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Defining 4G/LTE

Posted on by Bluewave

We see the number/letter combination in the corner of our smartphones so often, it has almost become invisible: 4G/LTE. Not only that, but ‘4G’ is also touted so repeatedly (and loudly) in Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T commercials, most of us hit the mute button without even realizing it anymore. We know 4G/LTE has something to do with cellular networks and speeds, but what is 4G/LTE really? And, what does it mean for our daily lives in which smartphones and connectivity have become such a necessity for work, life, and play? Let’s start by defining 4G/LTE:

4G/L·T·E DEFINED:

  1. 4G/LTE is really two terms in one. 4G is a collection of fourth-generation mobile data technology. Not surprisingly, it succeeds 3G and is also called IMT-Advanced (International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced). All 4G standards must conform to a set of specifications created by the International Telecommunications Union. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, which is not really a technology, but a standard for wireless communication. (Source: TechTerms).

How fast is 4G?

4G technologies are required to provide peak data transfer rates of at least 100 Mbps (megabytes per/second). This includes the connection rate for mobile phones, smartphone tablets, etc. However, keep in mind that actual download speeds vary based on location, signal strength, and interference. As an example, just because a device has the capacity to reach 4G, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically hit those connection speeds (for instance, you’ll have the best chance if you’re in a city, as opposed to a remote location, assuming wireless interference isn’t too severe).

Are you really getting 4G speeds?

The short answer is: no, not really. When the governing body set the minimum speeds for 4G mobile devices, they decided that because 4G was not actually attainable in the practical sense for network providers, they would introduce the term LTE. LTE basically means the authentic pursuit of the 4G standard, and it offers a considerable improvement over 3G technology.

As a result, most network providers today offer 4G LTE network speeds which they brand as next-generation connectivity performance, even though they are actually hitting pure 4G speeds.

Does 4G matter anyway?

The answer to this really lies in how these connection speeds impact the user experience. How fast can your devices load pages, download music or video conference in real life situations? As a rule, while 4G/LTE seems to be a considerable improvement over 3G speeds when comparing 4G/LTE and “true 4G” networks of today, most upload and download speeds are almost identical.

4G and the enterprise

If your company is considering 4G/LTE wireless internet to provide remote access to enterprise applications like CRM and collaboration tools, consider how connection speeds impact performance. For instance, simplified and fast access to applications like Salesforce.com, Cisco WebEx Social and other business apps, will ensure the applications are used. Many believe an improved speed of access to applications, and the ability to work from anywhere and at any time, are real business benefits. When comparing 4G/LTE mobile data plans for the business, also consider factors like bandwidth requirements and data overage charges.

What’s next?

You won’t be surprised to hear that several carriers are already looking ahead to 5G mobile broadband. Experts predict that we will see more trials of 5G technology as the wireless industry continues to define what the 5G technology looks like. AT&T has already announced they are conducting 5G trials with Intel this year. The new 5G wireless modem will work at both super-high radio frequencies and lower-band airwaves. Many believe that early 5G network adoption will come from the enterprise side, in the form of drones, self-driving cars, industrial applications, and some broadband service to homes and businesses. (Source: Investor’s Business Daily).

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How The Cloud Can Improve Business Communications

Posted on by Bluewave

Communication is a critical aspect of business operations, whether your customers are collaborating with fellow employees or seeking new clients. The cloud has changed the way businesses communicate, as an innovative solution which is transcending communications. Flexible cloud-based solutions enable employees to communicate regardless of their geographic location.

Technological advancements have improved productivity and lowered operational costs, allowing greater productivity in the workplace. The ability to access communication tools from anywhere in the world can be leveraged to great advantage, especially in a constantly evolving business landscape. By failing to capitalize on the proficiency of cloud technologies, customers run the risk of getting left behind. This underlines the importance of cloud-based solutions.

