I came across the below article from the “Phone Company” I am affiliated with. We are talking about helping businesses with their telephony services and offering services that not only saves them money, but helps them increase productivity. Being “Burstable” which is as follows:
Burstable Internet provides the ability to “burst” above and beyond the minimum bandwidth commitment, up to full port speed, during unanticipated, heavy-traffic periods. Burstable Internet is available at speeds of 10Mb or higher through Fast Ethernet, ….
Internet speeds and what the consumer receives is very important. Verizon recently was sued by Cablevision for making claims that they are not living up to their claims that their speeds are actually doing. ”A report issued today by the Federal Communications Commission shows broadband speeds in the U.S. are now significantly closer to what Internet service providers advertise than they were in 2009. The report found that actual download speeds provided by the majority of U.S. broadband providers were within 80 percent or better of companies’ advertised speeds. In 2009, download speeds were more often around 50 percent of the advertised rate.” - http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/08/02/agency.sees.big.improvement.since.2009.survey/
GLOBALINX Partners with IP NetZone to Provide Customer with Converged Networking Solution
The possibilities are for new innovations in communications are endless in this industry and to be a part of it everyday excites us. Currently, our most exciting project is helping an existing customer of GLOBALINX with three call centers in different locations across the US create a virtual private network that will connect all three call centers with the help of our MPLS based VPN Network provider, IP NetZone.
This customer was able to replace their expensive, outdated Private Lines at each location by creating a meshed MPLS based IP VPN network that will connect all three call center locations over encrypted secure VPN tunneling. This allowed the call center to operate from one centralized location, via a single connection from each site to IP NetZone’s private network cloud , instead of running three different networks. This allowed the customer to streamline their processes, improve their service quality and save monthly transmission costs for their GLOBALINX VoIP services
Watch for more news on this MPLS Networks and their advantages in QoS based virtual network support.
Funny thing happened to me while I was trying to purchase from a store the other day. I picked up the items I wanted and it totaled $9.80 (Nine Dollars and Eighty Cents). The clerk then told me that there was a $10.00 (Ten Dollar) minimum and to pick up some candy or something else to so I would be in compliance with their minimum order they have set up.
I would think, even if it was a correct practice, that my amount would fall in line with the “guidelines” established by the owner. I guess being $0.20 (Twenty Cents) short was a problem. I can understand that the high costs of running a credit/debit terminal can cut into a businesses bottom line, but should the consumer have to incur an expense in order to do business with a merchant that they themselves are not willing to incur?
Consumers: Why Pay the Bank and ATM fees?
I have gone to stores in my neighborhood and when I present my “Debit” card they immediately send me to an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) to extract the needed cash to do business with them. Why is this practice condoned? Why aren’t more people speaking up when it comes to having to pay the bank and ATM fees when getting money? In the news recently, Bank of America had to rethink a move that would and has caused an outpouring of angry cries from the public. Facebook has been used as a forum that “Remarkably, all of those people came together in just over a week under the umbrella of a single Facebook event page, the aptly-named “Bank Transfer Day,” created by Kristen Christian, a 27-year-old Los Angeles-based independent art gallery owner” spawned a movement that can and should be deployed locally as well.
…, the nation’s second-largest, said it was abandoning its plan to charge customers a $5 fee to use their debit cards for purchases. Only a month earlier, the bank had announced the new charge, immediately setting off a huge uproar from consumers.
Despite an outpouring of complaints online and at branch offices, the bank had remained steadfast in its plans until last Friday, according to a person briefed on the situation, planning to ease just some of the conditions for avoiding the fee. But over the weekend, after two major competitors — Wells Fargo and the nation’s largest bank, JPMorgan Chase — said they were backing away from their plans to levy similar charges, two high-ranking Bank of America officers recommended to Brian Moynihan, the bank’s chief executive, that the bank simply drop the fee.
It’s my contention that since the store owners are not willing to incur expenses that are part of their “Costs for Doing Business”, then the people should do very little or no business with them. Do you think that position is a little bit harsh? I am sure that some will and some won’t.
Store Owners Don’t Want the Expense
Consumers, normally, don’t have a ledger that enables them to expense items like bank fees or the expenses that a business can in the course of doing business. If more businesses will show good will by “helping” their patrons from being burdened by the high fees they could be charged when they visit an ATM, I am sure it would do more in building the much needed relationship between them. In June of this year (2011), the Federal Reserve released their final regulations and implemented the Durbin Provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and on July 21, 2011 it was signed into law by President Obama.
