The Cloud - and Beyond

The Cloud

You see this phrase advertised everywhere you turn nowadays, from subway and bus print ads to TV commercials. While the idea and what is conveyed in those ads may seem ambiguous, the “cloud” is very real, and something you have been using for years without even knowing it.

The phrase “cloud” is another term for hosted technology. It simply means that information and processing capabilities is stored off-premise (not on a local device). Your Gmail, Yahoo, and other internet email services are a hosted technology because they use servers that do not exist on your computer, to store your emails. You access your email, their attachments, and archived messages through the internet by connecting to Google’s servers. The advantage of hosted technology is that servers are maintained in a controlled central location, can be easily serviced, and resources can be shared more easily.

Emails, files, and other data isn’t the only thing that can exist in the cloud. Voice exists in the cloud too. Your cell phone voice mail uses hosted technology. The voice mail system and messages don’t actually exist on your device; you dial into your voice mail box, which resides on your carrier’s servers elsewhere, to access all of the features that would not be possible to house on your slim and sleek cell phone.

Hosted Business

Understanding cloud, or hosted, technology on your cell phone is just the first step toward taking advantage of hosted voice services on a business level. Entire phone systems, including their full suite of features, can be hosted, and will allow you to reap major benefits. McEnroe Voice & Data has chosen to partner with Star2Star to offer our customers a unique hosted product that will not only save you money, but make your organization more efficient. Among its many accolades, Star2Star is the only hosted provider that had 100% uptime in 2011 (not 99.9999%, but 100%).

Let’s start with the first major benefit of hosted; the one that grabs everybody’s attention: cost savings. The initial capital investment put into a hosted system is far less than a traditional, premise-based PBX. The PBX and its associated servers and processors are the most expensive part of investing in a new phone system. And since your PBX is hosted, you can take advantage of the cost savings that resource sharing provides. A hosted PBX server can often be a quarter of the price of an on-premise PBX. The second variable in cost savings comes to you each month, when you cut your phone bill IN HALF. A hosted phone system runs over your data network, often requiring only a T1 connection for your office. Imagine how great it will feel to call Verizon and cancel all of your voice services. We at McEnroe Voice & Data save our hosted customers an average of 45 – 55% off their monthly bill. This cost savings typically pays for the new system by itself.

The second major benefit of implementing hosted is getting rid of your fear of technology obsolescence. A hosted system resides at a central server whose software is constantly upgraded and monitored. Gone are the days of worrying if you’re running the up-to-date version. Your hosted system will be as up to date 10 years from now as it was the day we installed it.

The third benefit that McEnroe’s unique hosted solution provides is sharing lines over multiple locations. This is cost savings and efficiency rolled into one. Instead of having rigid and dedicated lines per office, you now have hosted lines that can be allocated across your entire network, as needed. Instead of having 10 lines for each of your 3 locations, you can now cut down to 20 lines total, and share them. What’s more, if all 20 lines are in use, our hosted solution will allow you to “burst” and use another line from the cloud. Imagine your customers never getting a busy signal or being sent directly to voice mail.

Hosted By Any Other Name

Nearly 95% of hosted solutions you find in the marketplace are all the same solution, just branded differently. Beware of hosted services that price per seat or user. The charges will typically be $35 - $40 per phone, with an iron-clad contract that leaves you incredibly exposed. These type of hosted solutions all use the Broadsoft network and provide little to zero quality control, which will leave you dropping calls, and experiencing jitters and latency. Another huge disadvantage to these systems is that you actually pay for inter-office calls.

With Star2Star, instead of paying for each user, paying for inter-office calls, and having ABOLUTELY ZERO on-site quality control, you could be enjoying FREE INTER-OFFICE CALLS (including other branches, even across the country), and a quality control StarBox router that interfaces with off-premise Star2Star servers to proactively monitor your system. After evaluating several hosted solutions, we’re proud to offer Star2Star to our customers because it not only makes the most sense in concept, but we have also seen the cost savings, efficiency improvements, and positive feedback from our customers.

If you think you may be paying too much for your telephone service, allow us to conduct a complimentary bill review and show you the absolute savings, per month and up front, that McEnroe Voice & Data can help you realize through the implementation of a Star2Star hosted solution.

Call 800-MCENROE (623-6763) and ask for an account manager who can help you with a complimentary bill review.

Article by McEnroe Voice & Data, www.mcenroevoice.com

Increase Productivity and Marketing with Your Phone System

We see it frequently: companies often under-utilize their current technology and miss the opportunity to take advantage of what they already have. Phone systems are so much more than voice mail and simple connectivity. They are now a true business partner that help you increase employee productivity and make the connections with people faster, and more productively.