But how exactly can the cloud improve business communications? If you’re curious about the specifics, fortunately you’re in the right place. Here are some of the top ways the cloud can improve business communications:

Master Remote Working

Work environments once relied on everyone being in the same location, which was restrictive in relation to expansive goals. In today’s business culture, it’s impossible to grow in this environment, especially when working across different time zones. With cloud computing, efficiency is enhanced because employees can work from anywhere in the world. This creates a level of convenience which makes for a happier, more productive staff. The ability to work remotely creates freedom and flexibility, while reducing the costs associated with buying fixed assets. Companies can also hire from a much larger talent pool. Cloud communication services also facilitate audio and video conferencing, essential for the growth of modern businesses.

It Costs Less Than Premise-Based Solutions

The cloud will change your customers approach to expense management, which will ultimately improve their bottom line. Companies conventionally needed to acquire phone systems upfront, but cloud systems are paid for on a month-to-month basis. What’s useful is they only pay for the services they need, meaning they won’t accrue costs on communication channels which are not used. By not needing to purchase hardware and other devices, they’ll reduce replacement costs significantly. Instead, they can focus on upgrading features which benefit their organization the most, with access to the latest and greatest software.

Employees Can Work on Multiple Devices

Information stored on the cloud can be accessed from any device that can connect to the internet. Organizations can consequently capitalize on the benefits of working from mobile devices, which include greater mobility, flexibility, and convenience. With mobile providers offering faster internet connections, employees are afforded the luxury of communicating on the go, enhancing access and efficiency tenfold. Key business processes can be executed with ease, with real-time communication that’s important in today’s fast-moving society. Employees are not required to use specific devices, allowing collaboration within a business network from tablets, smartphones, or desktops.

Gain a Competitive Edge

Small organizations can compete with bigger companies if they leverage cloud communication methods. They can scale up operations quicker than ever before, without being held back by costs. Small businesses can gradually increase their cloud usage over time, depending on budget and scale of growth. With a self-sufficient communication service like the cloud, small businesses don’t need to worry about the expenses associated with hiring IT staff, often a restrictive factor. In business climates which are dominated by the big dogs, the ability to engage cheaply and quickly, with quality in mind, offers small companies a competitive edge vital for success.

Less Outsourcing & More Decentralization

Though outsourcing has its advantages, businesses can suffer from less quality control, a lack of customer focus, and hidden costs. Fortunately, the cloud’s rise to prominence has eliminated reliance on outsourcing, where employers can hire full-time employees who are not in the same location as company headquarters. With business communications conducted globally, between diverse employees, companies can benefit from decentralization. More job opportunities have been generated, allowing people to apply their skillsets accordingly. This is facilitated by video conferencing, which has become an integral component of business communications.

Go Global

Organizations were once restricted by geographic location, where technological limitations made it difficult to extend beyond local communities. This impacted small companies the most, who didn’t have access to the cloud features which allow organizations to expand. Because smaller companies can now utilize cloud-based solutions, at reduced costs, everyone has the capacity to collaborate with global partners. This means you can go global if you are a small business, facilitated by the enhancement of business communications.

Business communication tools are rapidly changing as the cloud’s capabilities enhance. Small businesses have the opportunity to reach goals which would’ve seemed unlikely in years past, providing they’re willing to adapt. Enjoy the improved quality of business communications with cloud technologies, and remember, evolve or risk becoming extinct.

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Top Four Considerations for Migrating to Office 365

Posted on by Bluewave

Migrating to Microsoft Office 365 from an on-prem environment can deliver significant benefits for organizations. The transition to the cloud levels the playing field for companies of all sizes because it gives businesses the ability to leverage cloud versions of multiple Microsoft products, without the hassle and cost of buying, configuring and managing servers in-house. Instead, the administrative burden is shifted primarily to Microsoft and the cloud. Programs like Microsoft Exchange Server, SharePoint, Skype for Business and access to programs such as Word, Outlook, OneNote, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint are available to users anytime and from anywhere. With this capability, subscribers can synchronize documents working on different platforms. If users have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription, a computer, laptop or mobile phone, and an internet connection, they have instant access to all the tools they need to do their jobs. These capabilities give organizations and users the extreme flexibility to access applications whenever and wherever they are working from, ultimately powering greater collaboration and productivity across the business. With so many different products in the Microsoft Office 365 suite, the challenge becomes successfully managing the migration process to the cloud while avoiding unexpected downtime, loss in productivity or extra stress on already-stretched internal IT teams. Communication and planning are keys to ensuring a smooth transition to Office 365. Business leaders and IT need to efficiently communicate with users about what to expect during the transition, prepare a detailed transition plan and have the right Microsoft support options in place before converting. Before taking the leap, keep these and other top considerations in mind before starting your journey to Office 365.

