Sprint Gets the Moto Q

Finally Verizon loses its grip on the Motorola Q and the yellow screen to to the left tells you Sprint got the goods!

I've been using Sprint for years and I love one thing about the service - it's pretty cheap (as in low cost for those of you using Verizon.) I use Sprint's BlackBerry 8700 product and love it, and the Moto Q is a welcome addition to the choices Sprint smart phone users now have to choose from.

Unfortunately Sprint is following the same BS other carriers do when it comes to current, loyal and satisfied clients... they jack up the price! If I want this phone I'll pay $449 buck rogers to get it. That's because I'm a Sprint card-carrying advocate. Quite the reward huh.

If you're a customer of one of the other mobile phone carriers what will you pay? $99.99 plus a two year lock on your business. I know this is what all the carriers do but that doesn't make it right - so they must think it's smart business - I don't get it.

Give me great service, competitive pricing plans and the top phones to select from and I'll never leave your service. I'd be a customer for life, and with 5 phones on my plan, I'd think that I'd be worth something too!

Give me a new Moto Q Sprint. I want to try it and I'll renew my plan for another two years, but I don't want to pay $449 for it!

(Don't forget the Q is a killer phone and I've written positive reviews on it in the past.)

TK

VoIP Phone Technology

When I recently opened a new office in Phoenix it was suggested that I try VoIP service for our business lines. I was a bit skeptical because the technology hasn't really caught on and in fact, at the time, I don't think I understood how the technology worked.

VoIP is short for "Voice over Internet Protocol" and simply put, you plug your phone into an Internet connection and it works just like it's a phone line. Now I understand the technology and I like it. I like it a lot.

My company uses service from business VoIP provider Packet 8. (Packet 8 is like Vonage except for business.) Vonage has the bucks behind it to advertise like CRAZY and you see them all over TV and the Internet. Packet 8 doesn't advertise, but it does allow my firm to have a large company phone system at a fraction of the cost. Their product is called "Virtual PBX" and after having used the phones and the features of Packet 8 I'm extremely pleased.

Some of the features I like about the Virtual PBX product are:

1. Unlimited phone calls - once I purchase a phone system (about $100) there is a flat usage fee per month. Call all day and all night for $40 bucks.
2. The phone can be anywhere in the country and it functions like it's in the next office. I can transfer calls and intercom the phone just as if it were 10 feet away.
3. Each unit has a direct line and is part of my system. So I can let me clients bypass an automated attendant and get me direct.
4. When I miss a call and a voice mail message is left for me, the system sends me an email with a sound file so I can listen to the message instantly without calling into the system.
5. Finally, I can add lines as needed and the system just continues to grow. If I want to add employees to the system and they don't need a phone, they simply receive a "Virtual Extension" and are added to our voice mail. Incoming calls can be transferred to the virtual extension and the call will be forwarded to any phone anywhere in the country.

My company is still playing with the Packet 8 product and their are some downsides... your phone system is at the mercy of your Internet service. If Internet goes down - phone goes down. That's happened once in the last 90 days. Not a big deal... yet.

Overall - thumbs up to VoIP.

TK

CET OVERLOAD!

I coined the phrase "CET" (an acronym for Call, Email, Text) referring to the three communication functions routinely performed on smart phones last year when I became "too much" of an expert at using my BlackBerry. CETing has reached overload for some users and I believe the challenge has become so severe, that the smart phone has brought on an onslaught of Adult ADD!

Seriously. If you can't refrain for more than 10 minutes from continually grabbing your Treo and checking your email account (I have two email accounts on my BlackBerry - so I have an excuse), checking for missed calls or seeing who sent you the last text message then you've got serious focus challenges.

In an effort to help resolve this matter I offer this advice - first and foremost, refrain from CETing during important sales activities, such as initial contact, presentation and final closing opportunities. Don't grab that device and even think of looking at it when you should be paying attention to a client.

I also recommend that you refrain from CETing at the dinner table, in church or while ordering your Tall, Decaf Mochachino. There are so many things to do on your smart phone that you might forget that the world continues to spin while your thumbs are moving a mile a minute. If you're in line anywhere, don't CET without occasionally looking up.

Snap out of it! Business and life will happen without you weighing in on every issue and event so chill out. As my mentor Jim Rohn says "where ever you are - be there."

TK

Tech Etiquette Revisted

Last year I added the subject of "Etiquette" to my technology training seminars. I wanted to revisit the topic and update the information. So here's the original post with some important additions.

I am no Emily Post, but someone needs to lay down the law on what is appropriate when it comes to using technology and conducting business at the same time.

With so many "gadgets" flooding the marketplace, and with many of us carrying multiple devices (I count six on my desk and in my bag at this moment), the line between what is acceptable business behavior and poor business behavior has blurred a bit. From a business perspective, I have a few ideas for using technology:

Mobile Phones
The challenges we currently face with technology all started with mobile phones... pagers were not that bad; however when mobile phones saturated the marketplace, not only could you look at an incoming number, but you could instantly interact with the person attempting to contact you.

