What is the most significant trend in communications today? Why? 

Changes in regulation will drive trends for now.  As new services are introduced the uncertainty of how they will be regulated and how much of the weight of fees they will carry will make it difficult to make sound business decisions.  Add to that the challenges made to the FCC’s authority for net neutrality and the industry becomes even more unstable.  A few key decisions could change the industry as dramatically as the regulatory controlled opening of the local network in the 1990s.  Regulatory decision then fueled the bankruptcy of much of that industry. 

What is the one product or service the market is most in need of? 

Hosted and outsourced options have a window while the economy is struggling.  While companies don’t have the money for capital expenditures and are trying to keep their staff level low there are opportunities to give customers what they need from sources outside their office.  The key is for these services to provide a level of customer service that ties the customer to them so when finances become more available the customer is convinced the vendor can do a better job than their internal staff. 

How is your company leveraging the growth of social media to enhance your own business?

A year ago I didn’t know a tweet from a blog, but now my company heavily uses several social media sites.  ATL uses LinkedIn to both target our message to the right contacts and to find the right contacts when we are looking for services or assistance.  I now write a blog that answers questions about toll free issues like the 855 code release, disaster recovery, and VoIP requirements for toll free traffic.  It’s great to be able to distribute this information all at once instead of one call or e-mail at a time.  We are also getting new customers as they become aware that ATL RespOrg Services is a expert in the field. 

What are your thoughts on the viability of mobile video chat or conferencing?

I think options to travelling are important, but that many companies are not sure what is required to use the technology or comfortable with the quality.  Personally I think that in some cases the replacement of face to face contact is not good.  I find nothing equals sitting across the table from people, especially in group situations. 

Some have suggested wireless networking will soon replace wired networks in the enterprise.  Do you agree? Why or why not? 

A couple of years ago I would have said that that would not happen, but I am becoming a convert.  As wireless becomes better quality I see it having too many advantages over wired to ignore.  I think most enterprise customers will opt for a combination of both for some time because quality and reliability is still a problem. 

What impact has the growth of cloud-based services had on your business? 

We just installed our first IP telephone system last week.  I guess I need a little more time before I have a better answer.  I consider my views as an end user and I am in the “show me” stage. 

If you had the opportunity to decide the Net neutrality debate, how would you rule?

I would first order that the case be split so that the network use can be decided separately from content dissemination.    The Federal Court decision that overturned the FCC order to Comcast appears to be a network decision.  If an ISP needs to ratchet traffic from high volume downloaders to protect the throughput for their customers, I see that as reasonable.  Control of traffic for content I see as more a first amendment issue.   

You are exhibiting at ITEXPO West 2010.  What is the most exciting thing attendees will see at your booth? 

As I said above, the end-users are not convinced that the new VoIP carriers are reliable.  ATL

RespOrg Services will show these new telephony carriers how to increase sales by allaying those fears.  ATL RespOrg can show the carriers how to provide end-to-end disaster recovery for toll free services for as little as $80 per month and no capital investment. 

What is the one technology development that will have the greatest impact in 2011?

It’s not a technology; it’s a way to do technology development.  The new open source process for development will enable technology to develop faster and with greater creativity.  I’m not a developer, but when I first heard about Asterisk and how it has changed the way phone systems are developed I was impressed.

Warning! If you’re one that gets emotional reading sad stories, you may want to skip this post.

This is a post about Aelea Christofferson, and her sensitive nature. I know, I know; you might think I’m being facetious, but that’s not the case. Beneath that corporate exterior lies a heart of gold, and I’m only being slightly facetious when I say that.

I’m sure the question you want to ask is “Rick, what makes you want to write a blog post that discusses Aelea’s sensitivity?”

I’m writing this post because I want to let some of you know how bad you’ve made her feel.  Most of you know who you are already, and I’m quite ashamed of you! (Completely facetious) As for the rest of you, ummmm, you know, like in the Bay Area, GET A CLUE!