  1. There are hybrid deployment prerequisites- The truth is that when considering Office 365, it’s rarely all or nothing proposition. Most organizations want the ability to host some Microsoft instances in the cloud for mobile workers, as well as have the ability to run some on-premise for those working on site. An example of this might include mixing on-premises Exchange mail use with Office 365. The good news? A hybrid solution is possible! The bad news is hybrid architectures can be challenging to set up, and there are hybrid configuration prerequisites. (Source: Microsoft). If a hybrid cloud option still sounds appealing, it’s also essential to consider things like identity management and security policies for both on-prem and cloud applications. Office 365 hybrid options generally make sense for large-scale organizations that have thousands of users or for companies that are working on a staged migration. For some companies, it’s also pertinent to integrate cloud platforms and services with existing on-premises infrastructure as part of the overall IT strategy.
  2. Archiving email can be tricky- Just starting the conversation with Microsoft Outlook users about migrating to a new email platform can cause anxiety. People can’t afford to lose archived or non-archived emails. It’s simply not an option. The challenge is that most on-premises legacy archive solutions used for email migration efforts don’t work with Office 365. While there are exceptions, using exporting capabilities, for example, those applications can be extremely slow and tedious. When talking about terabytes of data, the process can be time-consuming and a daunting project.
  3. Network speeds can significantly affect migration velocity- Before starting on an Office 365 transition plan, organizations should identify their maximum available network capacity. Because there are a myriad of factors that can affect network speeds and performance, this may take some digging. Microsoft suggests contacting your broadband provider to confirm allocated bandwidth and to get details about any restrictions. This could include the total amount of data that can be transferred in a specific period. They also suggest testing the flow of data from on-premises data source to the Microsoft datacenter gateway servers. Other activity happening on the network such as scheduled backups, data transfers, or archiving activities can also severely impact network capacity and as a result, the speed of transitioning to Office 365.
  4. Paying more for support up-front could end up costing you less- Finally, companies looking to streamline their transition to Office 365 should have adequate support plans in place first. While many large organizations opt for bigger support packages, sometimes small and mid-size organizations select limited Microsoft support options, hoping to save money. This strategy can sometimes backfire if something goes wrong like importing data into Exchange Web Services (EWS), for instance. How much would an email account outage affect your business? What if it happened for 4 hours, or even 4 days? Some risks aren’t worth taking. For those working on a hybrid approach, most recommend an Office 365 support plan that includes Azure Active Directory synchronization. (Source: Microsoft).

If your organization would like help mapping out a successful migration plan or would like recommendations about hybrid options, talk to Bluewave today! We have extensive experience in Office 365 and can facilitate the planning, management, and execution of the entire migration from start to finish, or we can fill in the gaps during your staged migration effort.

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Failover Internet – Once Optional, Now Mission Critical

Posted on by Bluewave

Network Availability – Now More important Than Ever

Even the most reliable networks have occasional outages. Whether it’s a core network failure (rare) or a misguided backhoe digging in the wrong place (unfortunately common) there’s no argument that it happens. We are operating in a connected world, 100% uptime is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a “must have.” Loss of connectivity affects point-of-sale, DaaS, accounting software, Salesforce, UCaaS, CCaaS and a whole myriad of mission critical applications which reside in the cloud.

Calculating the Real Cost of Internet Downtime

A very simple approach to determine the cost of downtime is to calculate what an hour’s worth of revenue looks like. If you assume your business is open 52 weeks a year and operates on a normal 40-hour work week, there are 2080 hours in a year. Simply take the annual revenue amount, divide it by 2080 and that will give you the revenue per hour. Annual Revenue = Revenue/hour (52 x 40)

Multiply that revenue per hour times the number of hours a primary circuit goes down and you have an approximation of what that downtime means in terms of productivity. In a joint study, Cisco and AppDynamics found that downtime cost small and medium-sized businesses between $8,580 and $74,000 per hour! That is a significant risk and one that can be easily mitigated with the right back-up solution.

