Saturday, April 09, 2011
I have been reading in the press about comparison web sites that are promoted as offering unbiased comparison to ADSL and other Telco services. In many cases the owners of these websites get shuffled in front of the cameras now and then to give their expert opinion.
I think most of the public would not be aware that these sites are not really unbiased as they only advertise companies that pay for advertising on their sites. For example Phonechoice has plan details for many providers. However, unless the provider pays the web site owner via paid advertising they don't have any details of which company has the plan or any contact details so the person doing the comparing is left with no where to go. Akin to saying this is the best value car out there but we cant tell you the make or model or where you can buy it.
Fair enough the web sites need to earn money but they should declare that they are taking payment and in some cases commissions from the provider and therefore may not be 100% unbiased.
http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/ is the only site in Australia I am that aware of provides comparison in an unbiased method and doesn't take advertising money from providers .
In my opinion, the following comparison sites don't really provide unbiased comparison.
broadbandguide
comparebroadband
internetchoice
youcompare
iselect
Monday, March 07, 2011
Another interesting Article in the age on the weekend detailing one persons ride on the merry go round that can be Telstra Customer Service .... (in this case well connected Journo Bruce Guthrie former editor of the Age and the Herald Sun)
When Telstra calls the tune, you dance 'til you drop by Bruce Guthrie.
Customer service and how you interact with your customer base really is the biggest differentiator in the telco industry. With minor difference's, most of the products are the same and price gaps have closed ...but how you treat the people that pay the bills....or if you treat them as a customer at all ..... is what makes the real difference.
A Thesaurus I have here says that trust is belief in something as true, trustworthy. In short .... doing what you say you will do. How hard can it be?
Friday, January 21, 2011
An interesting article today regarding Telstra increasing their billing increments on fixed wire and mobile plans to per minute billing increments.
http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/aap/8199997/telstra-stings-customers-with-call-charge-hikes
http://www.news.com.au/business/telstra-one-minute-phone-rate-shock/story-e6frfm1i-1225992050071
http://optuszoo.com.au/news/top/news-com-au/telstra-cashes-in-with-one-minute-price/282650
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/telstra-minimum-mobile-limit-to-inflict-maximum-cost/story-e6freuzr-1225991964621
It doesn't sound much but of you assume that the average call will be 30secs, 1minute 30 secs etc then it can be a significant increase in call costs...eg a 30 second call will be double, a 1 minute 30 second call will be + 25% etc.
In good news for Telaustralia customers because we charge all timed calls from landlines in per second increments so if you make a 10 second phone call then that's all you pay for.
Our capped plans remain in 30 second blocks and we don't have a lot of choice there because that's how the carriers sell the plans but again ...if you make a 15 second call it will end up being twice the price under the changes planned by Telstra.
Monday, January 10, 2011
There is a revolution under way with Small office PABX telephone
systems. The next generation of Small to Medium Office PABX systems will
offer all the features of traditional systems plus more ...lots more
and significantly less cost with intital buy price, less cost to set up
and significantly less cost to relocate.
Using
Hosted Voice
technology (where the switching of your phone calls is done over the
internet at a hosted centre) significantly reduces the on site
complexity of the typical system down to a plug and play level.
These small office PBX telephone systems run on Internet Protocol (IP) networks, the same network that Is used for data.
IP-based
small office PBX telephone systems are highly programmable and can
perform sophisticated functions, such as automatic call conferencing,
click-to-call, and more.
The Benefits of Today's Small Office PBX Telephone Systems include
In many cases Plug and Play out of the box simplicity.
Increased productivity with applications supplied by Cisco and Microsoft
with tools that provide call control, location, and status of other
users.
Single number reach, which automatically forwards incoming calls to other phones based on your specifications
Intuitive interface's for easy installation and administration
The ability to easily expand the phone system as business needs change
A phone and communications solution in a single appliance that's
low-cost, reliable, full-featured, and simple to deploy, administer, and
maintain.
In addition
hosted Voice allows for greater capability for relocation as
the numbers don't reside at the location of the handsets but are
located at the central hosted location. So while the handsets can move
to a different location, the numbers stay the same.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Ever wondered what all that Telco jargon means? Have a look at our Glossary for a bewildering list of terms & acronyms!
www.telaustralia.com.au/Glossary
Thursday, October 28, 2010
We regularly get asked to explain the difference between Wireless N & Wireless N Modems & Routers and also the difference between Wireless Broadband and Mobile Broadband.
Wifi is the name applied to wireless networks and would typically be used for private network to be used within the home or small business ...eg at a cafe or Restaurant. It allows the end user to connect to the internet with using a cable. The broadband internet is still delivered via ADSL or cable but is distributed with out the use of wires...therefore wireless.
