Archive for the ‘Web Conferencing’ Category

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CenturyLink Inc./Qwest Merger: It’s Official

Roughly two weeks after the controversial $39 billion AT&T/T-Mobile merger, CenturyLink Inc. is announcing their acquisition of Qwest. The tax free, stock-for-stock transaction was valued by the Dow Jones valued at $22 billion, and unifies the current 3 seed and 4 seed companies, making CenturyLink Inc. the nation’s third largest telecommunications provider with over 5 million broadband connections, 15 million access points, and customers in 37 states.

The deal did not come without a price, however. After months of waiting for regulatory approvals, many states required both companies to make investments in broadband infrastructure before giving the okay. The FCC stated both companies were heedful of fostering competition and shielding customers and recently approved the acquisition with enforceable conditions, one of them being the introduction of a low-income consumer broadband program that concentrates on connecting millions of customers in the combined company’s territory – to which the companies agreed. In addition, the merger terms state that Qwest stockholders will receive 0.1664 shares of CenturyLink stock for each share of Qwest stock they possess at closing.

According to CenturyLink’s President and CEO, Glen F. Post, III, the acquisition of the two companies will “bring greater broadband availability to customers and serves the public interest by allowing us to offer a wider variety of services than either company could offer alone.”

Collectively, Qwest and CenturyLink Inc. produced a combined revenue of $18.6 billion on a pro forma basis in 2010. Debt ratings agency Moody’s Investor’s Services, noted that the merger “brings a strong enterprise business service offering to CenturyLink,” and added that the revenues will grow to almost 40% of total revenues, in contrast to under 25% prior to the merger.

Monroe, Louisiana based CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company that is recognized by key technology industry analyst firms as a leader in the network services market. As a provider of wireless, voice and broadband services as well as voice, data and managed services via their multiple data centers and high-quality advanced fiber optic network, CenturyLink serves businesses of all sizes – from home offices in remote areas to Fortune 500 companies.

Before the merger, Denver, Colorado based Qwest was a leader in Internet-based image, data, and voice communications. With more than 30 million customers around the world, Qwest reportedly carried 600 emails and 240 million phone calls daily in its 14 state local phone service area alone. Qwest’s broadband network boasted over 1,800 access points of presence, including TeraPOPs, and spanned an notable 173,000+ global miles.

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The Top 5 Questions to Ask When Selecting a Conferencing Provider

Despite these tough economic times web conferencing continues to maintain a strong position in the market. Virtual conferences increase productivity, enhance efficiency, and dramatically cut costs, so it’s easy to see why web conferencing services have experienced a 25 percent growth over the past year.

As a result of this growing demand, a sea of web conferencing providers has entered the market looking to woo customers to their side. With so many different providers saturating the market, how can you find the best one for you and your business? Here are a few questions to ask in order to find out:

Who is this provider’s target customer?
Just like conferencing solutions, conferencing providers come in all shapes and sizes. Knowing which provider targets businesses that are similar to yours in size and needs will help you find the ideal solution for the best available price – and the experience to match.

Does this provider offer more than just technology?
Even the best technology can only take you so far. Look for a conferencing provider that can give you more than just that. Knowing how to meet remotely, avoid embarrassing moments during your conferences,  set agendas, as well as countless other ways to make your meetings as effective and productive as possible means you’re more likely to get your money’s worth out of your solution.

How reliable is this provider’s solution?
It is important to remember that the technology you use when conducting business reflects on you and your company. A lack of compatibility (such as browser limitations or required plug-ins, etc.), poor sound quality, and bulky interfaces can kill a meeting. Check with the provider to see if they offer free trials of their services to test for yourself, or ask for reviews from customers currently employing their services.

When can the provider be reached?
Even the most experienced conferencing presenters can encounter issues during a meeting. Solving any issue as quickly as possible, no matter the size, is essential to holding your meeting together. Look for a provider that offers help 24/7 and/or in multiple forms. For example, leading conferencing provider PGi offers assistance via phone, live chat, and email.

What choices does this provider offer?
While most meeting technology is similar, a few add-ons or features have the ability to make a huge difference. When searching for a provider, consider one that offers multiple brands and can make a recommendation base on your unique requirements.

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What’s Your Excuse?

Now that the holidays are winding down, it’s time to get back into the daily grind of work or school (or both). Occasionally, you might find yourself wanting to avoid it at all costs – rest assured you are not alone! According to a survey conducted by CareerBuilder to discover some of the best excuses given for missing work, 29% of today’s workers have played hooky at least once this year; however, those thinking about fibbing should beware. An equal 29% of employers have reported to checking up on those excuses, (many of whom blame the weak economy for increasing employee stress leading to bogus sick days) and 16% have fired an employee for an unexcused absence.