Durbin Provision and the Merchant
The provision now has the effect of making the interchange fees “reasonable and proportional” to the cost of each debit transaction. Interchange Fees are
…. fees paid by merchant-acquiring banks to cardholder-issuing banks and are in place to cover the cost to convert a charge on a cardholder’s card to a cash deposit at the merchant business checking account, including cost factors like billing services, credit and fraud risk, profit, etc.
What Can the Merchant Do?
It’s in the education of the merchant and his clerks to what they need to ask the card holder. Simply ask: ”Will this be debit?” or “Debit or Credit”. Making an emphasis on the debit aspect of the transaction can and will help them lower their fees considerably now that there is protection in place, thanks to the passage of the Bill H.R. 4173. Just assuming a card is credit because it has a Visa/MC log on it should not be a part of a businesses daily practice. These costs can now be incurred by the merchant, simply because they have now become “reasonable and proportional” to the charge, and not the consumer via ATM fees
For more information on any of our services and products contact me at your earliest convenience (973) 689-9390
Newark schools are finally using the multi-million dollar gift from facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, with officials handing out the first funds to teachers. Students, parents and teachers make great schools not fancy buildings administrators and excessive debt. Newark schools are making significant strides toward reaching statewide goals but are continuing to fall under program improvement status – a label that marks schools and districts as educational institutions failing to meet their goals when it comes to standardized tests. But the district is not throwing in the towel.
Newark schools are obviously not the greatest, but why do some students graduate and attend top performing universities and many others fail. Unfortunately, with urban towns the schools teachers play more of a parental role than the mothers and fathers. Looks like the kids that don’t care are failing themselves, not the schools failing them.
On the first day of school, Newark’s:
“Mayor Cory Booker, known for his magnanimous nature and Twitter-friendly style of leadership, sounds as delighted as anyone of the more than 40,000 kids who started their first day of school today. “I’m extraordinarily excited,” Mayor Booker said. “This the most fluid first day I can remember.”"
Mark Zuckerberg, the 26-year-old founder and chief executive of Facebook has made a donation of $100 million to the Newark public schools. The $100 million is to be used to improve education in America, with the primary goal of helping Newark.
The donation has the potential to be matched by another $100 million that Newark’s mayor, Cory Booker, has been working on by raising funds from various private foundations and others. The Mayor is trying to “Make a Difference” and it’s through the help of local and state business that the problem can and will be addressed. Many people felt that the Mayor was about to “take” over the schools within his city and after listening to the Board of Education’s Advisory Committee, many can rest assured that that wouldn’t happen.
Imagine if the very people the Mayor are seeking to ask for help have their own agenda that the Mayor is to follow and money wasn’t a barrier, at all. Imagine more affluent patrons dictating to the Mayor how they want their “Donation” spent and the Mayor’s compliance is mandatory upon receipt. Imagine the Governor, who has caused the funding source for the State’s School system to all but dry up, requesting the Mayor in a direction inconsistent with “BOE” policy. Now I have come to understand that the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) is in place to keep such a thing from happening.
Our children really need not to become mere pawns in the political machines our Governors and Mayors can contrive and conjure up. After the schools were taken over by the State, the job of “OverSeer” w/o an effective plan was hatched. While under the control of those who supposedly “knew” all are kids are now worse off, with 20% of the “failing” schools resting solely in Newark, alone. The below question:
Asked by Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) if any interpretation of the QSAC law permits a mayor to play an official role in school governance, Hendricks said, “No.” When asked if language in the QSAC law authorizes any mayoral participation in schools under state control, Hendricks again responded, “No.”
Newark spends about $22,000 a year on each of its 40,000 pupils, but only about half of its students graduate. Of those who do, only one-fifth go on to four-year colleges. More than 85 percent of the Newark students at community colleges need remedial help in math and English.
The $200 million that could be raised would amount to over 20 percent of Newark’s budget of $940 million.
The donation comes at a time when foundations and wealthy investors are increasingly funneling large amounts of money to public education — but with strings attached. In Washington, D.C., this year foundations pledged millions of dollars to fund an increase in teacher pay that is tied to an individual teacher’s ability to show that they can help students improve their performance.
