Cool Technology Trends

From wearables to apps to self-sterilizing keyboards, technology is helping to make lives easier and more enjoyable. We've compiled a list of some cool (and innovative) technology trends to look out for.

Wearables!

Fashionable yet functional, the wearable tech craze has just begun and it's not going to slow down anytime soon.

From glasses to watches to baby monitors, these gadgets can do anything from track your daily fitness activities to monitor your baby’s sleeping patterns.
 

• Liquid Image Co® is a leading Action Camera manufacturer and the developers of the first in-goggle camera with the lens mounted at eye level, allowing for True POV video capture. The Apex HD+ is a Full HD Video Snow Goggle with WiFi for live streaming to Smartphones and Tablets. With the camera lens positioned just above the eyes, the Apex captures True POV footage of everything you see. (pictured above) 
• Intel unveiled a headset nicknamed “Jarvis” that is supposed to act like a personal assistant.
• Razer’s Nabu is a smartband health tracker that reports calories burned, steps taken and hours slept, among other things.
• A SmartOne infant sleep monitor fits into a chest pocket and sends information and active alerts ontemperature, baby orientation, and breathing to a parent's mobile device.
• The Quardiocore heart monitor can send the electrocardiogram to a smartphone and the EKG can be forwarded to a physician for remote heart monitoring.
• YEI Technology's PrioVR, a virtual reality gaming accessory, allows sensors on the player to translate movement into the game.

 Rumor has it that Google is coming out with a watch that has it all! Rather than having to pull out your smartphone or tablet for frequent email, text and social media updates, you’ll glance at your watch.

Check out more wearable technology at http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/wearable-technology-ces-2014/. 

Apps
 
Technology companies are constantly developing new apps to make our lives easier. There’s literally an app for everything!
Five years ago, Apple only offered 500 apps for download on its brand new App Store on iTunes. As of October 2013, Apple announced 1 million apps in its App Store.

Top Apps of 2014 from CBS News

• Beautified is an app that offers discounted spa services and helps you find and book same-day beauty appointments. 
• Hotel Tonight is an app that features last-minute hotel deals.
• Groupon Reserve gets you 20 to 40 percent off last-minute dinner reservations.
• TodayTix is a new app that gets you up to 50 percent off theater tickets.

     
Self-sterilizing Keyboards
 
Forget all the Lysol and hand sanitizer! The ultra-modern UVLightBoard zaps bacteria from its surface as you type.

Smart TVs getting smarter

Nowadays more and more customers expect the ability to use Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video and their web browser via their televisions. As a result, television manufactures are working harder and harder to make their TVs even smarter.

Smart TV shipments are expected to reach 123 million in 2014 – up from about 84 million in 2012.

3D Printing
 
The world has already seen some amazing things from 3D printing. However, from the looks of things it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

The Business & Leisure Quandary:

5 Tips to a Stress-Free Vacation

A true vacation is tough for many small business owners and managers who feel the need to relentlessly check e-mail and texts from the beach. Many fear of missed opportunities, employees slacking off, or that business will not operate smoothly when they are away.
 

In a recent survey commissioned by Sam's Club, nearly 50% of small business owners only take major holidays off (if any days at all). And when they do find time to relax, many still find themselves attached to their laptops or smartphones and taking calls.
 
However, taking a vacation is an important component to avoiding burnout, relieving stress and re-energizing creativity. Here are a few steps that you can take to help you achieve a more enjoyable (and much deserved) vacation.

5 Steps to a Stress-Free Vacation
 
1. Plan your vacation around slow periods in your business
For those owners and managers who fear that going away will wreak havoc on the business, experts suggest scheduling a vacation in a historically slower time for your company. These ‘slow periods’ depend on your industry. If you are a florist, taking a vacation during any holiday season may not be ideal. However, if you have an office job, holidays may be the best time.
 
2. Tie up loose ends and complete any big projects
If you must, stay late for a couple of days and make sure that any big projects that you are working on are completed before you leave for your vacation. Not only will you have less weighing you down when you're away, but if you're able to start fresh, you'll also have a smoother transition back to the office.
 
3. Empower your employees and delegate
Put a good plan in place with your employees and don’t forget to delegate tasks and responsibilities. Start handing off assignments early so you can answer any questions well before you leave. If certain aspects of the business are of particular concern to you, ask for brief daily emailed updates to keep your mind at ease. 

Do not assume the worst, trust your employees.

If necessary, pick the right person to manage your small business while you're on vacation and train them to do it ahead of time. You should do this even if you're not planning a vacation just in case you are unable to work for some reason.
 
4. Set a Schedule (to check in, if you must)
If it makes you feel more at ease to keep tabs on things, set aside specific times during the day to check e-mail or make calls. But stick to only those times. For example, check your email first thing in the morning before your kids get up.