One of the ways that McEnroe Voice & Data is boosting customer profitability is through an application called presence management. This application eliminates the guessing game of knowing where people are and what they're doing, and allows individuals to indicate their status (in a meeting, back at 2pm, at lunch, send calls to my cell, etc.). The presence management tool can also be deployed on your desktop as a toolbar, so you can immediately see people's availability. That toolbar also allow you click to dial, instant messaging, click and drag transferring, and much more. A mobile sales force, technicians, or busy and on-the-move executive can sync up other devices (cell phones, laptop soft phones, home phones) to their extension so they all ring simultaneously if a call comes in. By increasing the speed of communication, more opportunities can be seized, more current customers can be satisfied, and more profits can make it to the bottom line.

Similarly, McEnroe Voice & Data is utilizing call recording technology in order to help organizations increase employee productivity. According to Dr. Jon Anton from Purdue University, "On average, employees answer the phone 19% faster, spend 29% less time on the phone, and do after-call work three times faster when they know they're being recorded." Remarkably, many business owners have not adopted call recording technologies. There are all levels of price points that are appropriate for all shapes and sizes of businesses. McEnroe Voice & Data is looking to bridge the gap by educating their customers on solutions aimed to help small to mid-sized businesses come out on top.

About McEnroe Voice & Data

McEnroe Voice & Data Corporation is a leader in business phone systems. They offer state of the art voice and data networks which include telecommunication and voice mail systems, VoIP, hosted solutions, voice logging, dictation systems, and specialized wide area networks for the health care industry.

McEnroe is annually recognized as one of Baltimore's largest woman-owned businesses. With over 39 years of experience they service over 3,000 customers in the Baltimore/Washington DC area.

www.mcenroevoice.com

Is VoIP Right for Your Business?

VoIP Is One Of The Hottest Buzz Words In Telecommunications Today: Is Your Company Prepared to Take Advantage of It?

In today’s extremely competitive and rapidly changing business environment, decisions about adopting the latest technology and acquiring tools that will enable easy transition to future enhancements are critical to the survival of any business. Determining whether to invest in recent advancements in telecommunications is no different. One particular technology receiving significant attention is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). VoIP is one of the hottest buzz words surrounding communications technology, because it has the potential of revolutionizing the way we communicate. As with the adoption of any technology, companies must take appropriate steps in order to successfully implement VoIP and reap its benefits.

Simply put, VoIP is the process of converting voice signals into data packets, using Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit voice over a data network. There are a few distinct benefits that companies receive when utilizing IP telephony.

The most widely publicized benefit of VoIP is the ability to save costs on long distance charges and to network multiple offices together. Businesses that have a data connection between their offices can utilize VoIP technology to bypass long distance networks and provide more efficient communications between offices. In a traditional setting, someone would have to dial the phone number to a branch office, possibly paying a long distance charge for the call, wait for a receptionist or automated system to answer and then become connected to the party they’re trying to reach. Using VoIP, a person can simply dial an extension number and be connected immediately to a party in another office, whether across town or around the world avoiding costly long distance charges.

A second benefit is in the design of many telephone systems, often called IP based systems. Rather than traditional phone systems with their own wiring infrastructure, IP based systems use a data network infrastructure. This convergence of voice and data into a single platform has tremendous advantages in simplifying the administration of the communications network. Plus, IP utilizes data infrastructure that most likely already exists in many companies.

A third benefit is the ability to have remote phones with a single telephone number. For example, an employee could work out of their home in New York, utilizing a phone number with a California area code. This enables corporations to truly take advantage of having a virtual office and or remote agents working out of a variety of locations.

VoIP is gaining acceptance into the corporate world, especially in small to medium sized companies looking to save costs and wanting an edge over their competitors. A report by Infonetics Research found that while nearly all businesses are currently evaluating or planning to expand their VoIP traffic, still just 36% of large companies and 23% of midsize companies have made the transition. According to Infonetics that sets the stage for VoIP telephony to grow at a very rapid pace in the coming years, with the US market alone estimated to be worth some $10 billion by 2010.

Companies are now in the process of determining how this technology will help their business and to what extent they need to deploy VoIP. They are asking themselves “How can I take advantage of IP telephony and when is it right for my business?” In order to help businesses make the right decisions, a few important steps should be taken.

· First, ask the important question, “What am I trying to accomplish?” Make a point to tie your business objectives to the benefits of VoIP. Will this technology help you achieve your goals?

· Adopt the following technology mission statement: “Technology should help my business become more profitable and gain a competitive edge.” Determine whether or not VoIP will do this for your company. If it does, it will probably justify your investment.

· Be as thorough as possible in understanding all the implications of utilizing the technology. Truly understand what it will take to implement VoIP in your company. For example, will you have to upgrade your connection between sites? Will you have to enhance your network, server, or switches to handle the demands of the system? Understanding these types of questions will ensure successful implementation.