In the case of Zuckerberg’s donation, there are no particular plans as of yet. Booker is supposed to draw up those plans and get community support for them, according to a person familiar with the situation. -
WSJ Last Updated: 10:22 AM, September 23, 2010 Posted: 10:17 PM, September 22, 2010
It would seem that this is the FaceBook Mogel’s largest gift to date. Although it comes as the company he founded battles to counteract a Hollywood film’s scathing depiction of the founder, Mark Zuckerberg. “The Social Network,” which opened on Oct. 1, portrays Zuckerberg as a conniving backstabber who may have stolen the idea for his social networking site.
I don’t think any portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg is going to diminish the impact that FaceBook has and will continue to have on the many users of his platform. What is needed is for the children to learn from what Mr. Zuckerberg has done and begin emulating it on some scale. We are enriching many website and application creators like the FaceBooks, MSN and Yahoo’s IM Client as well as the many iPhone Apps for the Apple Macintosh environment and never really experiencing first hand direct intervention on a magnitude as Mark’s contribution.
We have been placed with a huge opportunity to not only contribute, but to take back our communities. Let’s begin the process by seeking out those like-minded people and also by reciprocating with our patronage, showing appreciation for those who are willing to give back. Many local businesses understand that without a strong working class this country ceases to exist. Educating our young people to eventually become the workers and thinkers of a society that can once again catapult this country to the top is extremely important. We do have those wanting to “Make a Difference” and if connecting them to each other is what we can do then that is what we should do.
For more information on any of our services and products contact me at your earliest convenience (973) 689-9390
In taking another look at how I go about bringing people into my sphere of influence, I have to admit that I have been going about it all wrong. Approaching people first with my opportunity, and as a result I just have people feel as if they need to avoid me at all costs, is not the way I want to help people. Even if I am totally in love with my product or service, it does not mean that others will have the same enthusiasm. So, what am I supposed to do? It’s time to become the hunted as opposed to being the “hunter”. It all boils down to systems and having one in place that helps endears me to the people I come in contact with and developing a new warm market from the cold market.
Most of the time I am in pursuit of how to do a task, how to make something happen. Rarely do I get to go after understanding from a “How Not To” approach. One of the main things that hit home is the information I have been pointed to in this free webinar. The information is so profound that I had to stop and make sure I put this information in my mental “Rolodex”.
As I continued to read I was astounded as to how much information is out there and that there are so many places to get valuable information from.
We all are going to make mistakes; it’s a form of learning. Will I be able to not have that mistake keep me stuck in a mode of going nowhere fast and in a hurry.
Selling online advertising with YourHomeTown and LocalAdlink has given me insight into the industry, valuable information on what is working. However, there is so much more to learn.
Questions like:
How the big boys do it? and
Can those principles be applied on a smaller level (like mine) to get major results?
One thing I can say for it all is that “Nothing ventured” is truly nothing gained. I have to always be in a posture of “taking another look” at what it is I am doing. Sometimes I have to look at it from different perspectives and looking at it from a “How Not To” approach can’t hurt.
For more information on any of our services and products contact me at your earliest convenience.
GLOBALINX®”s GSP-10 (Softphone) is turning my computer into a “Home or Business” phone system. My laptop is now a “Point to Point” communications device and not merely a “Peer to Peer” one.
Once I understood that when people actually dial my “computers” phone number to connect with me, the issues of security and the chances of contracting malicious viruses have been greatly minimized, if not eliminated. Because of this security function, inherent in the system, I am very pleased at what this device is able to do. If someone calls me while I am working from my computer, I just click a button and begin talking. If the caller is a GLOBALINX® video customer I can now see and interact with them in real-time. Connecting people face to face is just what we do at GLOBALINX® .
Plus I get all of the below features as well:
3-Way Calling, Anonymous Call Rejection, Call Return, Call Trace, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Caller ID Block, Do Not Disturb, Call Forwarding, Internet billing, Keeping an Existing Number, “Record the Call” and so much more.
We have a comparison chart for the GSP 10 and a similar product on the market, and upon first reading I saw that both are very similar with some minor differences here and there. The first page of the chart was showing me the comparison on “Technology and Form Factor, Plan and Equipment Cost, as well as the Call Connection and Video Features” between the two. Not much difference until I proceeded to page 2 where I really saw how the GSP 10′s Calling Features are far more superior. The GSP-10 is really a phone system that is now on the computer and I look forward to the other advancements GLOBALINX® has in store for us.
