December 2013 Volume 6 Issue 3 Dedicated to Smiles Dr. Isabel Driggers, Owner and Founder of Coastal Kids Dental & Braces Avoiding Wireless Woes 3 // Apps Can Make a Big Difference 4 Who s Minding Your Business? 5 // Spotlight on Coastal Kids Dental & Braces 6 The Dreaded Post-Vacation Inbox 6 // Manage Calls and Messages More Easily 7
dec 13 Wanda Mingo Business Services Sales 843-761-9836 Wanda.Mingo@HomeTelco.com Robert Reimers Business Services Sales 843-761-9564 Robert.Reimers@HomeTelco.com Judy Cronin Director of Sales and Business Development 843-761-9880 Judy.Cronin@HomeTelco.com Business Connections is a publication of Home Telecom. 579 Stoney Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise without the prior written permission of Home Telecom. All rights are reserved. Editorial and Circulation - Contact: Gina Austin, 579 Stoney Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, 843-761-9178. Trademarks - All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Additional Issues - Extra issues are available to business customer employees on a limited basis while supplies last. Contact: Gina Austin, 579 Stoney Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461, 843-761-9178. Copyright 2013 by Home Telecom and Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. POSTMASTER Send changes to: Gina Austin - Business Connections Home Telecom 579 Stoney Landing Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Wish you could get more done in less time? This quest for greater productivity is something shared by businesses of all sizes and types. Thankfully, today s technology offers many ways to enable us to make the most of every minute. In this December issue of Business Connections, we offer a variety of efficiencyboosting ideas for your business to consider. You ll find practical advice on establishing a wireless network on page 3, including a look at our new MyWiFi PRO service. We also share tips on page 6 for avoiding inbox overload following time away from the office, and show you how three phone features can help manage your calls and messages on page 7. Coastal Kids Dental & Braces is the topic of our Business Spotlight on page 5. This Charleston-area practice came to Home Telecom seeking faster Internet speeds and we responded with a 55 Mbps symmetrical Internet connection. This allows Coastal Kids to quickly send X-rays to and from their centralized servers to keep the dental process moving efficiently for their patients. It s a great example of how the Home Telecom fiber network is helping businesses in our area be more efficient. If your business is being slowed down by yesterday s technology, come to Home Telecom. We have the communications solutions you need to be productive, efficient, and successful. Sincerely, William S. Helmly President & COO Home Telecom 2 DECEMBER 2013
// BUSINESS CONNECTIONS // Avoiding Wireless Woes Tips for maintaining security when installing a WiFi network Connected Business is Better Business Designing, building, managing, and setting up a reliable WiFi network can be costly and time-consuming. That s why Connected Business Solutions, powered by Home Telecom, now offers two new WiFi solutions Enterprise WiFi for our large, enterprise customers and MyWiFi PRO for our small and medium-sized business customers. Wireless networks definitely add convenience to your workplace. Employees can work from anywhere in the office using a laptop and visitors can access the Internet as well. As WiFi technology develops, wireless networks are becoming easier to set up yet security issues remain. An unsecured wireless network allows people outside your building to leech off the services you ve paid for and get free access to the Internet. These individuals could also use your connection for illegal activity such as identity theft. When this happens, your business runs the risk of being prosecuted. If your business space is small and your WiFi requirements are simple, you may be able to set up a wireless network yourself. Just be sure to review the security guidelines below: 1. Change the default password. Once you set up your network, be sure to create a stronger password such as one that combines both letters and numbers. 2. Enable security on your router. Most wireless routers come with this option but many are not pre-programmed by default. 3. Place your wireless base unit in the center of your workspace, if possible. Doing so will spread your coverage evenly throughout your space while limiting the range of potential signal leakage outside your building. 4. Disable SSID broadcasting and lower your transmission power. By disabling this feature, you ll make your network invisible to neighboring businesses and people driving by. If your router allows you to lower your transmission power, do so to reduce your network s radius of availability. 5. Think of WEP encryption as only a partial solution. While WEP is better than nothing, be aware that it s still not entirely secure. 6. Choose WPA2 encryption for more security. This type of encryption, called WiFi Protected Access 2, adds greater security because you assign a personal password that s harder for hackers to crack. Rather not be a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to a WiFi? Let Home Telecom handle everything with My WiFi PRO. Enterprise WiFi is a managed, wireless solution with indoor and outdoor capabilities. It can include: A customized wireless design with room to grow Quality of service and bandwidth management Redundancy Dedicated client services and customer care call center for prompt response MyWiFi PRO is a network solution designed for smaller businesses. It provides secure wireless connectivity for internal resources and a separate guest network for visitors to the business. MyWiFi PRO provides: Remote Network Audit, which includes installation of virus protection on up to eight computers One-time connection of up to 10 wirelessenabled devices Printer and file sharing Set-up of network security Ongoing phone support for the wireless network and the wireless connection of devices Troubleshooting/replacement of the modem with wireless router if the network stops functioning as a result of equipment failure Call us today at 888-571-5775 for more information about Enterprise WiFi or MyWiFi PRO and to schedule a private consultation. DECEMBER 2013 3