· Thoroughly analyze each VoIP manufacturers’ products and obtain an understanding of their benefits. Find a manufacturer that is willing to help you become more profitable and more competitive. Identifying the right solution can make a world of difference during installation and use.

Determine whether to implement a system that will give you full VoIP capability today or have the ability to make the upgrade in the future. Your company may not be ready to take advantage of IP telephony in the present time, however, it may make sense toinstall a system that will give you VoIP at the flick of a switch when you’re ready (Such as the Mitel 5000, from McEnroe).

· Finally, select a telecommunications partner who is just as thorough in evaluating your needs as you are. Identifying the right telecommunication provider is just as important as choosing the right product. A true partner will analyze your business, understand your needs, recommend the ideal solution, and get you up and running quickly. A qualified provider will guide you through the process making sure you’re taking full advantage of all that VoIP has to offer.

Adopting new technology can be both exciting and sometimes challenging at the same time. Whether you’re ready to make a full transition to VoIP or just want the capability for the future, this technology has the potential of reducing your costs, increasing profitability, and giving you a competitive advantage in your marketplace. By taking the appropriate steps and selecting the right telecommunications provider your company has a good chance of experiencing immediate returns. If not, you could be wasting valuable time and money.

ABOUT McEnroe Voice & Data

McEnroe Voice & Data Corporation is a leader in business and office phone systems. They offer state of the art voice and data networks which include telecommunication and voice mail systems, VOIP, hosted solutions, voice logging, dictation systems, and specialized wide area networks for the health care industry.

McEnroe is annually recognized as one of Baltimore's largest woman-owned businesses. With over 38 years of experience they service over 3,000 customers in the Baltimore/Washington area.

http://www.mcenroevoice.com

Scamming Crammers

In general, consumers often feel comforted by larger companies because they think that they won't be taken advantage of.  Caution is often used when looking to do business with smaller, less prevalent companies.  The thought process being safety in numbers; the more people who use a product or service, the less likely it seems to pose a danger to the individual consumer.  However, in the world of telecom carrier, larger companies often have more hidden fees tucked away in the line items, sometimes at no fault of their own.

Phone bill cramming is one of the instances in which consumers of larger carriers are targeted and more vulnerable.  Companies such as Verizon and Comcast are used as vehicles by scam artists and 3rd party billers who tack on extra fees through a loop hole in the system.

Here's how it works...

A 3rd party company calls and gets a consumer to say "yes" to some type of question about their carrier.  This could be as innocuous as somebody asking if you want to have your number listed in an online telephone book.  The only thing these scammers need is to have a recorded "yes" from the billed party.  This then allows crammers to tack on charges such as "Business optimization" onto your bill for $20, $30, sometimes even $50 per month.  These amounts can add up quickly, and consumers are often none the wiser as the charges get lost in the jumble of the bill.

How you can spot it...

Look through your bill for a 3rd party business logo.  There should be no other businesses listed on your bill except for your company's and your carrier's.  A bogus phrase may also be attributed to this charge.  Some examples: "Business internet optimization" "online business listing".  Be skeptical and listen to your instinct if it doesn't look right.

How you can stop it...

There is usually a number listed under the logo by the bogus cramming charge.  Call that number and insist to stop that service.  Do not let them scare you into keeping on there.  The crammers will often say somebody at the company authorized it and it may disrupt your service.  Demand the service be stopped and also demand to be reimbursed for back charges.  Threaten to contact and lodge a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (see this site for more helpful hints http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro18.shtm).  Ask for as much information as possible from the crammer; their name, supervisors name, company, address, and tell them you are going to file it in the FTC report.  They will most likely back down and reimburse you fully.

If you ever have any doubts, go to www.mcenroevoice.com and contact us to help you audit your bill for these charges.

Telecom Relocation

Moving or expanding your company office can be a source of tremendous stress and upheaval — but it also offers an opportunity to upgrade and improve a variety of office features, including your telecommunications system.

Many businesses find that they have outgrown their phone system long before they outgrow their office space. When planning a move to a new or expanded office, it is important to examine all aspects of your telecommunications needs — number and location of phones, voice mail, structured cabling, voice and data integration — to ensure that your new system responds favorably to your present needs, and will be able to expand to accommodate future growth.

There are a number of vital considerations to help you plan effectively for a phone system relocation or expansion: the most important being selecting the right partner to guide you through the process. By choosing a leading telecommunications provider your company can turn a stressful situation into an easy transition eliminating any interruption to your business. However, selecting an inexperienced partner will cost your organization time, money, and possibly some of your customers.