Use technology. It is your friend.
 
Many business owners and managers are able to take advantage of current technology and take their work with them when they travel (just in case something should come up). As long as you can work remotely and are vacationing in places with acceptable technological resources (such as electricity and wireless Internet) you can use your smartphone or laptop/tablet to check in.
 
Many business phone systems also offer advanced call routing so you can have calls forwarded directly to your hotel room or cell phone. You can even customize your settings by day, time and caller.
 
5. Manage Client Expectations
Tell any clients that you work with directly when you will be taking vacation well in advance so you can address any concerns before-hand. Also, inform them of who they can contact in case a question or issue should arise while you are away.
 
Planning a stress-free vacation takes a little planning on your part, but it will be well worth it in the end. And once you have your processes and procedures solidified you may be surprised by how many more “vacation” days you could actually take (and enjoy).

Find Me Follow Me: Intelligent Call Routing

Receive calls anytime, any place and from any device - never miss another important call again 

Find Me Follow Me, also referred to as Mobile Office, is one of the most beneficial features of a business phone system.

With Find Me Follow Me, your office doesn’t have to be restricted to your main place of business.  This powerful feature allows your employees to receive calls anywhere, anytime and from any device with the appearance of them being in the office. Calls can be routed to a cell phone, another number (like a home office or hotel room), or another person (like a receptionist or a co-worker). You can even customize how you receive calls by day, time and even caller.


Benefits 

• Give out one number and work from anywhere without missing a call 
• Keep your cell phone and home numbers private 
• Customize how you receive your calls by day, time, and even caller 
• Have calls ring to multiple phones at the same time or in an order of your choice (for example: ring your cell phone first, and then your home office).

More business VoIP phone service features

How Call Forwarding can benefit your business

Click here to view larger image

First impressions count, especially in business. That's why it's important to have a phone system that not only makes you look and sound professional, but guarantees that your customers reach you when they need to.
 
Call Forwarding allows you to forward calls to another phone number (including a cell phone or home number) so you never have to worry about missing an important call.

You can set up rules, menus, and queues based on your needs. 


Call Forwarding categories include:
-    All Calls
-    When Busy
-    Do Not Disturb
-    No Answer
-    Selective Forwarding
-    When Out of Service
 
With Call Forwarding, you can also choose to have calls blocked all together, or sent directly to voicemail.

Call Forwarding is included free with TouchTone’s Business VoIP phone service. To learn more, call 800-900-5474, or visit http://www.touchtone.net/business-phone-service.html.

More Business VoIP phone service features.

TouchTone Communications Offers 30-Day Free Trial of Business VoIP Phone Service

NEWS ALERT

WHIPPANY, N.J. (April 28, 2014) – TouchTone Communications, a nationwide voice and data provider, today announced a 30-day free trial promotion of its Business VoIP phone service.

Using existing Internet connection, Business VoIP delivers a complete turnkey business phone solution including unlimited local and long distance, faxing, conference calling, and full-featured VoIP phones.

The free trial was designed to help businesses who are considering making the switch to a VoIP service more easily evaluate how well VoIP technology can cut overall costs, increase productivity among employees, and simplify IT management. The 30-day trial includes TouchTone’s standard office Business VoIP voice plan plus rental of a VoIP phone. Those interested in participating in the free trial can sign up at https://www.touchtone.net/business-phone-service-free-trial.aspx.

“In addition to considerable cost savings, Business VoIP provides a disaster proof, feature rich and scalable phone system at the fraction of the cost of traditional phone service,” said Pino Bio, President of TouchTone Communications. “With dozens of enterprise-class calling features to choose from, even the smallest companies can look bigger and sound more professional overnight.”

The system allows users to make and receive calls anytime, anywhere and from any device, and also connects multiple locations, remote employees and home offices under one main number, one extension list and one set of unified calling features.

“We are a small business with several offices. Phone systems always required a ‘closet’ for the equipment and an expense commitment. Our problem was keeping in contact with employees when they were working out of the office,” said Bob DuVal, President of UCC, Inc.

“With TouchTone we have no equipment to house, our phones are portable and we have one telephone number no matter how many locations we use. Monthly usage charges are much less. Our employees are always linked with one phone system no matter where they are working. The TouchTone system is reliable, call quality is perfect and if we need help utilizing a seldom used feature, the customer support staff is knowledgeable and quick to help,” added DuVal.

The service eliminates upfront capital investments and ongoing overhead expenses by enabling businesses to leverage the cloud as a platform to deploy communications devices and applications.  Both the service and PBX are fully managed off-site by TouchTone Communications; so unlike traditional phone systems, customers do not have to install and manage complicated and costly equipment.

