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Big-Corporation Technologies for Your Home Business
By Harprit Singh
Wouldn’t it be great if the communications tools in your home office were as
sophisticated as those in big corporations, but without the big-corporation cost?
Fortunately, this scenario doesn’t have to be wishful thinking anymore, thanks to
the remarkable strides technology has made in recent years. Now you can have a
professional communications system for your home office that fits into your
budget.
Powerful communications tools and services are more affordable than ever, and
they can play a vital role in your business’ success.
There are several key communications tools and services that you should consider
as you build and grow your business into a competitive company. These tools can
help your business stay on the cutting edge—without cutting into your budget.
Getting Started
The foundation of your home office system starts with the most essential
communications tools.
Perhaps the most important tool is high-speed Internet. Just as the phone played a
major role in helping companies launch and grow their business, today the
Internet is just as vital. The Internet lets you quickly and easily communicate
through text, video, and voice virtually anytime, anywhere.
In a home office, you can have high speed Internet access through DSL (Digital
Subscriber Line) or cable modem. You can also get broadband Internet access for
your laptop with a mobile access card through your cell phone provider. The
mobile access card for your laptop will allow access to the Internet both at home
and on the go, and may be especially convenient while on the road.
Likewise, cell phones or PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are a must-have for
home business owners. Even in a home business environment, you don’t want to
be tied to your computer. Plus, many entrepreneurs and home business owners
find the quality of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) poor for business use and
choose to make their calls using cell phones, PDAs or land lines.
For on-the-go business owners, PDAs put communication and organization
literally in the palm of your hand. A phone PDA with Internet access lets you
make and receive phone calls and e-mails, browse the Web, store contact
information and calendar dates, and use software like Microsoft Word and Excel
business productivity applications from any location.
Building Blocks
Once you have Internet access in place and a cell phone or PDA in hand, you can
add more sophisticated communications tools to increase your business’
capabilities, including:
* VoIP softphone and analog telephone adaptor. VoIP softphone is a software
based phone application that allows you to make phone calls over the Internet
using your computer and a headset. An analog telephone adaptor connects a
standard analog phone to your Internet to make phone calls. Although VoIP has a
reputation for poor sound clarity, technological strides are greatly improving
VoIP sound quality.
* Instant Messaging Application. There are many times when just a quick
exchange of messages with a colleague or a customer is all you need to keep
business flowing. Instant messaging lets you do this.
Bear in mind, most instant messaging programs carry the same security and virus
risks that e-mail does. Also, to exchange messages, you typically need to use the
same instant messaging program as the person you’re chatting with, such as AOL
Instant Messenger and MSN Messenger applications. However, some programs,
such as the Trillian chat client, let you communicate with people using different
instant messaging programs.
* Web Conferencing. Presentations and meetings are an important part of doing
business. When you have to meet with people from remote locations, Web
conferencing comes in handy. You can demonstrate your products and/or services
online, and even share screens from your desktop with the remote party.
Unifying Your Business Communications
If you want to kick your home office communications into high gear, unified
communications might be the ticket. Unified communications seamlessly connects
your communications by using just one virtual phone number for all your
communication needs.
When someone calls the number, a personalized auto attendant routes the caller to
whichever communications device you designate, including your home phone,
cell phone, PDA, and fax. Unified communications can also deliver voicemails and
faxes through e-mail by converting voice mails into audio files and faxes into
electronic document attachments.
Indeed, unified communications can help your company image by making your
small business appear larger. The professional auto attendant quickly routes
callers through the different options that you set, similar to the answering system
of large corporations.
And unified communications is surprisingly affordable. You can implement
unified communications using a hosted service provider, or buy specialized
equipment, which is pricier.
As the business landscape becomes more global, and demand for availability and
accessibility increases, keep an eye out for significant developments in unified
communications in the coming years.
There’s sure to be even more new tools to help home business owners build their
communications arsenal. For now though, remember professional
communications tools are vital to a successful home business. By establishing
your company with the basics, staying competitive as your needs change and
technology improves, and implementing unified communications, you’ll be well
on your way to playing in the big leagues.
Meet the author:
Harprit Singh is the founder, President, and CEO of Intellicomm Inc., an enhanced
communications service provider. Intellicomm is the developer of Innoport®
(www.Innoport.com) mobility-enhancing unified communications service. For
more information, visit
www.intellicomm.com.
