• Business Telephone Systems, Switchboards and PABX
  • BT Meridien
  • Lucent Definity
  • Alcatel
• Octel Voicemail systems
• LCR (least cost routing)
• ISDN circuits and Leased Lines
• Internet connections and Broadband
• TCPIP LAN Local Area Networks
• Frame Relay WAN Wide Area Networks
• Contract Mobiles
• Supplier Management
  • BT
  • MCI Worldcom
  • Deutsche Telecom
  • France Telecom
  • O2
  • Vodafone
  • Orange

During that time, he had many interesting experiences and war stories that will be shared on this website for your interest, education and entertainment!

If you are a BT customer, be on your guard!

BT is warning customers about a series of phone scams involving people claiming to be calling from the company.

If you are targeted, the scammers will call you and warn that your account is in arrears.

They then ask for bank or credit card details to settle the account.

If you ask for proof or refuse to pay, the fraudsters then offer to prove who they are by disconnecting the phone line then and there.

When you put the phone down, the scammer stays connected to their line, creating the impression that your line no longer works.

These places have all been affected:

• Suffolk
• Sussex
• Kent
• Nottinghamshire
• Shropshire
• Warwickshire
• North Yorkshire
• Devon
• West Midlands
• Pembrokeshire

If you get one of these calls, you may notice poor line quality, and a lack of background chatter and no call centre noise in the background, which there usually is when someone from a big company calls you.

This type of phone scam has been happening all over the country.

The Trading Standards Authority admits this type of phone fraud is around.

So if somebody calls you, keep your wits about you, be cynical and mistrust them if you have to, or don’t trust them, particularly if they are asking for money.

If they want your bank or credit credit card details don’t be afraid to say no!

BT says it does sometimes make calls to customers about debt – but they stress that they never carry out disconnections during a call.

They advise customers never to give out any banking details over the phone unless they are absolutely certain who they are dealing with.

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Broadband Speeds in the UK

Ofcom recently released a report which represents the most thorough examination of broadband speeds ever performed within the UK.

The data they collected was taken from over 60 million speed test results accumulated by 1600 broadband customers and it paints a relatively bleak picture of the UK broadband market as it stands today.

The findings basically revealed what many people already knew to be true, that broadband speeds vary wildly depending on a number of factors and in the most part the actual speed attainable by any one customer will be significantly lower than the speed that the broadband providers claim they will be able to attain.

As a result of these tests ofcom has demanded and indeed received a pledge from 37 of the main broadband providers to offer more clarity to customers when it comes to advertising their speeds and while in the most part this new found honesty will be a good thing, avoiding deception of the customer, it still doesn`t solve the problem of why our broadband speeds are so low.

The average speed for a UK customer is just a hair over 4Mbps, which is at odds with the common claim that ADSL broadband will run at `up to` 8Mbps. But what`s the cause of the huge discrepancy between the promised speeds and the ones we receive from day to day?

Well, the main cause of slower average speeds is because of the limitations of ADSL broadband, which is the most common type in the UK as it uses existing BT copper landlines.

Because of the nature of copper wire, over long distances the broadband signal deteriorates and so the speed slows. This means people who live in rural areas who are far away from their local telephone exchange experience comparatively slow speeds compared to urban dwellers.

However, in urban areas there`s another problem which affects broadband speeds: congestion. Because during the peak evening periods of the day so many people are trying to use their broadband connection, customers can expect to see their speeds reduced by around 25% compared to their average speed during other times of the day.

This is all down to the number of other people who are using broadband via your local telephone exchange and it seems like this is always going to be a problem, like rush hour.

So what`s going to be the solution to our slow broadband blues here in the UK?

Well, the Ofcom report ultimately revealed that though ADSL customers are receiving the short straw in terms of speed, Cable broadband customers have much higher speeds which more closely reflect the speed that their service is advertised at.

If you already live in a cabled area you`ll be able to access the more consistent broadband on offer today.

If you`re still stuck with ADSL, don`t worry as BT are upgrading their exchanges nationwide in order to offer 20Mbps services.

For now using a broadband speed test will help you choose a new provider.

Back to Broadband Telecom home

Rolling contracts allow BT to automatically renew your contract with them for a further 12 months *without* your explicit consent.

Their normal contract, however, allows you to leave when the 12 months is up.

Which one did you sign up to?

Because If you miss the annual reminder and try to leave BT for a cheaper alternative phone call supplier, you are stuck unless you pay for the privilege to leave!

