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Conferencing Surcharges Eliminated
for Appia Customers:
Managed Services Monthly
As of February 1, we’re happy to announce that Appia customers are protected from the deceptively high calling charges involved in using some so-called “free” conferencing services.
Also in this issue:
- Learn to forward your calls quickly and easily
- Our newest case study features a hardworking nonprofit organization
- And even Ma Bell doesn’t want her landlines anymore!
In This Issue
Conferencing Surcharges Eliminated for Appia Customers
TecHint: Forwarding Your Calls to Another Phone
Featured Customer: United Cerebral Palsy Association
Even Ma Bell Doesn’t Want Her Landlines Anymore
Conferencing Surcharges Eliminated for Appia Customers
Some conference-calling services are exploiting a loophole in telephone regulations to charge as much as 30 cents per minute for their calls.
We’ve been working hard on this, and as of February 1, we’ve made arrangements with other carriers to shield our customers from these charges. Users of these services will see the reduced rates on their February bills (distributed in March).
Of course, one way to cut your conferencing costs is to use Appia’s audio conferencing service. It’s free to set up and only 5.9 cents per minute for reservationless toll-free access, with no hidden charges. If you have other Appia services, you may even qualify to use it for free. Contact Patty Bell-Johnson to get started.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 877-277-4297.
TecHint: Forwarding Your Calls to Another Phone
If you’re going to be away from your IP phone but still want to receive your calls, it’s easy to forward your calls to another number, such as your mobile phone:
- Press the CFwdAll soft key. You will hear two beeps.
- Enter the number to which you want to forward all of your calls. Enter the number exactly as you would if you were placing a call to that number (e.g., dial 9 to get an outside line, etc.). An animated phone icon flashes in the upper-right corner of your LCD screen to confirm that call forwarding is active.
To cancel call forwarding when you return, press the CFwdAll soft key again.
Featured Customer
Founded in 1953, the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Indiana (UCPAGI) provides support and services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and their families.
With only two full-time staff members, UCPAGI delivers information, advocacy, and financial assistance to about 10,000 clients spread throughout all of Indiana’s 92 counties. The agency averages over 40 new clients each month and responds to nearly 2,000 requests each year. UCPAGI does not charge any fees to the clients it serves, and it does not receive any federal, state or local government funding.
Nonprofits face unprecedented challenges in the current economy. In our latest case study, see how UCPAGI cut costs and improved operations with Appia’s hosted VoIP services.
Even Ma Bell Doesn’t Want Her Landlines Anymore
Things are getting pretty rough for the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) when even AT&T publicly announces it wants to junk the old phone system in favor of newer technologies like VoIP.
In a strongly-worded filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), America’s original phone company said that traditional phone systems and services are “relics of a bygone era” with revenues in “a death spiral.” AT&T wants the FCC to set a timetable for phasing out the traditional phone system so it can focus on VoIP, wireless and broadband technologies instead.
“Revenues from POTS (plain old telephone services) are plummeting as customers cut their landlines in favor of the convenience and advanced features of wireless and VoIP services,” AT&T is quoted as saying. “Due to technological advances, changes in consumer preference, and market forces, the question is when, not if, POTS service and the PSTN over which it is provided will become obsolete.”
Expect to hear a lot more about these plans as 2010 marches on.
Managed Services Recap
Miss an issue of Managed Services Monthly? Visit our archives anytime. Here are some links to the last issue:
Happy New Year! Free Video for January
Managed Services Recap: The Year in Review
TecHint: Faster Ways to Leave a Voicemail
A Resolution You Can Keep: Simplify and Save
Featured Customer: ProLiance Energy
$500 Customer Referral Reward
Appia Customers: Do you know a company or organization that would benefit from Appia’s services? Let us know right away. If your referral results in a new customer, you get a $250 VISA gift card and your organization gets $250 off its next monthly Appia invoice!
To qualify, you must send your referral’s name, organization, phone number, and email address to referral@appiaservices.com.
Appia on Twitter
Twitter users can check us out @AppiaServices. We post the latest Appia news and keep track of a few things we find interesting. If you're out there, let us know, and we'll keep track of you too!
Appia Regional Managers
To learn more about how Appia's products and services can benefit your organization, please contact your Appia Regional Manager:
Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa
Frank Beltrano
312-893-6403
frank@appiaservices.com
Michigan, Indiana and Ohio
Dan Swain
574-707-7788
dan@appiaservices.com
New York and the Northeast
Odila Rivera
646-825-2137
odila@appiaservices.com
California, Texas and All Other Regions
Jason Ulm
317-715-9507
jason@appiaservices.com
Partnership Information
Tim Mahan
630-406-6590
tmahan@appiaservices.com