Aelea is making a special trip down there the week of July 26^th just to see y’all. She’s sent out personal invitations to all those she loves down there.  She’s a lot of fun to hang-out with, and has a Platinum Visa! If you’ve not yet accepted her gracious invitation to meet, clear your calendars and beg for forgiveness.

If you won’t do it for Aelea, please do it for the rest of us at ATL. We hate seeing her cry.

P.S.

Aelea will be visiting the East Coast this fall, and will also be at ITEXPO (west) in October. If you get an invitation, and want to stay on her good side (don’t we all?) please show her you care.

Have you ever wondered how ATL’s blogs come out so grammatically correct? It’s simple; they’ve been “Estherized”.

You see, ATL is fortunate enough to have a former English professor on our staff. Her name is Esther. We have a rule that anything that we write for public consumption has to be proofed by her, thus becoming “Estherized”.

Esther takes her grammar quite seriously; seriously enough that she keeps a ruler on her desk, and will bop you with it if she hears you speaking anything but the Queen’s English. Just ask Greg (who now knows what a preposition is). He’s felt the business end of Esther’s “Grammar Corrector” more than once.

I never knew conjugating verbs could be so much fun!

It’s a Girl!! Another Perfect Employee

Aelea Christofferson, ATL’s president recently looked up “RespOrg” in Wikipedia. What she found was the article contained some inaccuracies, so she wrote an updated definition of what a RespOrg is, and does. If you’d like view it click here.

On February 9^th Aelea Christofferson, a long time resident and business owner in Sunriver, testified before the Oregon Health Policy Board in a meeting in Portland.  Ms. Christofferson has been involved in state healthcare policies for several years and served on the Finance Committee for the Oregon Health Fund Board, a board appointment by Governor Kitzhaber to work out details for healthcare reform in Oregon.  As the only small business person and one of only two people from “this side of the mountains” the task was difficult and frustrating. 

 “From the first meeting I knew this was going to be an uphill battle,” Ms. Christofferson says.  The eighteen member committee was made up of three insurance executives, three business executives with employees in excess of 2000 people, four healthcare providers, three union representative and a few healthcare policy advocates.  Ms. Christofferson was the only small business person represented.  Since in Oregon the health insurance rules change dramatically for business under 50 this became a much unrepresented group.  This is especially troubling when of the businesses that employ people, in Oregon 97% are considered small businesses.  Although small business is considered a firm with 500 or fewer employees, it is actually the firms with fewer than 20 employees that showed net gains in employees.  

The subset of the committee was a group charged with working on a health insurance exchange, a concept available in Massachusetts and a clear need for small businesses according to Christofferson.  Since this concept has a huge impact on insurance and healthcare providers, the thirteen member committee jumped to 80% insurance and healthcare executives and unions and Ms. Christofferson became the only business person, small or large, on the subcommittee.  Totally outvoted the committee sent recommendations that included not including small business in the exchange.  Christofferson and two other members wrote a minority report that “I never thought would see the light of day” said Christofferson.  The report was attached as an appendix to the final report and it is that report that drove the invitation for Christofferson to be the sole invited testimony in their meeting on Tuesday.  The meeting will focus on the establishment of a health insurance exchange in Oregon. 

On March 6 Central Oregon will have the opportunity to hear some of the most influential healthcare reform advocates in Oregon in a panel discussion.  The program sponsored by the Oregon Interfaith Healthcare and Justice Committee will be held at First Presbyterian Church on 9^th Street in Bend from 10:00AM until noon.  The panelists will include Liz Baxter, Executive Director of the Archimedes Project, Governor Kitzhaber’s organization, Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Mike Bonetto, a member of the Healthcare Reform Board and a Bend resident, and Katherine Mastrangelo from Bend’s Volunteers in Medicine.  This will be a program that involves the audience and will provide ways others can influence the direction of Oregon’s healthcare in the future.

The answer is yes, disaster recovery is possible with Toll Free Numbers. Check out this very informative interview with Aelea.