The Communicator

Volume 11, Issue 9

In This Issue

Product Spotlight

Thank You

Caleb's Cellular Corner

Business Only Broadband

Barb's Help Desk: AT&T POTS Renewals!

RAM Referral Program

Mather Lifeways Cellular Management Case Study

About RAM

Salute Organization

Product Spotlight

Verizon's Jetpack

Many folks ask Rob what he's using for mobile Internet. The Verizon Jetpack has been his trusty companion for the past year. "I use it on the road, at appointments and presentations. It's been consistent and reliable". Check out the product at the link above. Contact Rob anytime for more information.

Greetings. Hope this letter finds you well. Fall is here and before you know it Halloween with it ghosts and goblins will be upon us.

In this month's issue of "The Communicator" we have many items to cover. Please pay close attention to Barb's article on AT&T POTS Line Rate Hikes. AT&T may or may nor inform you if your account is due for a rate hike. Be sure to check your AT&T bill for any changes and let us know if you have any questions.

Shane's article on service diversity is very important if your business needs to look at ways of improving its internet performance and up time. Caleb now has an AT&T product that completes directly with Nextel's old 'direct connect' technology. If your business can benefit from this technology you will want to learn more from Caleb.

Also, don't forget to set your clock back on November 3, 2013.

As always, we thank all of you and especially those clients who have been keeping us busy this fall. Stay warm and enjoy the new season.

Regards,

Best Regards,

Rob McCoy

RAM Communications Inc

Thank You!

RAM Communications would like to thank the following clients for their business:

American Access Casualty
Arlington Heights Park District
Champion Medical Group
Engineered Components Company
Landmark Capital Holdings
Mather Lifeways
New Ins Insurance
Real Urban BBQ

CALEB'S CORNER

Do you have a large number of employees in a warehouse or out in the field that you would like to communicate with at anytime but don't want them using a company phone for personal use? Maybe you just don't want to pay the high cost of cell phone plans today and for features you will never use?

AT&T now has Advanced PTT (Push-To-Talk) which is like having a walkie-talkie without range limitations. Advanced PTT allows you to connect up to 1000 devices and allows your workers unlimited communication within your business for only $30 a month. You can communicate one on one or create groups and send out a message to everyone at once. AT&T also has a number of military spec rugged devices designed especially for PTT use.

To learn more please visit

https://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/business-programs/small/plans/plan-features/enhanced-push-to-talk/index.jsp

and contact Rob at RAM.

If you think this product could benefit you, please contact RAM. We'll be happy to have Caleb tell you more about AT&T's Advanced PTT Service.

RAM Communications Inc.

847-358-0917
rob@ramcomminc.com

BUSINESS ONLY BROADBAND

(BOB'S LATEST SOLUTIONS . . .)

Did you know?

Network Redundancy and Diversity in the last mile is a key element missing from nearly all Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).

Most businesses do not think twice in adding a second Internet/data connection for back up when developing a DR/BCP. Maybe they should.

More than 90% of so called backup connections are not truly diverse from the primary carrier - especially in the last mile. Often, customers discover this fact after it's too late. All buried utilities can be compromised from flooding, construction, train derailment or other calamity. What's left after the one essential network architecture considered paramount has broken down?

In order to have a successful DR/BCP in place, a diverse Internet/data connection is an indispensable component. Experts agree your back-up Internet connection must not, under any circumstance, cross any path or share conduit with your primary connection. If you have two connections that are underground for instance, and those underground lines are compromised, you may lose all Internet/data connectivity until they are restored.

Based on the 2012 Global Disaster Recovery Index , while small and medium businesses (SMBs) are more confident in their ability to backup and recover their data after a disaster, there are still huge gaps in their DR/BCPs when it comes to the last mile. Here are some surprising stats found in the report:

* One third (32%) of businesses are very concerned their backup and disaster recovery operations will fail in the wake of a serious incident (p.2)

* A similar number (34%) know they will suffer substantial downtime as a result (p.2)

Almost half (47%) say their last mile vulnerability are not supportive of their backup and disaster recovery operations (p.2) * 86% of the 6000 SMBs responding to the survey experienced multiple instances of down-time, that on average lasted 2.2 days and cost each business $366,363 (p.5)

* Human error is the most common cause (60%) of system downtime (p.5)

Finally, most businesses today are implementing some form of virtualization and cloud computing. Adding these services to the mix requires a DR/BCP with a fast, reliable and truly diverse last mile. A fixed wireless Internet/data option takes all the guess work out of last mile diversity. BOB rises 300 feet, bypassing buried utilities to deliver with 24/7/365 support. And, if you read my article last month, you will recall that microwave is faster than fiber. Utilizing a microwave option from BOB in your DR plan will ensure 100 percent network up-time for your mission-critical data applications.

To find out more visit BOB today at:

Shane Hampton
Business Only Broadband
630-242-6801

AT&T POTS LINE ACCOUNT RATE HIKES

Barb's Help Desk Barb

During the past few months, RAM has seen a spike in AT&T charges on POTS lines for old contracts. In some cases, AT&T is doubling and even tripling the rate of its POTS lines.
In past years, AT&T was very lenient on raising rates on expired contracts.

This year, however, AT&T is reviewing its client base and looking for expired contracts. Under their contract provision, AT&T reserves the right to invoice at its highest retail rate when a customer contract is expired. Whenever possible, RAM will notify you if we see a pending contract expiration in our file.

Otherwise, here's what RAM recommends you do to avoid these rate hikes.

1. Look for separate AT&T notices in the mail. By law, AT&T must send you a written notice of any pending rate hike.

2. If you get a notice, pass it along to RAM immediately so we can review it for accuracy and recommend account changes or modifications.

3. If you notice a spike in your AT&T account send RAM the invoice so we can help you negotiate a better contract.

In some cases, depending on the type of package you have, AT&T will no longer honor the same rate. However, in every case, RAM will make sure you get the most competitive rate and avoid retail pricing.

If you have any questions call Barb at RAM today!

847.358.0917 x201

RAM Referral Program

Referral Program 2013

Ram Communications wants to show our appreciation for your quality referrals. We will send you a $25 restaurant.com certificate for every qualified referral that schedules an appointment. If they then become a client within six months of that appointment, we will donate $100 to the charity of your choice.

Our business contacts give referrals because we have earned their trust and they appreciate the value we can offer someone else. Contact us to learn how to spot our ideal client.

LInda McWhirt
Marketing Dept.
847.358.0917 x205
linda@ramcomminc.com