By Harprit Singh
Wouldn’t it be great if the communications tools in your home office were as
sophisticated as those in big corporations, but without the big-corporation cost?
Fortunately, this scenario doesn’t have to be wishful thinking anymore, thanks to
the remarkable strides technology has made in recent years. Now you can have a
professional communications system for your home office that fits into your
budget.
Powerful communications tools and services are more affordable than ever, and
they can play a vital role in your business’ success.
There are several key communications tools and services that you should consider
as you build and grow your business into a competitive company. These tools can
help your business stay on the cutting edge—without cutting into your budget.
Getting Started
The foundation of your home office system starts with the most essential
communications tools.
Perhaps the most important tool is high-speed Internet. Just as the phone played a
major role in helping companies launch and grow their business, today the
Internet is just as vital. The Internet lets you quickly and easily communicate
through text, video, and voice virtually anytime, anywhere.
In a home office, you can have high speed Internet access through DSL (Digital
Subscriber Line) or cable modem. You can also get broadband Internet access for
your laptop with a mobile access card through your cell phone provider. The
mobile access card for your laptop will allow access to the Internet both at home
and on the go, and may be especially convenient while on the road.
Likewise, cell phones or PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are a must-have for
home business owners. Even in a home business environment, you don’t want to
be tied to your computer. Plus, many entrepreneurs and home business owners
find the quality of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) poor for business use and
choose to make their calls using cell phones, PDAs or land lines.
For on-the-go business owners, PDAs put communication and organization
literally in the palm of your hand. A phone PDA with Internet access lets you
make and receive phone calls and e-mails, browse the Web, store contact
information and calendar dates, and use software like Microsoft Word and Excel
business productivity applications from any location.
Building Blocks
Once you have Internet access in place and a cell phone or PDA in hand, you can
add more sophisticated communications tools to increase your business’
capabilities, including:
* VoIP softphone and analog telephone adaptor. VoIP softphone is a software
based phone application that allows you to make phone calls over the Internet
using your computer and a headset. An analog telephone adaptor connects a
standard analog phone to your Internet to make phone calls. Although VoIP has a
reputation for poor sound clarity, technological strides are greatly improving
VoIP sound quality.
* Instant Messaging Application. There are many times when just a quick
exchange of messages with a colleague or a customer is all you need to keep
business flowing. Instant messaging lets you do this.
Bear in mind, most instant messaging programs carry the same security and virus
risks that e-mail does. Also, to exchange messages, you typically need to use the
same instant messaging program as the person you’re chatting with, such as AOL
Instant Messenger and MSN Messenger applications. However, some programs,
such as the Trillian chat client, let you communicate with people using different
instant messaging programs.
* Web Conferencing. Presentations and meetings are an important part of doing
business. When you have to meet with people from remote locations, Web
conferencing comes in handy. You can demonstrate your products and/or services
online, and even share screens from your desktop with the remote party.
Unifying Your Business Communications
If you want to kick your home office communications into high gear, unified
communications might be the ticket. Unified communications seamlessly connects
your communications by using just one virtual phone number for all your
communication needs.
When someone calls the number, a personalized auto attendant routes the caller to
whichever communications device you designate, including your home phone,
cell phone, PDA, and fax. Unified communications can also deliver voicemails and
faxes through e-mail by converting voice mails into audio files and faxes into
electronic document attachments.
Indeed, unified communications can help your company image by making your
small business appear larger. The professional auto attendant quickly routes
callers through the different options that you set, similar to the answering system
of large corporations.
And unified communications is surprisingly affordable. You can implement
unified communications using a hosted service provider, or buy specialized
equipment, which is pricier.
As the business landscape becomes more global, and demand for availability and
accessibility increases, keep an eye out for significant developments in unified
communications in the coming years.
There’s sure to be even more new tools to help home business owners build their
communications arsenal. For now though, remember professional
communications tools are vital to a successful home business. By establishing
your company with the basics, staying competitive as your needs change and
technology improves, and implementing unified communications, you’ll be well
on your way to playing in the big leagues.
Meet the author:
Harprit Singh is the founder, President, and CEO of Intellicomm Inc., an enhanced
communications service provider. Intellicomm is the developer of Innoport®
(www.Innoport.com) mobility-enhancing unified communications service. For
more information, visit
www.intellicomm.com.
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