To connect to the internet you need to have a Modem with a Wireless Router attached or a Wireless Modem. Once you have set up your Internet connection you can then activate a wireless network and this is where the G, 150 and 300 come in.
As wireless technology has evolved with grater coverage and speed an alpha designation was given to each evolution starting with a and moving up the alphabet (for reasons unknown skipping many alphabetical increments) along with increased range and speed.
G Modems & Routers deliver speeds of up to 54Mbps while N150 Routers and Modems can deliver speeds of up to 150Mbps. N300 (Sometimes called Power N) Routers and Modems can provide speeds of up to 300Mbps with much greater range and strength of signal.
The differance between mobile broadband and wireless broadband is that mobile broadband is usually delivered over a Mobile Phone network requiring the use of a dongle style modem with a SIM card installed. Wireless Internet is delivered as detailed above, using Internet delivered via WiFi.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Its seems that Apples ascendancy isn't going to be without its challengers. In the US in the 6 Months to August 2010 Android Operating System powered mobile phones (which includes the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S, Sony X10 Xperia and HTC Dream mobile phones) have taken the sales leads over Apples iPhone. 32% of Phones sold had Android OS, 26% Apple iPhone OS and 26% Blackberry RIM OS with the balance being made up by the rest of the available mobile operating systems.
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2010/10/05/android-continues-to-demand-marketers-attention-at-a-growing-pace
While it has taken multiple vendors to achieve knocking Apple iPhone OS off as the number 1 mobile Operating System, this says something about the Android Operating Systems rise in popularity and the pending launch of Google TV wont hurt sales at all.
Also in the the short future will be the release of the Windows Phone 7 devices. Industry experts are predicting that Microsoft will have looked very closely at their competitors in an effort to avoid a repeat of the no so successful Kin operating system. Initial reviews are saying the Windows 7 Mobile Operating system is even more intuitive than Android and Apple OS. In stead of static icons the windows 7 is composed of live tiles that move up and down the start screen based on how often they are used. The live tiles also update in real time so if you use face book for example the last post/contact will be sitting on the tile or you can elect to have the tile just display latest posts from anyone.
The tiles lead to hubs one being the people hub that holds contacts and social info, office hub that has a range of commercial applications such as one note, office 2010 integration, word power point etc, Games hub which will allow X Box integration and uploads, Picture hub, Music & Video hub for music video etc and a store application with the now ubiquitous Music and apps downloads. Texting seems to be very fast and intuitive
Australia the handsets will be available as the HTC HD 7 and the LG Optimus 7.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
An interesting little article about how Schools are using SMS Gateways to contact parents when their children are not at school.
http://www.whatech.com.au/technology-releases/telecommunications/2895-sms-messaging-by-schools-to-prevent-truancy#prelink
Thursday, September 23, 2010
WHAT IS ISDN 2
Formerly known as OnRamp 2, ISDN 2 business phone lines transforms your existing analogue telephone line into two digital connections. ISDN2 features are;
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Two telephone numbers on the one ISDN 2 phone service.(on the one piece of copper)
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With ISDN 2 there are two digital channels capable of transferring both voice and data at bandwidth rates of 2 x 64kbps or 128kbps when 2 lines are combined giving the user the option of 2 voice channels.
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An ISDN2 service must be connected to an ISDN compatible PABX system at the customers premises
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With ISDN 2 you can access a 100 Number Direct Indial (DID) range so even if you only have 2 lines you can have 100 numbers.
A full explanation of the range of features available on an ISDN 2 service is located here.
WHAT IS ISDN 2 ENHANCED
ISDN2 enhanced services are identical to standard ISDN2 services but are supplied with an integrated network termination device and router. Since this hardware is more expensive to supply, the monthly line rental is a few dollars higher than standard ISDN2.
The integrated unit supplied currently is the Open Networks NT1 plus II . This unit allows the customer to connect
multiple computers on a small LAN to the ISDN service to leverage the ISDN investment. The NT1 plus II also allows customers to "bond" the two channels together for 128kbps internet access when no phone lines are in use. Although these units require mains power they have the ability to keep the main phone line active during a mains power failure.
WHY USE ISDN 2 PHONE LINES
ISDN 2 Phone lines are Digital business phones lines delivering clearer and faster phone calls.
ISDN 2 are a scaleable service in that you can add an additional set of lines in increments of 2 lines at a time. eg start with 2 lines and add in 2/4/6/or 8 ISDN2 services as required.
ISDN 2 gives you the availability of a 100 Number Direct in Dial range. Even if you only have 1 or 2 ISDN 2 services you can have 100 phone numbers or more. ISDN 2 is ideally suited to small to medium business that require crisp clear digital communication lines in conjunction with a PABX phone system. ISDN 2 Business phone lines have access to all the great business phone line features you need including Line Hunt & Caller ID.
