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Technology & Your Business: A Beneficial Relationship |
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As a home-based business owner, you probably don't have a high-priced
IT manager on staff to fill you in on which technologies could help
boost your efficiency and success. You may also lack the confidence to
incorporate new technology into your home office, particularly if that
technology is unfamiliar.
The reality, however, is that there are technologies out there right
now which could save you money and help your business run smoothly.
Below are just a few examples.
Networking
Networking is basically the connecting of multiple computers so that
users can easily share and access files and programs on other
computers. Most companies use computer networking to help their workers
get their tasks done effectively. If your home has multiple computers
you can network them as well to receive similar benefits.
Networking can save you money. For one, you only need a single printer
or scanner because all of your home computers can use the same one. You
can also save on Internet fees. If you use a broadband connection, home
networking will allow you to use one connection for all of your home
computers.
Another benefit is that many pieces of software can also be shared between computers so you don't have to buy multiple copies.
To establish a simple network in your home, each computer needs to be
outfitted with a network adapter. Today, many come with these right out
of the box. You will also need to purchase the necessary cable and
hardware; the equipment you need varies depending on the type of
network you decide to establish.
You can use your existing phone line, install an Ethernet network, or
create a wireless network. While the prices vary for all of these types
of networks, all of them are affordable for most budgets.
Remote Access
As you may have realized, working from home often means being tied to
your computer and that can significantly limit your mobility, even if
you use a laptop. Remote access technology changes all that.
Remote access technology will allow you to work with all of the files
and programs on your primary computer even if you are a hundred miles
away from your office. If you are on vacation, on a business trip, at
the park with your children, at a coffee shop, or wherever you can keep
waiting, keep checking your email, and keep communicating with your
customers and clients.
Never being tied to your desk again simply requires you to purchase
remote access software. Some of the program, such as Norton's
pcAnywhere (http://www.symantec.com/pcanywhere), are available for
outright purchase while others like LapLink (http://www.laplink.com)
charge a monthly fee. Costs range from $40 to $200 and $9.95 to $29.95
respectively.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
If your business is like most, one of your biggest operating expenses
is your phone bill. Those long-distance calls to customers and vendors
can really add up each month and can dramatically eat into your
profits. With VoIP technology, however, you can reduce those bills and
save more of your revenue.
The technology allows you to use your broadband connection to make
unlimited local and long distance calls without having to pay those
additional fees or using a long distance carrier. Unlike early types of
voice communication over the Internet, VoIP technology does not detract
from the quality of the telephone reception. In fact, using the
technology to make or receive a call seems no different than using a
traditional telephone service.
With VoIP, a phone adapter is connected to your telephone and to your
broadband modem. When you make a call using your ordinary phone that
adapter converts the signal from analog to digital and sends it over
the Internet to the person you are calling.
When someone calls you, your telephone number essentially works like an
email address that guides the signal over the Internet and into the
phone adapter. The adapter converts the signal and sends it to your
phone. All of these steps occur in about the same length of time it
takes for a signal to travel those standard phone lines.
A number of providers currently are offering VoIP services. The phone
adapter, which is the only piece of hardware required, is not expensive
and some providers even include it for free when you sign up for
service. Most of these services charge a monthly fee that includes an
unlimited number of long distance and local calls, plus features like
call waiting and voice mail.
The most popular of these services, Vonage (http://www.vonage.com),
offers unlimited minutes which can be used for local or long distance
calls within the United States as well as free voicemail, caller ID,
call transfer, and more as part of their small business plan. This plan
costs only $49.95 per month. That's considerably less than what the
average business spends on their phone bill.
The bottom line is that in today's business world, you need every
advantage you can get. Technology can help give you that advantage.
Make the most of it.
Vishal P. Rao is the owner of Home Based Business Opportunities - One of Internet's leading website dedicated to starting, managing and marketing a home based business.
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