The following check list will help you through the relocation or expansion process so you can make sure you’ve identified the right company to keep your phones ringing with no interruption in service:

• Select A Telecommunications Provider With Experience, and Rely On Their Expertise. You should elect to work with a provider that has expertise at the installation, expansion and relocation of corporate phone systems. Does the provider design and install communications systems using the latest technology, including the integration of your office computers with your phone system. In addition to installing your phone system, will the provider consult with you on how your business can maximize your communications?

• Communicate Your Expectations. Ask your communications provider to assist you in thinking your plans through on paper first, ensuring that the proper phone configuration is agreed upon prior to installation. Make sure that the provider will work with you to effectively implement any needed changes to your existing system, including adding voice mail or upgrading the phone switch. Be sure to obtain an accurate indication of the time requirements needed to make changes to your system.

• Design Now and Save Later. An experienced telecommunications partner will take the time to review your facility and electrical drawings, which will aid in developing a game plan. They should provide you with design input, space planning and a communications layout for your facilities’ entire structured cabling infrastructure. This should include drawings of specific technical components such as the equipment room, telephone system, voice mail, server configurations, overhead paging and music, wireless IP, and Internet access.

The key is making sure your provider builds a compact, easy-to-manage, centralized equipment room, which acts as the hub for your business. Ideally, you should receive a design that is flexible and one that can expand as your business grows. Poor designs will cost you every time you call your provider when you need to make even a minor change to your system.

Proper design and implementation in the blueprint stage saves having to retrofit and issue change orders later, which can be extremely costly. Leading companies do not charge for consultation services or design input. This is something to think about as you select a partner.

• Set A Realistic Move Date. If you want to eliminate headaches give yourself considerable time to plan ahead prior to your move or expansion date. Unexpected events almost always cause delays, and your business will function more smoothly if your move occurs when everyone is ready, instead of in the midst of a last-minute "scramble." You should work closely with a telecommunications systems provider to help you set a realistic schedule for your phone system implementation. This will allow you to alert your customers and vendors of any anticipated phone number changes well in advance of your move date.

• Prevent an Interruption in Service. For many businesses, the early installation of phone lines, Internet access and new equipment may be critical to having dual service and to providing your customers with uninterrupted service during the entire move. If your provider waits until the last minute to switchover and does not have a plan to provide redundant service then you know something is wrong. An interruption in service can have a lasting impact on any organization.

• Don’t Let Anything Fall Through the Cracks. You should contact your communications system provider and give them advanced notice prior to your move to schedule a complete analysis of your present and future phone needs. Due to the highly competitive nature of local, long-distance, and Internet service, this additional "shopping" time can result in substantial savings. A reliable partner will walk you through this process identifying areas to save money, especially if you find yourself pressed for time.

Finally, make sure you redirect your entire local, toll-free, and fax numbers. Order this work to be done far in advance of your move as it is vital that this important service be fully operational on Day One in your new facility.

Selecting the right telecommunications partner can make a world of difference when taking on the challenge of relocation or expanding your current facility. Choose an experienced provider that can set up a game plan for you and give you a sense of security that the transition will be a success. Leading providers will eliminate any unforeseen headaches and make what could be seen as a daunting task an easy one. If you don’t, your business could ultimately be in big trouble.

McEnroe Voice & Data is proud to have helped move hundreds of our customers into their new offices.  What's more, with McEnroe crews coordinating at both the old and new locations, our customers experience zero telecom down time.  

www.mcenroevoice.com

Virtualization in Telecom

Virtualize Your Voice Networks

Virtualization of voice is rapidly spreading through the business world as a way of reducing operating and IT expenses, deploying current software and applications, and streamlining disaster recovery plans. 

Mitel and VMware have partnered together to allow businesses to converge voice and data in the same cloud based solution.  This, in turn, speeds up software and voice applications deployment exponentially, allowing IT staff to focus on more value-added initiatives.  In short, your IT department is spending less time putting out fires and dealing with server maintenance issues.  At the same time, business continuity and disaster recovery is streamlined as it is easy to transmit a virtual machine to an off-site recovery facility. 

Mitel is leading the way in virtualization for one major reason: it solved the voice latency problem.  Latency in a non-real time application like email can be forgiven, as a message that is delayed 3 seconds won’t affect the user.  A 3 second delay in voice delivery, however, is unacceptable and would result in obvious customer and colleague frustration.  Mitel and VMware experts managed to solve the delay issue and virtualize voice. 

Now, Mitel features can run on the VMware vSphere 4 virtualization platform, and can be downloaded and installed on any data-center server that’s running VMware vSphere.

The Cha-Ching! Factor

Virtualization can help achieve a reduction of up to 60% in infrastructure operating costs by consolidating applications to save real estate and server power.  Fewer servers means less real estate and lower cooling costs as well as less time spent on server management and administration. 

To learn more about how you can reap the benefits of virtualizing voice call McEnroe Voice & Data today.