While preparing for a month long stint out of the office from next week I’m just reflecting on how easy it has becoming to undo the shackles that tie us to our desk. With the communication options available today the excuses for not getting out and about are becoming less justifiable.

Everything I need to take with me from the office now fits into a small computer bag (laptop and wireless stick) and my pocket (iPhone). The endless manila folders, etc are really not necessary to my being able to function. The iPhone alone has meant my compulsion to have the laptop setup has gone, I am in touch with the business, my customers and the world through this marvelous device.

Here’s a great example. A couple of weeks ago I was at a restaurant celebrating my daughter’s 5th birthday on a Friday evening. During a lull in the festivities I had a quick look at my email on my phone. Here I find a distressed email from a customer that had gone to South America without his service being configured for roaming and was trying to get a call out. In the good old days, this would not have been able to be sorted until the next day because the customer had emailed me directly. I was able to enable the customers service for roaming before the candles were blown out and nobody at the party even noticed that I was working.

I guess the downside to the mobile phone is that it is hard to get completely away for a break. I prefer to look at it a different way. The upside for me is that if you are set up correctly, the mobile phone and a well prepared communications suite of products will help you stay away longer!

Some great ideas I like to use include:

• the trusty iPhone/Blackberry
• fax to email
• VPN – links me to the office from laptop or PDA
• MobileMe (Apple Product) which can be used on PC’s
• autoresponders on email automatically communicates that I am out of the office and gives the customer another option. I can also see the email and follow up if necessary.

While not all these products are provided by Telcotalk, we can provide the advice to direct our customers to the right solution for them. Yell out if you need us.

Till next time

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I wonder if the deal didn’t get properly annalysed due to the shock of the friendly Te(not naming companies)tra rep.

Anyway here are the current details as provided by the patient.

Friend spends $450 per month on the following rates:

27c connection

19c per 30 seconds (ie. 38c per minute billed in 30 second blocks)

Average call is 3.15 minutes

Number of calls 300

The offer that is going to save him $371 per month is:

$79 Cap with $450 worth of calls included. My friend is told his future bills will be reduced to $79 per month. Its a no – brainer right? Wrong!

The $79 Cap has different call rates – they all do, irrespective of the provider. And here is the purpose of this post. BE AWARE – ALL CAPS HAVE DEARER CALL CHARGES.

In this instance the cap under the microscope has the following:

37c Connection

35c per 30 seconds (ie 70c per minute billed in 30 second blocks)

I’ll analyze this using the same data as with the above example:

Average call is 3.15 minutes

Number of calls 300

The math

300 calls x $0.37 (connection) = $110

3.15 minutes average duration x $0.70 x 300 calls = $661.50

Total = $771.50

Less $450 included calls = $321.50*.

Now this is below the $450 that my friend is currently paying so that’s good. However my friend is expecting a bill for $79 – and he entered into a 24 month contract to do it. What does he do now? (Actually that’s not a bad idea for a future post)

Let the buyer beware.

*This figure does not round up to the nearest 30 secs of the average call as would happen in the real world as the data was unavailable. The effect of this would be to raise the charge considerably. When the data comes to hand I will update the post.

Till next time

Disclaimer: Telcotalk does provide a range of mobile cap plans. When properly annalysed they can indeed be beneficial to the customer. This post was encouraged by the irresponsible sales practices roping people in to the wrong deal for them. The right deal for you is out there. Sing out if we can help clear the smoke and mirrors away or email mobiles@telcotalk.com.au and we’ll call you.

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