This is damaging to competition in the deregulated telecoms industry, and so far, OFCOM as the regulator has failed to take firm action.

BT is clever to encourage you into these deals with incentives like free evening calls – but don’t be fooled into thinking this is good value.

Recent research shows that the average cost of Broadband has fallen by almost 40% over the past three years, and by switching suppliers regularly (which rolling contracts are designed to prevent) can result in large savings.

Switching Broadband supplier can also get you a faster service, since the average Broadband speed has increased by 700 percent in the past three years.

Deregulation of the telecoms industry has worked well until now, by delivering greater choice and falling prices.

But rolling contracts threaten this and should be urgently addressed by OFCOM.

VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol is a new tool allowing telephone calls to be made across the internet, rather than through a phone line.

For those doing this from home, a computer is usually required for connection. However, simple specialist hardware that resembles an ordinary handset is available for commercial users.

VoIP telephone calls are not restricted to other VoIP phones – calls can be made to any type of line. As a result, its is beginning to establish itself as a substitution for a standard telephone line entirely.

Because the information is transmitted over existing broadband networks, the running costs for VoIP operators are significantly less than for traditional line owners, such as BT, who have to incur the cost of maintaining a physical network to government regulation.

This lower cost of operation is transferred to the costs of usage, and can be astonishingly different for international and national costs.

There are also reduced costs associated with VoIP services for customers in terms of internal network management.

An engineer is not required to carry out a number or line change for joining employees, and existing workers can move the VoIP phone to another broadband connection easily, while keeping the same phone number.

Because of this, VoIP offers the benefit of making an internal network completely flexible, offering features that are not possible or practical using a standard line.

The service can be used at home or if travelling as long as there is access to an Internet connection. This means that customers and staff can still contact you via the ordinary land line number, and also means you don`t have to rely on a mobile or public phone to make contact.

Even though a computer isn`t necessary, a VoIP system can be connected to a PC to simplify multi tasking, allowing, for example, you to be connected while using an internet café.

There are VoIP providers that offer the capability of forwarding voice mail and fax to an email address, allowing easier archiving.

Some of these services also allow you to save time with a `spoken aloud` service for such emails, where these are read out upon receipt of a new message.

Benefits also exist for customers. A `virtual` telephone number can be set up, meaning it can be one chosen by you. This includes different area codes to your own normal one.

If it set to a customer`s area code, they will be charged their regular rate for local calls. If you`re not available when somebody calls, the VoIP service can be set to divert to a mobile phone, meaning customers can contact you if you`re away.

A good way of making sure of this is arming all of your team with cheap phones, and linking these to their VoIP service, maximising the effectiveness of the network

Essential Business Telecom Services

Introduction

Telecommunications technology – in all forms, and certainly not least in business – continues to advance at an alarming rate.

Business people, today, are faced with a plethora of existing, convergent or entirely new technologies, and must make important, informed decisions to safeguard the future of their businesses.

New telecommunications technologies, products and services must be suitable for conveying important business information, in the first instance, but must also offer immediate payback in terms of efficiency, flexible working and customer service.

Business Telecom Products & Services

A standard, fixed line, or "landline", telephony is still the mainstay of many modern businesses, and, despite deregulation, British Telecom (BT) is still the largest network provider.

This does not mean, however, that you cannot choose a different service provider to carry calls – indeed, may discounted rate business deals are available elsewhere – even if the telephone line, itself, belongs to BT.

Mobile phones, on the other hand, tend to be supplied as a package, which includes the phone, itself, access to a network – Orange, Vodafone, etc. – and an inclusive number of call minutes, for which you pay a monthly rental fee.

The cost of individual phones is heavily subsidised – indeed, some are supplied free of charge – and a business package may include free calls to other mobile, or landline, numbers registered to the same company.

The Internet is another important telecommunications medium for modern businesses, allowing electronic mail, or other data, to be distributed globally.

Most businesses require a fast, "always on", Internet connection, and may choose from ISDN ("), ASDL, etc. to suit their own, individual requirements.

Many ISPs ("Internet Service Providers") also provide a web hosting service, so it may be possible to have a company website hosted, and obtain cost reductions as a result.

One of the most recent innovations, of course, is 3G ("3rd Generation") – or, strictly speaking, 3.5G, if HSDPA ("High Speed Downlink Packet Access") is included – mobile broadband.

This technology offers a broadband Internet connection, not through a landline, but through a small, lightweight broadband modem – a.k.a. a "dongle" – which sends and receives data to and from mobile phone networks.

