August 8, 2006

Why is BT focusing on Small Business IT?

Recent acquisition of Dabs.com by BT has prompted the question, why is British Telecom (BT) suddenly focusing on small businesses - away from telecom towards IT?

Perhaps the reason has to do with the fact that there are about 1.5 million small to medium size businesses (SMEs) in the UK – that offers BT revenue potential through the traditionally close relationship that SMEs have with local suppliers.

Analysts at BT would say small business are incredibly diverse and their requirements vary and as such there is huge potential to offer their products and service to small businesses - whether it's through web site development, running websites, cutting call costs with Voice over IP phone services, or using the latest in laptops, PDAs and wireless access to run their businesses on the move.

BT is not the only conglomerate that's focusing their efforts on small businesses; Microsoft currently launched it small business servers and it already provide financial accounting software including other products and services.

BT’s acquisition of Dabs.com is recognition of the fact that smaller businesses often prefer dealing with local suppliers, so there’s now BT Local Businesses all around the UK that can attend to customer's needs on a one to one basis.

With competition from VOIP (voice Over Internet Protocol) that offers lower if not free telephone costs, BT needs to recognize the new competitive environment and like other large telecoms and IT companies they cannot ignore the purchasing power and shopping habits of small businesses.

David
Small Business Resource

Posted by David at 5:14 PM

November 18, 2005

Small Business VIOP

Small Businesses Would Be Crazy Not To Use VOIP Like Google Talk Free VOIP Service To Reduce Telephone Bills.

If you run a small business and you're not using VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) to reduce your telephone bills then its time you give your customer service and debtors (receivables) collection staff a microphone and headset and get them to sign up to a free VOIP service like Google Talk.

Google Talk is a free VOIP service for individuals including small businesses. You can make free worldwide phone calls, not only that, you could use VIOP services like Google Talk to build good customer relations by staying in frequent touch, right from your computer.

Imagine, using VOIP like Google Talk would slash your telephone bills. If your business is international using Google Talk could save you thousands of pounds.

To Use Google Talk the first thing you'll have to do is to subscribe to Google's Gmail. Google Talk is a free add-in to Google Mail that provides text messages, free phone calls to everyone who is connected to the internet.

Setting Up Google Talk Is Easy

Follow these three simple steps And start using Google Talk;

1. Get a Gmail account. Setting up a Gmail account is free. If you don't have a Gmail account contact me and I'll help you get one.

2. After you have a mail account, simply download the Google talk program from Google's website.

3. Install the Google Talk program you downloaded onto your computer.

That's it you're ready to go.

Quick Guide To Using Google Talk VOIP Service

Google Talk will automatically start every time you log onto your computer (you can turn this feature off).

Click on the Google Talk icon to the right of your windows toolbar.

You'll see the Google Talk display and the status of people who you regularly communicate with. To display all your Gmail contacts simply right click and select Gmail contacts.

To Make Phone Calls Using Google Talk VIOP Service

1. Click on Google Talk "friend" whose status is shown as available, next click on the phone icon to start your call.

2. You should hear the ringing tone and if your contact is available they'll answer the phone.

3. When you're finished your call simply click "end call".

That's all there is to using Google talk to make free phone calls.

As the VIOP hots up small businesses and individuals who embraces the technology will be the real winners. Small business VOIP or VOIP services that's geared to businesses offer great possibilities to get close and "intimate" with customers.

D Davis
Small Business Resource

Posted by David at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)