Top 4 Business Benefits of Wireless Failover Internet

  1. They are an inexpensive insurance policy against the hourly productivity cost of internet interruptions.
  2. They are very fast to deploy; no waiting for cable or fiber to be installed.
  3. When engineered well, today’s wireless technology can handle hosted applications like VoIP, IP VPN and other high-bandwidth/low-latency types of traffic.
  4. Offer a completely diverse path into your locations. No shared conduit or network elements between their primary and backup connections means complete redundancy.

Top 4 Business Benefits of Wireless Failover Internet

Fully-Managed Solutions Save Time and Money

Our leading wireless providers offer a complete array of failover and back-up wireless solutions. You don’t need to worry about managing multiple wireless contracts based on physical location. The wireless provider can pool all carrier data plans into a single pool for you that can be drawn against when and if the inevitable primary internet failure happens. Consider how much productivity is saved by implementing a reliable, secure and physically redundant connectivity solution.

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How UCaaS Integration Can Enhance Your Microsoft Teams Calling Experience

Posted on by Bluewave

In light of the movement restrictions imposed by the ongoing pandemic, and the transformation of working practices that’s taking place as a result, organizations across the globe are turning to platforms like Microsoft Teams and Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), for their collaboration, teamwork, and communication needs.

However, telephony still plays a central role in business communications and Microsoft Teams users often find navigating their way through the calling options and pricing structures a confusing affair. That’s where integrating Microsoft Teams with a comprehensive UCaaS solution can make the picture much clearer, while expanding your global reach.

What Microsoft Teams Voice Features Have To Offer

The Microsoft platform offers Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP calls from one Teams client to another, via its Phone System with Microsoft Calling Plans or Direct Routing for PSTN services. This incorporates features like call answering and initiating (by name and number) with integrated dial pad, call holding, history, forwarding, and simultaneous ringing.

How UCaaS Integration Expands Your Calling Options

Microsoft Teams Calling puts its main focus on compatibility with Office 365, and integrates with all the tools from that productivity suite that many businesses require.

For organizations at all levels, Microsoft Teams is typically employed as an internal communications tool. A UCaaS platform with cloud PBX can make those communications capabilities external, thereby extending the functionality of the platform.

At a basic level, while Microsoft Teams assembles Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive in a single place, more complex functions are not immediately available within the platform. For example, information shared during conferences can’t be easily archived, since call recording isn’t a standard feature, as it is with a VoIP-based UCaaS solution. The chat, video conferencing, and telephone capabilities of UCaaS also contribute to rounding out your communications and collaboration potential.

A Unified Communications as a Service platform with hosted PBX lets you use any phone that you choose — whether that be a desktop unit, softphone, or mobile device. This means that with a UCaaS solution, you can use Microsoft Teams as a softphone, across any device or platform, with your own business line.

Finally, since Microsoft takes a “hands off” approach to customer service, Teams users must rely on Microsoft’s online databases and their own initiative, for technical support. This is not the case with a reliable UCaaS provider, who will typically be available 24/7/365, with proactive support and assistance.

Seamless Integration Options Are Available

Several leading suppliers in our portfolio such as 8×8, CallTower, RingCentral and net2phone offer native integration into Microsoft Teams, which gives the Teams user added capabilities. These include a calling plan with International calls, which provides truly unlimited calling rather than a set allocation of minutes. Subscribers can unbundle the traditional 1:1 offerings and model after the call path seat / call path channel PRI / shared lines model to further reduce costs and scale capacity as needed.

A cloud PBX provides a comprehensive set of features such as auto attendants, ring groups, hunt groups, welcome greetings, call recording, eFax, SMS / MMS Messaging, Live Chat, video conferencing, and user analytics. All of these features can be automated and configured with a single click. Furthermore, it’s all backed by a Tier 1 global carrier with 24/7/365 support.