Transition to VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol
More and more people and businesses will be transitioning over to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) in the upcoming years and with this tremendous increase in users, an opportunity to capitalize on this growth exists. GLOBALINX® is seeing the future and understands that the future is NOW! The GLOBALINX® GSP 10 software application is truly revolutionizing the way we are communicating.
I found this Susan J. Campbell’s article “Business VoIP Providers – Who Do You Trust?” on More Business VoIP Channel Stories on the TMCnet website very enlightening and I have included her TMCnet contribution here on my blog for your review.
Businesses of all sizes are exploring the potential benefits offered in a business VoIP platform, but it can be a challenge to select the right vendor to cater to the needs of the specific organization. The key is to look for a next-generation communications platform with a low cost that offers superior support, ease of use and cost efficiency. One company to consider is Nextiva.
As a business VoIP provider, Nextiva offers a professional approach for the small business. The way your incoming calls are handled communicates a lot about your brand and your approach to your customers. Perhaps you want your business VoIP to offer an automated attendant with voice prompts or a professional voicemail system. If you want to achieve a professional approach in your call handling, Nextiva offers flexible call forwarding, automated attendant, voicemail, find me/follow me and more.
One of the promised benefits of a business VoIP solution is a reduced cost….
Reliability is a primary focus for any business, regardless of size. The benefits offered in a business VoIP solution will mean nothing if the solution is not reliable. …..
Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.
Although the main point in Susan’s article is about how the “traditional” business with a PBX (Short for private branch exchange) phone system in place can benefit from the use of this advanced technology. In fact many smaller companies and Network Marketers can benefit immensely from a product that can help streamline their customer/prospect contact.
For more information on any of our services and products contact me at your earliest convenience.
Hello. My name is Charles Seay, a musician and an entrepreneur ever since I began playing with bands outside of my school’s music curriculum. How I got involved is a story for another day.
As I look back over time I realize that it’s been a while since I have played any of my instruments. I do, however, keep in touch with my “Art” through Listening. But music, just like sports, requires participation in order to stay finely tuned. Playing music wasn’t something that came as natural as many of the sports I played. Nowadays, “sports” has been cut short through inactivity and me just getting older. In my mind I feel I am able to play both sports as well as my music, sadly, neither of them will be played with the intensity I once had. I still get the urge to pick up my horn from time to time and sometimes I will even have those same kind of thoughts about basketball or bowling. Hmm, maybe one day. But just as any finely tuned athlete will attest, once you get out of shape, it’s harder to get back that position once held.
It was stated to me long ago, that “Music” was and still is a part of me. Although I may have put it on hold for the time being and although I am not participating in it, I am not completely ignoring my music. The urge or desire to play it still very strong. I am not sure if it’s “Solace” I was feeling when I first heard it explained to me that “Listening” is an Art Form in and of itself.
How many of us listen yet don’t hear. Speak but don’t say nothing. I know I am guilty of those very acts when I am not centered spiritually. Getting caught up in the moment can cause overwhelming desires to be heard. To be able to quiet the mind long enough to hear what the next person is saying takes practice.
Let’s take a listen to Mr. Chick Corea’s – “Friends”
I pay homage to this great “story-teller” who uses sound to convey the pictures and our minds as the very canvasses upon which his broad stokes embed the thoughts of a time we all hope will “Return to Forever”. The name of a tune by Chick, you may have heard is called “La Fiesta” and I have a 6 Horn Arrangement of mine for your listening pleasure – Enjoy! “La Fiesta”
At this date and time I have never heard the tune played by the original author and really haven’t heard any arrangements on it as of yet. If anyone has some information on it, please let me know. I am very curious. It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that I haven’t made an effort to get to know what the song sounds like. With the caliber of musicianship Chick Corea possesses I feel that what I have come up with may just fall a bit short of what he may have done with his own arrangement. Even thought I have made the song my own and feel very good about what is there, I would much rather see what the original sounded like after I have made my attempt to interpret its meaning.
Much like how I have dealt with the other Social Websites I became a part of. I am doing something a little different with this site. I am trying to participate.
Let me know what you think of things.
Seayson Enterprise is an independent Marketing Representative.
For more information on any of our services and products contact me at your earliest convenience (201) 293-6631
It’s All About You …“
GLOBALINX®”s GSP-10 (Softphone) is turning my computer into a “Home or Business” phone system. My laptop is now a “Point to Point” communications device and not merely a “Peer to Peer” one.