Although large communication providers like RingCentral, Vonage, AT&T and Verizon are in the hosted VoIP game, Bio believes that not only does TouchTone’s Business VoIP phone service compare in both price and features, but outperforms in customer service.

“TouchTone’s Business VoIP caters specifically to small and medium sized businesses and home offices. Many times with larger providers these types of customers get lost because of their size. SMBs are the bread and butter of America and we want to make certain that they receive the same great benefits of a Fortune 500 phone system, but at a price that they can afford,” said Bio.

Businesses and IT professionals can select from a choice of plans, may mix and match feature sets including advance calling and unified messaging features and choose from a variety of VoIP Phones from Cisco and Polycom.

TouchTone Communications offers a comprehensive portfolio of voice, data, cloud and managed services that can be customized to meet the communications needs of any size business.

About TouchTone Communications, Inc.:
Incorporated in 1993, TouchTone Communications provides a comprehensive suite of voice and data services  via its proprietary network and through multiple Tier 1 service providers. Serving residential, enterprise, SMB, government and wholesale customers nationwide, TouchTone prides itself on providing the highest quality service at the most competitive rates, while always maintaining first-class customer service.  For more information please call 1-800-266-4006, or visit http://www.touchtone.net. More information on TouchTone can be found at: 

Twitter: @TouchToneNet
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/touchtone-communications
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TouchToneCommunications
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TouchToneComm/feed

How can an Auto Attendant help your business?

The benefits of an auto attendant.

An auto attendant acts like a virtual assistant and replaces the need for an actual receptionist or operator. An auto attendant automatically greets callers and directs them to the right person or department by simply pressing a button.

For example: for Sales, press 1; for Support, press 2; to dial by name, press 3.

It can make any size business look bigger and sound more professional overnight.  It is one of the many powerful calling features offered by Business VoIP phone service.

Customize your auto attendant to suite your needs. You can set up your auto attendant with the following options:

-    Dial by name directory
-    Dial by extension directory
-    Transfer to user
-    Transfer to a user’s voicemail
-    Transfer to another Auto Attendant

You can set up multiple auto attendants, including an auto attendant for employees.

For example:

To speak with John, press 1.

Once the call is transferred, a second auto attendant can be set up with additional options.

To leave a message, press 1; to reach me on my cell, press 2; to speak with someone in Support immediately, press 3.

Benefits of an Auto Attendant:

-    Look bigger and sound more professional
-    Replace the receptionist and/or operator
-    Route calls efficiently and effectively
-    Customize (set up separate auto attendants for business hours, after hours, and holidays)
-    Record directly from your phone or upload a pre-recorded greeting

To learn more about TouchTone’s Business VoIP phone service, visit http://www.touchtone.net/business-phone-service.html.

Opportunity in Telecom: VoIP Sales Representative Position Available

Base salary + uncapped commissions + benefits

TouchTone Communications has immediate opening for a VoIP Inside Sales Representative in their corporate Whippany office. 

As a member of the Business Sales team, the VoIP Inside Sales Representative is responsible for acquiring and maintaining new business opportunities by selling TouchTone’s Business VoIP solution to small and medium sized business customers; including generating interest, qualifying leads, and signing up new customer accounts.

The ideal candidate must be a college graduate with previous sales experience or sales professionals with one to three years related inside/outside sales experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Aggressive compensation plan including salary and commissions. For successful professionals, there is no cap on commissions with unlimited income potential.

Core Responsibilities:

• Qualifying lead referrals and closing new accounts/customers.
• Developing new leads through building relationships, cold calling, referrals, Internet research, and social media.
• Up-selling existing business customers as needed. 
• Preparing, processing, and ensuring accurate completion of new quotes/proposals as well as service contract documents. 
• Managing and tracking activities and progress in Company databases.
• Conducting product demonstrations via the phone and Web conferencing. 
• Handling inbound customer calls and engaging resources to solve concern.
• Present a professional image in all communications to potential customers.
• Maintain confidentiality of all customer and Company records and account numbers.

Required Skills:   

• 1-3 years professional sales experience, preferably in VoIP or business telephone systems
• Working knowledge of voice and data communications including VoIP and business telephone systems
• Proven track record of exceeding corporate objectives and quota attainment
• Self-driven, motivated and results-oriented
• Professional demeanor; team player orientation
• Strong sales ability, problem solving skills, and responsiveness
• Energetic and positive attitude
• Strong organizational skills
• Desire to thrive in a high energy, quota driven, and evolving sales environment 
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Bi-lingual is a plus

Apply online at
http://jobview.monster.com/VoIP-Sales-Representative-Job-Whippany-NJ-132897725.aspx