For more than 10 channels you will require and ISDN 10/20/30 service. A full explanation of the range of features available on an ISDN 2 service is located here.
HOW DO I CONNECT TO ISDN 2 PHONE SERVICE
As ISDN is digital, there is no need for a modem. However, a customer will need a terminal adapter to receive the ISDN service. A terminal adaptor enables the communication from the user's terminal to the network and serves as an interface between the ISDN BRI line and the customers equipment.
Terminal adaptors are sometimes referred to as Network Termination (NT) devices or ISDN modems/routers, although this latter term is slightly misleading. The terminal adapter is provided by the ISDN service provider.
To connect the customer's local area network (LAN) to an ISDN2 service the customer will require a separate ISDN router or (as is more common) a terminal adaptor with a modem / router built in.
Customer wishing to connect a LAN to an ISDN2 service should choose the ISDN2 enhanced service.
A full explanation of the range of features available on an ISDN 2 service is located here.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
What do I need when buying a Motel Phone System?
In today’s competitive business environment, your success depends on first class service. You need an effective communication solution that enhances the efficiency of your operations and improves the level of customer service you provide your guests.
Of all the equipment that you operate at your Motel, nothing is more important than your phone system & service. It is therefore very important that you choose your Hospitality PABX Phone System carefully. Both Alcatel and Samsung offer a range of advanced hospitality solution PABX Telephone Systems suitable for Hotels, Hospitals, Nursing Homes or Halls of Residence. Review these systems and download product brochures at
http://www.telaustralia.com.au/Downloads
PABX stands for Private Automated Branch Exchange. The older PBX Phone System models were manually operated and usually required an operator. Modern PABX systems now use software to do the work of the operator.
Getting a price for a Phone Systems is easy. But will it really have the functions and features you require. To get an accurate price estimate you need to carefully plan your current & future network and determine the required PABX functions and features you need. Review systems functions and request a quotation at
http://www.telaustralia.com.au/phone-systems/pabx-system-quote-form
The first thing you need to plan out is how many lines you have in, are the lines PSTN (standard analogue or POTS Plain Old telephone Service) or ISDN & how many handsets do you need. If your lines are ISDN lines do you have ISDN 2 or ISDN 102030 On Ramp? Do you have an Indial Number range? This is all important when requesting a quotation for a PABX Telephone System.
Then think about growth. Will you need more lines coming in and are you likely to require additional handsets? Providing this information when getting a quotation will allow your supplier to provide an appropriate sized PABX System that will have adequate Space and cards for your future needs.
Will you require any of the following Voice Features:-
Voice Mail
Auto Attendant – press 1 for front desk, 2 for restaurant, 3 for housekeeping etc.
Music or message on hold?
What level of Handset do you require? Most Hotels have 1- 4 higher end digital handsets at the front desk.
Will you require Digital Display handsets for the rooms or will non-display models suffice. Most hotels don’t have display handsets in the rooms.
Then you need to think about the functions and features you will need from your PABX. Current models from Alcatel, LG and Samsung allow the operator to simply & quickly perform many of the following features :-
Book & Check In Rooms & Determine Room Status
Fax & Email Confirmation letters
Automatic Invoicing eliminating manual accounting
Take & Store Guest details & preferences for frequent visitors
Guest Database/Contact Management
Distribute Calls to Housekeeping, Room Service & Front Desk
Guest Messaging Services
Direct In Dial Calls to rooms
Room Call Accounting with customizable call tariffs
Phone Restrictions while guest is out of room
Security features
Many of the larger PABX Manufacturers have models that have a wide range of integrated functions that can assist in the day to day running of a motel without the need for a PC. These functions are operated directly from the front desk phone handset. This system will usually suffice for a motel/hotel up to around 20 rooms.
Of course if you are running a larger Motel/Hotel with 20 plus rooms and you require the full range of Management & Guest Functions then the PABX Phone System Software provided can be integrated with your PC network.
If you are starting out from scratch you will need to arrange your phones lines. We suggest mid size hotels go with an ISDN Phone services. ISDN lines provide for crisper voice quality and allow for Indial Number Ranges. Commonly accepted line ratios for a Motel/Hotel are 1:5 not including front desk and management requirements.
This means with 1 X ISDN 2 for every 10 Rooms and a multiple of an ISDN 10/20/30 once you go over 50 rooms. Of course if you think your usage will be low it can be cheaper to go with a higher ratio and then add lines in later if usage patterns & line availability dictate more lines.
Another line option to consider is an In Dial Number range or Direct In dial Range. Direct In dial provides more numbers than lines and means that a caller can call directly to the room with out the intervention of a Receptionist or Operator.
If you need advice there are a number of Phone companies in Australia that specialise in providing advice on Hospitality Phone Lines & Hotel PABX Phone Systems. Telaustralias contact number is 1300 783 528.
www.telaustralia.com.au
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