CareerBuilder has compiled a list of the most “colorful” excuses, including:

  1. Employee said a chicken attacked his mom.
  2. Employee’s finger was stuck in a bowling ball.
  3. Employee had a hair transplant gone bad.
  4. Employee fell asleep as his desk while working and hit his head, causing a neck injury.
  5. Employee said a cow broke into her house and she had to wait for the insurance man.
  6. Employee’s girlfriend threw a Sit n Spin through his living room window.
  7. Employee’s foot was caught in the garbage disposal.
  8. Employee called in sick from a bar at 5:00 p.m. the night before.
  9. Employee said he wasn’t feeling too clever that day.
  10. Employee had to mow the lawn to avoid a lawsuit from the home owner’s association
  11. Employee called in the day after Thanksgiving because she burned her mouth on a pumpkin pie.
  12. Employee was in a boat on Lake Erie and ran out of gas and the coast guard towed him to the Canadian side.

VP of CareerBuilder’s human resources department, Rosemary Haefner, offers some insightful advice: “If you need to take some time away from the office, the best way not to cause yourself more stress is to be open and honest with your manager.”

Another – and arguably more productive – option is using conferencing services. Audio and web conferencing enables you to meet and work with customers and colleagues via your computer or smartphone. Audio and web conferencing has become the go-to tool for achieving the impact and results of in-person meetings with remote colleagues, clients, and partners, while increasing productivity and reducing overhead costs. Contact one of our trained professionals today to see if audio or web conferencing can work for you. You never know, it might just mean more days out of the office!

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Global Conference Calling

If you’ve ever taken part in a conference call, you’re probably familiar with the routine: dial a toll or toll free number, enter a passcode, and you’re in the meeting. This is no big deal for local or even state-to-state calls, but what about those attendees in another country?

When it comes time for someone outside North America to join a conference call, there are several options:

  • The global attendee can call the US toll number to join the call, however, it can be expensive for the caller- especially if he or she is on a mobile phone
  • The host of the call can use a “dial out” feature to call global participants directly at any international number, ensuring that the host incurs the full cost of the call
  • Instead of dialing a US Toll number, the participant dials a local access number number to join the call. Local toll free numbers are often also available.

Currently, companies such as PGi offers local access numbers in over 100 locations worldwide.

T1 OC3 Connection

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Monthly vs. Pay-As-You-Go Web Meetings

Many small and medium size businesses get locked into contracts or commitments for various services, vendors and equipment, leaving them with a monthly bill. While this might work for some, when it comes to webinars, many businesses cannot always accurately predict the time or length of their meetings. They may hold a large online webinar one month, and then need only audio conferencing capabilities for a handful of employees the next month. Fortunately, companies such as InterCall offer a pay-as-you-go plan.

While it’s always nice to have web meeting and online webinar capabilities available when you need them, it isn’t always nice to pay top dollar if you don’t utilize the service enough to get your money’s worth.

Previously, most small and medium size businesses have thought all they could afford was sub-par performance and service from free web meeting service providers. However, companies such as InterCall offer small business plans specifically designed with their unique needs in mind – including the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go plan for up to 125 people, or a more standard monthly plan for up to 20 people.

If you’re planning to host a free or paid attendance online webinar, the pay-as-you-go plan provides all the flexibility necessary to reach out to customers and prospects, making it beneficial for hosting free or paid attendance webinars, while monthly plans allow you to host as many meetings as you like, as frequently as you’d like for one set price – which is great for meeting with employees, and partners.

Those not sure about their web meeting needs should consider a pay-as-you-go option for a few months to determine their usage and decide which plan makes more sense for them. No pressure, no commitment—except our commitment to provide you with the best, most affordable web meeting services.

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5 Things to Ask Yourself

The web conferencing market has continued to experience an impressive 25% plus growth over the past year despite the global recession. More people are turning to virtual meetings to cut costs while increasing efficiency, and enhancing productivity.
With demand comes supply, and a myriad of new providers have appeared on the horizon. So when you decide to take the plunge into the depths of web conferencing, how do you ensure a proper fit? Here are 5 questions to answer to determine the best provider for you and your business:

1. What do they offer?
Just because you have the right technology doesn’t necessarily mean your meetings will be any better. Well-rounded providers offer expertise, including how to meet remotely and set agendas.

2. Is it set up for your size/type of business?
Conferencing solutions come in all shapes and sizes’, ensuring a provider serves businesses similar to yours is proof they can offer the relevant experience you’re looking for.

3. How reliable are they?
Nothing kills a remote meeting faster than a bad connection, poor sound quality, clunky interfaces, or lack of compatibility. Getting tripped up with browser limitations, required plug-ins, etc. reflects poorly on you and your business, which is why it is so important to validate potential tools with trials or researching peer reviews.

4. Do they provide options?
Typically standard meeting technology is akin to one another; however the additional features offered can vary greatly – and hold a big impact on the type of meeting you conduct. Consider a provider that can offer several brands and tailor a recommendation based on your specific needs.

