Panasonic KXNT400 Touch Screen Telephone Review - This isn't a "Plain Old Telephone"

I had a chance yesterday to see the new Panasonic KXNT400 Touchscreen IP Telephone, and all I have to say is WOW!  This amazing unit isn't your average desk phone!  First off, it just looks really cool:

Immediately, your eye is drawn to the 5.7 inch touchscreen on the phone that provides one-touch, easy navigation to multiple feature options, from a contacts screen, to a chat screen, to a camera screen to view up to 20 Panasonic IP cameras, among others.  I was amazed at the ease of use and amount of information and functionality right at your fingertips.

See Panasonic NCP systems in action - Panasonic Case Study, Angie Brewer & Associates

With multiple locations, a CEO that’s always on the go, and working in a sector where reputation is the key to survival, the folks at Angie Brewer and Associates put their trust in the quality and reliability of Panasonic, and the ability of our NCP system to seamlessly integrate remote and mobile colleagues for anytime, anywhere access.

Click the link below to view the case study video:

Panasonic Case Study, Angie Brewer & Associates

What is “Hot Desking”?

Hot desking originates from the definition of being the temporary physical occupant of a work station or surface by a particular employee. The term hot desking is thought to be derived from the naval practice, called hot racking, where sailors on different shifts share bunks. Originating as a trend in the late 1980s to early 1990s, hot desking involves one desk shared between several people who use the desk at different times.  A primary motivation for hot desking is cost reduction through space savings - up to 30% in some cases.

This work surface could be an actual desk or just a terminal link. In any event the concept of the hot desk is that the employer furnishes a permanent work surface which is available to any worker as needed.

Hot desking is regularly used in places where not all the employees are in the office at the same time, or not in the office for very long at all, which means actual personal offices would be often vacant, consuming valuable space and resources.

Sorry for the interrupted posts!

There has been a two week interruption in our posts as one of our employees (me!) was stuck in one of the small Vermont towns that got completely cut off from the rest of the state when Hurricane Irene rolled through the NorthEast.  We had no power, water, cell service or phone for 5 days, and no way out or in of our town for almost two weeks.  We have had services back for about a week now, but needless to say, the rebuilding and recovering has taken top priority for us. 

I have been utterly amazed with the outpouring of support and help from our community, people and organizations around the state, and accross the United States.  This was a disaster unlike anything Vermonters have seen since the flood of `27 and the hurricane of `38, and everyone handled it with grace and the "Vermont Way".  Neighbor helping neighbor, towns banding together to get their neighbors safe and the roads rebuilt to get supplies in, and working from dawn `til dusk for the good of everyone.  There have been many times through this whole process that I have been moved to tears by the spirit of Vermonters, it has been hard mentally and physically, but incredibly fulfilling to the spirit and soul. 

As we slowly get back to "normal", or at least back to a NEW normal for us, we want to thank everyone that helped and supported our beautiful state through this.  The State and Town Officials, the National Guard from all over the country, the fire departments, emergency response and rescue teams, the tons of volunteers from around the country, and of course the amazing Vermonters that prove once again that if we band together, we can accomplish anything!

Please be sure to continue to support and help where and when you can.  The initial reconnections are done, no towns are isolated any longer, but there are many of our friends, family and neighbors that have lost everything, and there is a LONG way yet to go on the recovery, repairs and rebuilding.  Check out the fundraising events, donation drives, benefit concerts and shows, and volunteer opportunities in your area and help Vermont and it's dedicated residents.  Thank you! 

Proud to be a Vermonter,
S

Panasonic Leads Telephone Systems Category in CE PRO’S Brand Survey for EIGHTH Consecutive Year

Custom Electronics Industry’s Top 100 Integrators Rank Panasonic Business Phone Systems Well Ahead of Competing Brands

SECAUCUS, NJ (July 25, 2011) – For the eighth year in a row, CE Pro Magazine’s Brand Analysis Survey shows that Panasonic business telephone systems are being used by the vast majority of the CE Pro Top 100 Integrators*. The survey was confined to the elite group of top revenue-generating custom integrators who were asked to cite the brands they use in each of 41 categories, ranging from audio and video components to lighting and control systems to computers and telecommunications.

The CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis shows that 66% of the installers reported using Panasonic telephone products, with a 60 point lead over the next closest competitor.  The magazine noted that the next closest brand, NEC, garnered 6% of the total share, while Cisco captured 5%.

“It is a great honor to be recognized once again as the leading telephone systems brand among this elite group of custom installers,” said Bill Taylor, President of Panasonic System Networks Company of America.  “Their continued confidence and support help make us the number one brand year after year.”  

More information on Panasonic business telephone systems is available at www.Key-Comm.com

*CE Pro 100 Brand Analysis, published June 2011 by EH Publishing.

E-Messaging (Voicemail to Email), What Is It and Why Do You Need It?

A topic that comes up frequently in businesses is the issue of voicemail. It is surprising to hear how many people are still waiting until they get to the office to check their voicemail or calling into the office periodically to check messages. How many sales or opportunities are lost when you are on the road because you didn’t know you had an important voicemail left on your phone system at the office? Now with voicemail to email service, you can stay connected anywhere you are with E-Messaging.

So what is E-Messaging and what are the benefits?
Quite simply, E-Messaging is a voicemail to email service which digitally records your voicemail messages and then turns them into a sound file (such as a .wav or .mp3). That sound file then gets attached to an email message which would typically include the details of the call such as the date/time, the caller’s name and number and how long the message is. This being 2011 and all, everyone has a smart phone so that those voicemail to email messages are instantly viewable on your iphone, blackberry, android etc and you never miss another important voicemail. A for better or worse, you can receive voicemail messages 24 hours a day without having to give out your cell phone number directly to customers. Being able to listen to the .wav or .mp3 file right on your smart phone or in your email inbox is a huge benefit and a real time saver. You can even use voicemail to email as an after hours service to customers who might need emergency support.
What if you don’t have a smart phone? Voicemail to email services can also send you an email to your home computer or laptop whenever a voicemail is left for you so that you don’t have to call in to check it.

The Panasonic KXTVA Voice Processing system can be connected to your Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN) providing integration with your email. This ensures your staff receives important messages, no matter where they are!

Is Your Telephone and Voice Mail System Safe From Hackers?

There has been a recent increase in hacker attacks on business telephone and voice mail systems. The systems are hacked and used to make expensive telephone calls to international phone numbers or premium rate numbers at the expense of the unlucky company targeted. This type of attack is not limited to one type of system, ALL systems can be targeted, Hybrid, IP, Hosted IP, or basic PBXs. Unfortunately, many businesses adopt the "it can't happen to me" philosophy... until it's too late. Companies aren’t helpless against these hackers though – here are ten top tips designed to help you protect your telephone system from being hacked:

1) As obvious as it seems, many companies (including some installation companies) still forget to remove the default passwords from telephone and voice mail systems. Reset all default passwords as soon as possible and limit access to maintenance ports.

2) Change passwords regularly on telephone system and voice mail boxes to keep ahead of hackers. Make passwords as difficult as possible and avoid using your extension number as your password, or the "1234" or “Default” passwords at all costs.

3) Limit call forwarding by extensions. If one extension user has no need to forward to mobile for example, then block forwarding access to outside numbers, or limit to specific numbers, at that extension.

4) Make sure you always monitor (or disable if not needed) DISA – Direct Inward System Access.

5) Make sure that the telephone system hardware is kept in a secure place that has limited access.

6) Always check your telephone bills regularly and review your calls as often as you can. Also review your Telephone Service Provider line features, as many new VOIP lines have features that you (and your service provider) may be unaware of.

7) Block access and change the passwords of unused mailboxes, or even better, delete unused mailboxes.

8) Make sure you are aware of what functions your telephone system can carry out – and then deactivate those functions you don’t use.

9) Assess the security of all the telephone and voice mail system applications.

10) Always be on the lookout for signs of hacking – investigate any calls made outside of business hours. Most hacks occur on weekends and long holiday weekends.

Please contact Key Communications for a security assessment of your system.