Reach out to us to learn about the options available to meet your company’s specific needs.

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How to Select the Right Cloud Contact Center Vendor

Posted on by Bluewave

In today’s competitive business environment, customers’ expectations are higher than ever. They want 24/7 access to customer service help and they expect to be able to access all customer service channels at any time, day or night. Your company’s ability to respond to customer support calls rapidly while delivering a high-touch customer experience is a necessity. Positive customer support establishes brand loyalty and customer engagement, and it’s the lifeblood of your business.

To provide that golden standard of customer service, your contact center must rely on multiple tools and several layers of technology. These disparate systems and applications must also work together to deliver a complete view of the customer.  Contact center software and integrated business tools should empower customer service agents to quickly access customer data as well as support protocols that help solve customer issues quickly.

Cloud-based contact centers take off

The added complexity and increasing demands placed on today’s contact centers could help explain the uptick in cloud-based contact centers over the past several years. In fact, the cloud-based contact center market is expected to grow some 24% from 2016 to 2021, per a December 2016 report from Research and Markets. That’s an increase in market size from $5.4 billion in 2016 to $15.7 billion. (Source: TMC News December 1, 2016.)

The benefits of a cloud-based contact center range from greater flexibility and scalability to lower startup costs. Other benefits include:

  • Greater agility
  • More complete and professional service offerings (i.e. multiple language support, high-tech chat functions, etc.)
  • SLAs ensuring consistent and reliable customer interactions
  • Shared resources in the cloud make startup costs lower
  • Ability to focus on key business initiatives

However, selecting the right vendor is critical in capturing the full benefits of a virtual contact center model. If you’re considering this route, it’s important to ask the following questions:

1) What reporting and analytics can you provide?

It used to be that the primary function of a call center was to take customer calls and to answer questions about products or services. Today, most contact centers need the ability to provide technical support, as well as check order status, process returns and orders and much more.

These touchpoints with customers are extremely valuable and may be one of the only one-on-one interactions customers have with your brand. Having KPIs in place, BI metrics and real visibility into what the customer experience is actually like are critical.

Dashboards and reporting- Ask your hosted contact provider if their cloud software has dashboards and reporting tools that will let you see how many calls are in the queue, how long customers are waiting, when and if customers jump ship, etc. Once the call center managers have that level of detail and analytics about customer interactions, they can better accommodate demand and improve service.

2) How will your technology integrate with mine?

Because contact center agents need to access many tools at once, it’s imperative that the contact center software plays well with other business applications. Ask the vendor:

  • Will your cloud application integrate with my CRM applications, chat app, e-commerce system, and social networking platforms? How much is automated? The smoother business tools integrate with call center software, the more efficient and productive your team will be.  Imagine if when a note is created in your call center software, it also creates a note in your e-commerce platform? Or when a chat session is finished, the transcript is automatically saved to the CRM customer contact? These meaningful details captured and referenced can elevate your contact center to a more strategic function of your business.

3) How will your cloud platform make my life easier?

The right cloud-based contact center services improve business continuity because they ensure the same high-level of customer service is delivered across the organization. It also unifies multiple locations and remote agents on a single, integrated platform. That means when you make changes to your customer support strategy, such as launch new training on products or update procedures on handling support issues, you’ll be able to communicate plans once. By establishing a cloud-based contact center you can easily streamline operations and maximize productivity.

A unified platform can also help contact center managers perform lead generation, conduct surveys and obtain customer feedback using the same applications.

4) What support options are available?

Be sure to ask vendors what happens when something goes wrong. What are the service level agreements in place to ensure expectations are met? Make sure your potential providers offer consistent and reliable technical and customer support. A company that will stand by you when questions arise, integrations fail and glitches happen will pay dividends over the long run.

Companies looking to replace on-premise contact center solutions with integrated cloud-based models, stand to realize major improvements in business continuity. A cloud contact center strategy can also deliver cost savings and give companies the ability to offer more comprehensive and professional customer support options that help build customer loyalty. However, the key is to ask the right questions and find a provider that partners with you to meet your company’s needs.

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