Apps Can Make a Big Difference For Your Small Business How smartphones can help small businesses save time and cut costs Who s Minding Your Business? Business Systems Technicians Jamie Garrett, Mike Floyd, and Gerald Duke (Pictured L to R above) Home Telecom is fortunate to have this talented team of Business Systems Technicians on board for installation and maintenance. Gerald Duke has been with Home Telecom for 12 years. He installs and maintains ESI phone systems. Mike Floyd has worked at Home Telecom for 32 years. Floyd performs installation and repairs for Berkeley County Government, small businesses, and some key customers. Jamie Garrett has been with Home Telecom for 21 years. Garrett s main responsibilities are installing and maintaining voice and data networks, and security systems, for local businesses. Says Garrett, Most of the time, we work independently. But if the job warrants, we may team up to help it go more smoothly. What s their work philosophy? Garrett answers, We want our business customers to become community friends. We do that by treating them with courtesy and respect, doing a good job, and keeping their best interests as well as Home Telecom s best interests at heart. It s also important to identify the needs of each customer and match them to the right services. If you use smartphone apps in your personal life, you no doubt appreciate the many ways they can make things easier. Money apps can help you save with coupons, personal finance management, and gas price comparisons. Time-saving apps can help you get things done more efficiently with driving directions, todo lists, and access to your favorite news sites. Many apps can help businesses in the same way. A recent study by the Small Business and Entrepreneur Council revealed that small businesses using mobile apps are saving hundreds of millions of employee hours and thousands of dollars per year. Here are some apps to get you started realizing these benefits: Dropbox (dropbox.com) This is one of the best and easiest-to-use file hosting services on the market. It s cloudbased storage lets you bring your photos, documents, and videos everywhere plus share them with anyone. Expensify (expensify.com) Nobody enjoys creating expense reports, but this app makes it a little less taxing. Expensify will let you quickly capture a receipt with just a photo, categorize your different receipts and expenses however you choose, and sync those expenses and receipts with your tax and accounting software. Evernote (evernote.com) Evernote enables users to organize matypes of information, such as text, photos, and audio snippets. With this functionality, it helps employees keep track of ideas on the go. Google Drive (drive.google.com) Google Drive is a cloud solution that allows users to create and store documents, then access them from any Internet-enabled device. Professionals can develop and share text, spreadsheet, image, audio, and presentation files. Bump (bu.mp) For entrepreneurs who are tired of carrying around and paying for traditional business cards, Bump offers a virtual alternative. Users can trade contact information by simply bumping their smartphones together. Square (squareup.com) Small businesses can now accept credit cards without setting up a traditional account. For a small fee per transaction, Square allows users to process payments with a card reader that attaches to their smartphone or tablet. Get the latest smartphones from Home Telecom to keep you ahead of the game! Call 888-746-4482 to reserve your favorite touchscreen phone now. 4 DECEMBER 2013
Coastal Kids Dental & Braces Home Telecom s super fast Internet is one reason people are smiling Coastal Kids Dental & Braces treats the pediatric dental and orthodontic needs of children from infancy to young adulthood and individuals of all ages with special needs. The practice has three Charleston-area offices in Hanahan, N. Charleston, and Moncks Corner to make dental visits more convenient for busy families. Each office has themed rooms with vibrant murals, designed to help make children feel more comfortable during dental exams and procedures. The goal is to provide the care required for each patient to have a healthy adult smile. 55 Mbps Symmetrical Internet Dr. Isabel Driggers, Owner and Founder of Coastal Kids Dental & Braces, says, Providing the highest quality pediatric dental and orthodontic care in a patient-focused environment is top priority at Coastal Kids. One part of that equation is reducing the amount of time a patient has to wait on an X-ray. Home Telecom helps us achieve this with an affordably priced 55 Mbps symmetrical Internet connection. Since we re constantly sending X-rays to and from our centralized servers, both upload and download speeds are critical in providing excellent patient care. Connected Business Solutions powered by Home Telecom was able to provide Coastal Dental and Braces with this 55 Mbps symmetrical Internet connection with a direct fiber link to their Moncks Corner office. Fast, symmetrical Internet is essential for business applications such as the file sharing between offices done by Coastal Kids Dental & Braces. Keeping the Dental Experience Moving Notes Dr. Isabel, When we send X-rays between our three offices, the files need to be sent as quickly as received. This is especially true when caring for younger patients who would rather not have to sit still through a second X-ray if the first one was not clear. We want to be efficient and keep the dental experience moving, both for the sake of our patients and their parents. Since we re constantly sending X-rays to and from our centralized servers, both upload and download speeds are critical in providing excellent patient care. DR. ISABEL DRIGGERS, OWNER AND FOUNDER, COASTAL KIDS DENTAL & BRACES The Internet connection, made possible by Home Telecom s future-proof fiber network, helps all aspects of the Coastal Kids Dental & Braces practice in Moncks Corner. Explains Dr. Isabel, We are a 100 percent paperless practice. This means all our patient charts, X-rays, schedules, and forms are maintained on our dental management system housed on off-site servers. We use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to access our servers from Moncks Corner so our Internet speed is of the upmost importance. She adds, Home Telecom has been great to deal with from the very beginning. When we mentioned our need for faster upload speeds, their team responded promptly to discuss the various options. We ve always been very happy with the service we get from Home Telecom. It s good to know Home Telecom is helping to foster smiles. DECEMBER 2013 5
