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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A Quick Note About Telcotalk

I began building Telcotalk 3 years ago after a disappointing experience with with my provider. I don’t think it would be proper to name this publicly listed behemoth that was responsible for letting me down but at the end of the 6 month process I endured I actually found a manager that could help me. She was very good and my problem was resolved in short order. It got me thinking ‘wow, why did it take 6 months and countless phone calls and transfers to find somebody that was ACCOUNTABLE and could even MAKE DECISIONS’. These large telco’s are so top heavy that no one can make a decision, no one is held accountable for what actions they take and therefore no one is concerned with any follow up once the call is over.

Telcotalk is built on this concept. We ensure that you can speak to the same person more than once. You can have a relationship with a person at your phone company! Our staff are accountable to our customers because they can’t hide like in the larger telco’s. This makes a big difference because we make sure we ‘get it right’. If you prefer, you can email your requests direct to your account manager, rather than call through.

Feel free to check out our website and offers including fixed line, mobile and broadband.  If you are a business we can tailor a plan to suit your usage. The Telco industry is one of many ’smoke and mirror’ offers. You need to ask yourself ‘how important is your telephone to your business?’ ‘Are you getting the most out of it?’ ‘Can you get access to information about your phones easily?” Are you using your phones to make your business run smoothly and efficiently?’ ‘Is there a better way?’  We can annalyse all this with you and take the noise out so you can concentrate on what it is you do best. You can send off an online enquiry or just give us a call on 1300 720 591 and have a chat.

Till next time

Damien Johnson

Managing Director

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