The advent of instant answering triggered an onslaught of etiquette fop as such as answering your phone during an important business meeting or sales presentation. You'd never do that... that's good, but it happens everyday in business.

Here's my simple advice that hundreds of business professionals have embraced - NEVER bring your phone to an initial contact opportunity, presentation, final closing or any other important meeting. I really mean that you DO NOT HAVE YOUR PHONE ON YOUR PERSON. I didn't imply that you put your phone on vibrate, stun, quiet mode or even turn it off. Do not bring it with you period.

Creating rapport, building a relationship and giving your presentation are the most important things you can be doing. Don't risk diminishing your intent to build a solid relationship (or your specific message by having a phone ring or vibrate.

If you forget to heed this advice and your phone does "go off" never look at a ringing, vibrating mobile phone when presenting or in a meeting - ignore it all together.

If you really want to make points with a client or friend and have forgotten to NOT bring your phone to a meeting, take it out or remove it from your hip and turn it off in front of your client or future client and throw it in your bag, briefcase or purse and tell them "this meeting is important and I am going to turn off my phone so it doesn't bother us. (Nice touch.)

Refrain from engaging in important conversations when driving for the same reason. If you're concentrating on driving then you can't concentrate on the important points of selling. Casual calls are fine (if your state has no laws against using mobile phones while driving), but important calls are not cool. Try this the next time someone calls you or calls you back and you're on the road:

"Jim, this is really important and I can't give you the attention you deserve because I'm not at the office yet. Let me pull over and I'll call you right back and we can cover everything." Again, nice touch. I don't risk ramming the car in front of me, I get to focus on my relationship with the caller, and as a bonus, I just projected an image of responsibility and caring to the other party.

As a side note, don't carry on long-term conversations on your mobile phone in waiting rooms (doctors, dentists etc) or waiting in lines (banks Taco Bell etc), no one cares about your idle conversations. Take the call, do your business and order your Big Mac.

Custom Ring Tones
These things drive me crazy. My boys change the ringer on the phones at our house and every time the phone rings, I think bad thoughts...

Seriously, don't use custom ring tones if your phone is for business. I know most people won't care, but the few that think your phone blaring out Aerosmith's "Walk this Way" when it rings is unprofessional could be a future client. Is it possible that would create an unprofessional image in the mind of someone else?

Blue Tooth Headsets
I have finally found one of these I really like and that I really use! Simple etiquette tip - use them as a convenience and not as a fashion or status statement.

Laptops
I have three computers in my office. A desktop that I do heavy work on and a laptop that I interview and research with and another that I travel with. If I have someone walk in my office while I am typing and there is always a slight delay before I look up and acknowledge them. Depending on who it is and what they want, I may not even look up... and just continue to hammer the keys... not good.

Always close your laptop when talking with someone who is not on their own laptop, i.e. someone walks into your office and interrupts you. It shows respect for the person and their issue. You don't have to close it all the way, by just shutting it enough where you can't see the screen you can now focus on the person and show the other person you are interested in them and the conversation.

Email
I really believe email will put the last nail in the coffin of the business letter this year. Simply stated - what you used to do on letterhead and slap a postage stamp on is now done via email. So writing an email should include the correct use of grammar. Using all lower case, ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, abbreviations and "code" such as LOL - (whatever that means), is no longer acceptable. Don't put anything in writing that you don't want others to see... anything.

Working with Email
A major issue in our company is getting people to respond to email. Since email is almost like a conversation, always respond to insure that both parties know where the "conversation" stands. For example, if I say "I'll meet you tomorrow morning at 8:30am" and you don't reply. How do I know you read the message? Always respond: "Got it" "I'll be there" "okay" etc. Don't over do it, just do it!

Email Privacy
Don't send or forward emails that show other people's email address. This happens all the time and when you do this you're violating everyone's privacy. If you are going to send an email to a group of recipients types the addresses in the Bcc Field and the recipients will see only their address.

Text Messaging and Instant Messaging
No need to use proper grammar when sending text messages or instant messages. Fire away and do it quick! Be smart when using text messaging in a business setting. Don't digress 20 years and think your passing notes in chemistry class, remember, don't say anything in a text message that you don't want someone else to see. Like email, text messages can be forwarded to other people, printed or saved for a later date.

You don't want to be forced to decline your party's presidential nomination because you asked Sally in the next cubicle something stupid while sending a text message. STAY FOCUSED ON BUSINESS.

Here's a toast to a new you and I hope some of these ideas help you manage the onslaught of technology while you do business and just try to live. Now if your phone is attached to your head and you have to make a call every time you get in your car, go see a professional, words alone will not cure you.

TK