Dealing With the Dreaded Post-Vacation Inbox You don t have to feel like the Grinch when you return from a holiday trip The relaxed state you bring home from vacation can quickly disappear the minute you face an overflowing inbox. Next time, try these strategies before, during, and after vacation to reduce your email stress. Be Proactive Before You Leave About a week before your vacation, let your most important business contacts know about your upcoming absence clients and team members with whom you interact on a daily or weekly basis. Include the dates you ll be away as well as your availability by email or phone. If you will be out of reach and someone else will be handling projects for you, let these contacts know and pass along that colleague s contact information. This proactive step will not only help reduce the number of emails waiting for you upon your return, it will also reassure clients their business is valued and is being taken care of in your absence. In addition, tell your contacts that if they have a pressing need, they better bring it to you now. Another option is to have all your business email automatically forwarded to a colleague who will be handling your work while you re away. This saves your clients the extra step of having to send a separate email to that person. Set Boundaries While You re Away In order to carve out time to actually enjoy your vacation, you need a way to manage incoming emails while you re away. There are a couple of options here. You can set up an Out of Office message that includes: The date you will return to work What people can expect regarding a reply from you if you ll be checking emails and replying occasionally, for example, or only replying when you return. The name and contact information for the colleague who will be covering your essential job responsibilities Words like personal vacation or out of town with family to reinforce you re on a true vacation and not a business trip Be Discerning When You Get Back If your schedule permits, create a buffer day by telling business contacts you ll be back in the office one or two days after you re actually back. This will give you some relatively quiet time to get caught up on emails and other tasks. When you finally do go through those hundreds of emails in your inbox, it will go faster if you sort by sender instead of by date; this will help you find and tackle important client emails first. If you subscribe to daily mailing lists such as deal-of-theday or news sites, quickly batch and delete these old emails that are no longer relevant. With a little forethought, you can successfully tame the technology beast and truly enjoy your time off. 6 DECEMBER 2013
// BUSINESS CONNECTIONS // Manage Calls and Messages More Easily Take advantage of these efficiency-boosting tools from Home Telecom Heather McGrath, Voice Product Coordinator for Home Telecom, wants to help businesses understand what a big difference these three little phone features can make. Says McGrath, SimRing and Find-Me- Follow-Me launched fairly recently and MessagingUnified has only been around for a couple of years. They re all awesome tools. Once you use them, you ll wonder how you ever got along without them. SimRing SimRing redirects calls you receive to multiple telephone numbers simultaneously. Any of the destinations can pick up the call, at which point all the others stop ringing. Say McGrath, SimRing is perfect for a salesperson who is constantly on the go but needs to be accessible to their customers. The salesperson only needs to give out their office number, yet they can be reached at any time, since their mobile phone will also ring and be able to accept calls directed at their office number. SimRing also has measures that can control time-of-day routing. For example, if a call is received during business hours, both the office and mobile phones ring, but if the call is received after business hours, the subscriber will not be disturbed at home as only their office line will ring. Find-Me-Follow-Me Find-Me-Follow-Me redirects calls you receive to one or more alternate telephone numbers. You may configure multiple destinations to ring in turn, simultaneously, or a combination of the two. Find-Me-Follow-Me is an excellent executive feature. It can be set up so that incoming calls follow a series of instructions directing where the call will ring. A CEO might prefer for their calls to first go to the Administrative Assistant. If not answered within a certain number of rings, the call can then move to the CEO s office phone. If not answered at that location within a certain number of rings, it can then move to the CEO s mobile phone. Find-Me- Follow-Me can also be set up so multiple phones ring at the same time. For example, if the Administrative Assistant was not able to answer, it could ring the CEO s office and mobile phones at the same time, explains McGrath. MessagingUnified With MessagingUnified, you can more efficiently manage your messages and have more options in how to do so. Messages can be retrieved the traditional way through a voice portal, through your email, or through the web portal, CommPortal. Notes McGrath, By receiving voice mails as emails, you can easily share and forward messages as well as perform searches for messages from specific phone numbers. You don t have to worry about messages being deleted and can keep them for as long as you choose. SimRing and Find-Me-Follow-Me are available to your business as a single feature named Call Manager for only $10 per month. If you have voice mail with Home Telecom, you get the full capabilities of MessagingUnified at no additional charge. For details, visit www.business.homesc.com. DECEMBER 2013 7