobes are designed to enhance SMB through Enterprise level VoIP phone system installations. When migrating to VoIP phone systems many analog TDM devices such as phone paging systems, door intercoms, loud phone ringers, phone strobes and other analog devices no longer operate as part of the change over from TDM based phone systems to VoIP. Utilizing Cyberdata's IP technology as part of an overall VoIP phone system solution delivers cutting edge and cost-effective results, and is an essential element of any VoIP phone system installation. CyberData's SIP-enabled IP Paging Endpoints utilize digital communication technology in place of outdated analog technology. This increases reliability and allows a broader range of useful information to be transferred between devices. Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, was quoted as saying that "there is a real need for these types of two way IP communication devices and Cyberdata's product offerings certainly meet these needs." Mr. Trinidad went on to say that  there are several areas to the Cyberdata product line including, VoIP Paging Amplifiers, Zone Paging, IP connectivity to analog paging systems, IP addressable ceiling speakers, Loud IP Phone Ringers, Door Intercoms and IP Phone Strobes. Cyberdata solutions can be used for a number of verticals including healthcare, education, industrial and hospitality industries.  According to Bill Majerczak, sales manager for Cyberdata, says Cyberdata's success with their product lines lies in it's ease of set up and use. Every device can be plugged into a POE (power over Ethernet switch) for power and is easily programmed. Devices work with any premised base or hosted IP phone system. About Telcom & Data Telcom & Data is based in Milwaukee, WI with offices in Chicago and Miami FL. Founded by Ricardo Trinidad in 1996, Telcom & Data now provides communication solutions to over 13,000 business customers around the world. For more information about VoIP communications visit http://www.telcom-data.com.