The dongle plugs directly into a USB ("Universal Serial Bus") port on, say, a laptop, and provides Internet access anywhere where there is adequate 3G coverage. 3G coverage currently extends to 90%, or more, of the UK population.

Orange mobile broadband, for example, is a recent addition to existing offerings from 3, T-Mobile and Vodafone; the Orange deal offers a download speed of 1.8MB, and a monthly download limit of 3GB, making it suitable for everyday Internet browsing and email, and also includes a free USB broadband modem as part of the package.

The "Web `n` Walk" package, from T-Mobile, on the other hand, offers a download speed of 4.5MB, together with a free modem, but is subject to a 24-month contract, while Vodafone mobile broadband offers a download speed of 7.2MB, 14 times faster than standard 3G.

Do remember, however, that even the fastest download speeds, and most generous download limits, mean little if 3G coverage in your area is poor; all of the 3G providers have coverage maps, and the facility to check coverage by postcode, on their websites

The Local Loop connects your telephone socket or switchboard to the telephone exchange.

In the past, this has always been owned by BT.

Since telecom deregulation was introduced to break the BT monopoly and create free market competiton and a "level playing field", call traffic between telephone exchanges was allowed to pass over alternative networks.

This is known as LCR or LEAST COST ROUTING.

But historically BT always owned the last part of the connection and charge line rental for the privilege, having lost the call revenue.

Now, thanks to LLU, you can transfer both your calls, and your line rental, to a new provider, for both lower call charges and reduced line rental.

It used to be that BT owned a monopoly on landlines, since they built up the infrastructure to supply them. A landline is the final connection from the BT Exchange to your premises, also known as the Local Loop.

On 1st August 2006 Ofcom allowed other telecom companies to supply landline services. This is also called Local Loop Unbundling, or LLU.

Other providers can now rent the LLU from BT and supply it to the customer themselves, usually at cheaper rates and sometimes as part of an overall package which can provide calls (minutes) and Broadband.

To leave BT as your land line supplier, all you need do is contact an alternative provider and they will manage the transfer for you.

Usually this results in lower costs and payment monthly in arrears, rather than payment quarterly in advance with BT, which is better for your cashflow.

Unlike some call plans with alternative telecom suppliers, a land line rental usually comes with a minimum contract.

If you do transfer your land line rental away from BT, they still own the responsibility for repairs, so all you do is alert your new provider to any problems, and again they will handle the management of BT to resolve the problem.

Since June 25th 2004 new Government legislation means that all Businesses making unsolicited calls to other Businesses must check that the phone number is not registered with the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (TPS), or risk a £5,000 fine

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Our Automatic Corporate TPS Call Screening avoids risking a £5,000 fine without expensive subscription fees and monthly list checking. The service costs just £15.00 per month.

• The Network is directly programmed by the Corporate TPS database and is updated every 28 days
• No risk of fines as all calls are barred at source and the service provider is liable for any that might "leak"
• No contract commitments or changes of phone number or equipment
• No TPS subscription or list management charges
• Call barring can be overridden at will
• Only £15 per month – compare this with the aggravation and expense of list-checking services!
• Cheaper calls than standard BT rates and per-second billing

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Cheap phone calls for home and business have been possible for many years (originally called Least-Cost Routing, or LCR), and recent OFCOM legislation has made the process even easier than ever.

LCR needed the manual re-programming of your company telephone switchboard, which was sometimes a chargeable task and not without unexpected hitches.

There were also small plug-in dialler boxes which were unreliable, got unplugged or had power inadvertently turned off.

Both methods “routed” your phone call off the main BT network, onto another carrier of your choice and usually at substantially cheaper rates. However, if anything went wrong, your phone calls could “leak” back onto the BT network incurring the higher BT cost and defeating the object.

To ensure freedom of choice between carriers, and break BT’s monopoly on phone calls, a successor service to LCR was introduced (which is actually a BT service) called “Carrier Pre-Select” or CPS.

CPS is applied at the local BT Exchange carrying your outbound phone calls, and causes the call to route automatically over your chosen carrier’s telephone network transparently, and frequently at substantial savings over BT rates.

Furthermore, the service is guaranteed by BT so that any “leaked” calls on their network as a result of any problems incur compensation from them.

All telephone network carriers now offer this service, some of them with on-line convenience and many useful on-line management capabilities, and it can be in place within 2 weeks of your request. You can even register all your homeworker’s telephone numbers onto the service, for single-bill convenience and workgroup savings.