We are thrilled to make available the following new services and features of our popular network care packages:

 24x7x365 Network Operations Center staffing.  Now our team can actually respond in real time to alerts - even at midnite on a Saturday -- and initiating remediation in your server or network core as needed. We've increased our daytime staffing, too!

24x7x365 Live End User Help Desk. Have a few (or a lot) of people who need the comfort of knowing there's a technician to answer their call any time of the day or nite, to assist with basic desktop, applications, or network problems?  We're now offering this for selected or all users at your firm. Call us to learn more.

Mobile Device Management. Wish we could help remotely with pesky smart-phone headaches? Now we can!  Concerned about finding or securing your phone if its ever lost or stolen? Now we can remotely turn it into a "brick", and/or track its location - even take pictures to assist with its recovery.

Patch Management Improvements. Beginning in Q4, we'll be adding remote control & management of 3rd party software updates - like Flash player, Adobe Acrobat & Reader, etc. Less for you to mess with, more that we can do for you.

Existing SynerTel Managed WorkPlace clients will be contacted by their account manager soon. If you are not yet enjoying the benefits of outsourced IT management, planning, and emergency response, just  call us at  415 746-1801 or email sales@synertel.com to learn more!

Its been a while - but the Bay Area is again running out of phone numbers - this time in the South Bay.  A new 669 area code will overlay the existing 408 territory.  Starting October 12, 2012, from inside the 408 area code on landline or mobile, you MUST dial 1 + 408 + NNN-NNNN to make calls - which formerly were only 7 digit dialing. Its fine to reconfigure today - 11 digit dialing is already accepted by all carriers for 408. 

Starting in November2012 , new telephone numbers will likely be assigned mostly from the new 669 area code.

Automatic dialing systems (alarm panels, entry control systems, speed dials, modems, securiy gates, call forwarding settings,  fax speed dials, etc.) will also need to be re-configured and tested.

You may also want to update email signatures, business stationery, pet rescue tags, marketing materials, etc. to ensure that all 10 digits are specified.  

If you need assistance with reconfiguration or testing, please contact our customer support team at 415 746-1800 or support@synertel.com

More information is also available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/408areacode  

  Many new software products were released in the last few months - and many of you are asking us "what should we do?".

 Windows 8 - WAIT. While there's a lot of cool stuff, W8 is really about touch screen functionality (and Windows-based tablets and smart phones). In the meantime - developers and support teams for software you use and rely on are still shaking out compatibility issues - and (as often happens), device drivers for trusty old printers, scanners, web-cams etc. that you are using may not be updated soon (or ever) for Windows 8. Give this one some time - and if you feel strongly about W8 -do a thorough assessment of your applications, drivers, and hardware before deciding.  Need help? Give us a call! 

SERVER 2012 - GOOD TO GO!  Server 2012 mostly introduces a new concept of licensing which works well in virtualized server environments.  Licensing is much simpler than the dizzying array of options for Server 2008. You choose Standard or Enterprise - then buy additionall licenses for processors (cores).  Each Standard license allows the use of 2 virtualized servers - which is more economical than doing virtualization under Server 2008.  When purchased through SynerTel's Microsoft Open License program, end users receive down-grade rights - which means you can continue to run Server 2008 (and perhaps 2003 in some cases) using the 2012 licenses. Ask us for a consultation if you're ready to think about virtualization, cloud hosting, or are wondering if your current Microsoft licensing is in compliance.

APPLE IOS 6 for iPhone - WAIT. Apple Maps is not functioning well (though you can use Google Maps thru the Safari browser),  Street View is lost, and Apple Flyover is very limited. And if you upgrade - there's no going back to a prior IOS if you don't like the results. . Hopefully a month or 2 will see the rough edges in IOS 6 smoothed out.   

Confused or want some help? Call us at  415 746-1800 or email support@synertel.com