Hosted VoIP for SMBs: Great Advantages at Lower Costs
SmartBiz.com (08/06/07) ; Aras, Chalan

With hosted VoIP services, small businesses gain access to the same telephone systems as their larger counterparts at a decent price. Because the systems are run and maintained by third-party providers, small companies do not need to install on-site PBX phone systems or network and call control infrastructure, dramatically reducing costs. They also save money by purchasing bundled voice and data services from one provider and eliminating the need for extra IT staff to add and remove extensions. Hosted VoIP services offer Wi-Fi telephony as well, allowing workers to handle calls without being tethered to their desks and eliminating the high costs of Ethernet cable installations.
http://www.smartbiz.com/article/articleview/2168/1/61

Monitor & Manage VoIP
Processor (08/03/07) Vol. 29 , No. 31 , P. 9 ; Chickowski, Ericka

Within three months to one year after implementing VoIP systems, companies often encounter dropped calls, crackles on the line, and other Quality of Service (QoS) problems. Experts indicate that many of the VoIP monitoring tools currently on the market do not provide enough information on such things as load sharing and LAN congestion. According to Network General product manager Jim Vale, "What you really need to understand are what are the applications out there and what are the demands that they put on the network in very small windows of time that can stretch a router or switch processing and lead to degrading of quality for Voice over IP packet services." Experts say ideal VoIP analysis and monitoring solutions measure QoS issues and pinpoint the location on the network where they arise. Network General's VoIP Intelligence, Agilent's Triple Play Analyzer, Empirix's Hammer Voice Quality Test Suite, and Radcom's OmniQ are among the applications that measure voice quality so that improvements can be made.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/P
2931/22p31/22p31.asp&guid=

Small Business Accounting Done Right
CPA Technology Advisor (07/01/07) ; Johnston, Randy

There are several accounting programs on the market for small businesses that are worth consideration, according to consultant Randy Johnston. Intuit offers SimpleStart for less than $100 for companies that only want to write checks and draw up basic financial reports. For those with more needs, Intuit offers several versions of its QuickBooks program: Pro, Premier, Accountant's Edition, and numerous industry-specific editions. In addition to inventory, payroll, and other popular accounting functions, the applications offer document management and customer relationship management tools. In regards to hosted, Web-based applications, companies can choose from QuickBooks Online, Sage's Peachtree Web Accounting, NetSuite, and Intacct--all of which offer data backup and facilitate data-sharing with clients. Microsoft offers Office Accounting Express at no cost, but users can access inventory, fixed assets, and other tools by paying for the Professional version. Other accounting applications available to small firms include CYMA, BusinessWorks, BusinessVision, Cougar Mountain, MYOB, and Simply Accounting.
http://www.cpatechnologyadvisor.com/print/The-CPA-Technology-Advi
sor/Small-Business-Accounting-Done-Right/1$1580

The Pain of Going Mobile
Risk & Insurance (07/07) Vol. 18 , No. 8 , P. 38 ; Clifton, Joshua

As more employees use laptops and other mobile devices to work outside the office, employers must become aware of the musculoskeletal dangers facing workers who continually use these tools. Laptops are especially problematic because their screens and keyboards are attached. This design forces users to break essential ergonomic rules, potentially causing serious neck, back, and wrist problems. Fortunately, employers can cut down on the risk to their mobile staff members through several simple changes. Any regular workstation, whether it is located in the home office or at a client's, should be equipped with a separate mouse and keyboard and an adjustable chair to reduce stress on the back and legs. Additionally, educating employees about their own safety is essential to producing healthy work habits. To achieve this goal, companies should encourage workers to employ the most ergonomically sound positions and discourage them from possible hazards, like carrying heavy laptop bags and working on airplanes with close quarters.

Tech Helps Agencies Tame Paper Tigers
National Underwriter (Property & Casualty - Risk & Benefits Management Edition) (07/16/07) Vol. 111 , No. 27 , P. 28 ; Iaccarino, Phil

Document management systems are touted as one way to successfully cut down data entry errors, customer dissatisfaction and duplicative work at an insurance firm, but for these systems to be successful, they have to be integrated into the company's overall technology strategy. Experts indicate imaging can help insurance workers complete tasks more quickly, while systems allow several users to view the same document at one time. Allowing teams of workers to view the same documents simultaneously can help build collaborative efforts and increase agency productivity. Moreover, document management systems can help insurance firms comply with the latest regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Document retention also is efficient under management systems because electronic audit trails are created when items are created, transferred, viewed, or altered.
http://www.propertyandcasualtyinsurancenews.com/cms/nupc/Weekly%2
0Issues/issues/2007/27/Technology%20Trends/P27DocManagement

On-the-Go Biz Owners Lining Up for 'Virtual Offices'
Long Island Business News (NY) (08/03/07) ; Daly, Ross

Small businesses increasingly are taking advantage of "virtual offices," which involve the use of technology to complete work-related tasks outside the office. Remote network monitoring tools let small business owners check in on their bricks-and-mortar offices while on vacation. Virtual offices also enable them to remain operational in the event of a disaster. CMIT Solutions President Armando D'Accordo stores data on his office computer and a laptop, with all of the data backed up in an off-site location. D'Accordo underscores the productivity benefits of virtual offices. "The days of 'Oh, I need to get back to the office to do your proposal' are gone," he explains.
http://www.libn.com/article.htm?articleID=39561

Managing Your Network
Processor (08/03/07) Vol. 29 , No. 31 , P. 1 ; Millard, Elizabeth

Small business owners often do not have a lot of time and money to devote to data center management, but there are several solutions that can help them avoid security threats and downtime without breaking their budgets. OpTier Executive Vice President Motti Tal recommends business transaction management (BTM) software that informs data center managers about situations that pose a threat to the network and operations, enabling them to better prioritize tasks and lower response times. According to Tal, "Employing a BTM solution in your environment ensures that at any given moment, and no matter what problem you're working on, the data you need about users, applications, and the business transactions they are executing is readily available." In regards to file transfers, experts say expensive encryption systems are not necessary, as they need only insert a single line of code into existing FTP scripts to take advantage of secure ZIP technology--which compresses and archives files using any mode of transfer. Also recommended by experts are desktop virtualization tools that involve the management of virtual desktops for use on any computer and open-source, automated network testing and validation programs.
http://www.processor.com/editorial/article.asp?Article=articles/p
2931/20p31/20p31.asp&GUID=DE99CB2531BD4E8190FEE1128FE2C456