5. How accessible are they?
Nothing is perfect, but your provider should always try to be. The best providers aim for 100% uptime and often reach 99.99%. For those rare 0.01% times, you need a provider that offers several ways to get help, such as email, phone, or live chat.

Lucky for you, here at FastBlue that’s one of the things we do best. Contact a EasyT1.net provider today to see how we can help your business!

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How Web Conferencing Trumps User Error?

It’s easy to see how web-based conferencing might seem complicated to those unfamiliar with it. Signing into some meetings can seem like a burden in itself – not to mention using the available tools and interactive features offered to help engage attendees. Well fear not! If you can use your computer for basic business, such as your web browser and using PowerPoint or Microsoft Outlook, hosting and participating in a web conference is hassle free.

In many ways, a web-based conference is much better than an audio conference—the technology has countless ways to compensate for human error. As an example, we’ll discuss the three common blunders that tend to occur during conventional audio conferences—and how web meetings help you avoid them.

  • Sign In – Most meetings (especially those with hundreds of participants) have one or two attendees call in the first few minutes of an audio conference, frantic that they lost the phone number/dial-in codes. Web meetings hosted through providers, such as InterCall, allow you to log in with one click – whether you’re at your computer or on the go with your smartphone.
  • Background Noise – Web conferencing makes it easy for the presenter or participants to mute a call with the click of a mouse. No codes to remember and no more background noise.
  • Clear Service – A web conference provides the same crystal clear service for every user – no dropped calls, no static and an opportunity for you to see and hear every minute of every meeting.

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Hate to Travel? Try Conferencing!

I recently watched an episode of the show Airline on TV, and – within the first five minutes of watching – reminded myself why flying is rarely an option for me. Between the raising costs of tickets and baggage fees, the lines, the delays, and waiting for other passengers to remove their unnecessary amounts of jewelry, loose change, and metal objects in order to pass through the metal detectors, flying can be a very stressful event. That’s not even taking into account the time spent away from home and the office. Add on top of that emotionally unstable employees, (such as the now famous for flipping out JetBlue flight attendant) and it’s easy to see why others feel the same way as I do.

That’s where the beauty of conferencing lies. Instead of dealing with stressful and expensive situations, conferencing lets connect to your employees, partners and prospective clients from the comfort and convenience of your desk. Conferencing solutions and services still allow you to cover project timelines, deliver your demo, conduct training sessions or review strategies with quality that rivals face-to-face meetings. The best part though, is you can do things your way, and know you can get up any time you want to go to the bathroom and no one is going to call you out on it.

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The Problems and Perks of Web Conferencing

The grass is always greener on the other side. Sitting in an early morning or destination business meetings often leaves you wishing you were at home in your pajamas; however, conferencing from home or in a location other than your audience comes with its own set of issues. This raises the question: which type of conferencing is best for each scenario?

Live Audience Advantages:

  • Engaging your audience – live audience members have the opportunity to read the presenter’s body language, make eye contact, and often have an easier time asking questions
  • Paying attention – audio conference call attendees are habitually guilty of multi-tasking, taking time and attention away from the issues being addressed
  • Relationship building – immersing yourself within a live audience is an opportunity to network, and meet co-workers, partners and clients you otherwise may not have have met

Webcast Advantages:

  • Convenience – your audience is a mere click away with a webcast, and an include others in even the most remote locations which typically leads to bigger turnouts and at the end of the day more potential clients
  • Cost-Effective – webcasts reduce travel expenses, costs of reserving meeting facilities, and the downtime associated with travel. Not only that, but webcasts also decrease paper consumption and your company’s carbon footprint
  • Comfort – attending a meeting or presentation via webcast assured you always have the best seat in the house

Every meeting has unique requirements, and ultimately, of course, the choice is yours. If you’d like more information or have any questions, please contact a FastBlue client manager today to see what we can do for your business!

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Web Conferencing Styles of learning

In any business you encounter different people with different personalities and ways of doing things. Some salesmen talk with their hands; some maintain eye constant eye contact, and some use funny voices to enhance what they are saying. Likewise, all people have different styles of learning. Some are predominantly visual learners, while others are auditory or require hands-on interaction to truly grasp a theory or concept.

Audio-based conference calls limit your means of communication to merely one method, leaving the other 66+% out of luck. However, web-based conferencing provides you with the power to employ all three senses at your meetings.

  • Visual – Web conferencing offers easy sharing of files, slides, and videos as features such as white boarding for simple yet effective collaboration
  • Auditory – Whether dialed in through a telephone or listened through computer speakers, web-based conferences offer clear, top quality service for all presentations
  • Hands-on – Web browser or desktop sharing provides meeting attendees the kinesthetic interaction they require. Passing control over to participants can help them express their ideas or concerns more clearly, making more effective use of everyone’s time.  In addition, tools including surveys and polls help gage attendee interest and involvement.

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