AT&T Abandons Voice Minutes for Unlimited Calling But… |  |
- AT&T Abandons Voice Minutes for Unlimited Calling But…
- Woman Ticketed for Wearing Google Glass While Driving
- Staffing Up For The Holidays
- 10 Things to Be Thankful For as a Small Business Owner
- Amazon Offers Developer Select Status to Some Apps
- Power Up with 8 Battery Packs that Keep You on the Go
| AT&T Abandons Voice Minutes for Unlimited Calling But… Posted: 07 Nov 2013 02:00 AM PST
If you use your smartphone to place a lot of calls for business, here’s some potentially good news. AT&T is eliminating voice minutes from most of its future plans, offering unlimited voice calls and texting instead. But that’s only because AT&T and other major carriers know the real wave of the future isn’t in voice calls at all, but in data transfer. AT&T was the last holdout among major U.S. mobile carriers. Only one AT&T plan remains that still offers the voice minutes option. Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile have already made similar moves, offering unlimited calling and texting to all or most customers. Carriers Make More Money On Data TransferU.S. carriers have figured out they can make much more money on data transfer fees than on charging for calls and texts, the Wall Street Journal reports. This is when you use your smartphone more like a mini computer to search the Web and do things online than like a communications device. AT&T noted a 17.6 percent increase in revenue on data and a 5.1 percent increase in wireless revenue as part of its report on third quarter earnings recently. Meanwhile, voice, text and other services saw a 2.6 percent drop over the same period. The increased popularity of data transfer can be seen in AT&T data shared from a recent World Series game in St. Louis. While AT&T says fans placed about 18,000 voice calls and sent about 61,000 text messages, the real action was in data transfer. There AT&T noted fans had used 173GB of data during the game. To put that into perspective, AT&T says it would be the equivalent of sending 494,000 social media updates with photos or listening to more than 5,700 hours of streaming online music. The news that AT&T has followed other major carriers in offering unlimited calling on most plans may be great for businesses that use their phones mainly for voice calls. Just be sure to check the data transfer charges on your plan. That’s where carriers will be making their money in the future. Image: Wikipedia The post AT&T Abandons Voice Minutes for Unlimited Calling But… appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Woman Ticketed for Wearing Google Glass While Driving Posted: 06 Nov 2013 04:00 PM PST
Before you decide to wear Google Glass to hold a conference call or check your email while speeding down the highway, think again. That’s especially true if you happen to live in Southern California. Cecilia Abadie says she wasn’t even using the device when police pulled her over for allegedly going 80 mph in a 65 mph zone near San Diego. Yet — besides the speeding, of course — Abadie says the citation clearly mentioned Google Glass. She was wearing the light weight frames containing the tiny computer interface while behind the wheel. However, she says it wasn’t even on at the time. As might be expected, Abadie took to Google Plus immediately after being stopped. She wrote:
Abadie told the Associated Press she would probably fight the ticket. (She’s talking, presumably, about the part that doesn’t deal with her allegedly driving 15 miles above the posted speed limit.) So think carefully before donning your favorite wearable technology and climbing into the driver’s seat. Your friendly neighborhood law enforcement authorities may not take kindly to it. Image: Google+ The post Woman Ticketed for Wearing Google Glass While Driving appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Posted: 06 Nov 2013 01:30 PM PST Sponsored Post
Is your small business going to need more help this year to handle the holiday rush and provide great customer service? If you’re planning on staffing during the holidays, you'd better get a move on. A recent survey commissioned by Snagajob reports that nearly 70 percent of hiring managers will be adding hourly workers this holiday season, up from last year. They'll be adding 28 percent more seasonal employees than last year. Most managers who are adding seasonal workers started hiring last month, and will complete their seasonal staffing this month. That means competition is stiff. So if you've waited, below are some strategies to help you with your seasonal hiring and staffing during the holidays: Tap Your Social NetworksPost seasonal job openings on your business website, of course, but also promote them on your social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Use photos or videos to give a feel for what it's like to work at your business and make it look fun and exciting. Of course, you should also check in with your contacts on social networks such as LinkedIn to see if they have any suggestions for people seeking seasonal work. Try a Temporary AgencyIf you want to avoid the headaches of hunting for workers, as well as the hassles of handling all the paperwork and tax withholding, a temporary agency can be a good solution. Tell the temp agency what you want, and they'll find prospective candidates for you to interview. You pay the temp agency and they pay the worker, plus handle all the documentation, payroll and tax withholding that's needed so you don't have to worry about it. Think Outside the BoxMany seniors and stay-at-home moms are looking for extra money around the holidays. Depending on your seasonal hiring needs, these types of candidates could be perfect for you. Tap into local PTAs, tot lots or other organizations that attract stay-at-home moms (you can find lots of them on Facebook) to let people know you're hiring. Contact senior centers to see if you can post job listings on their boards or otherwise spread the word. Work With SchoolsTeens are the classic seasonal employee and the recession has left many teens looking for work as adults are filling jobs that typically went to them. Contact high school career centers or counselors, or college career or job placement centers, to find out about posting your seasonal job listings. Many will be happy to put their students in touch with you. Go VirtualIf you need customer service people to handle phone calls or online inquiries, consider hiring virtual customer service reps. You can place listings with companies such as oDesk or SimplyHired. It's not too late to find the perfect seasonal workers – you just have to know where to look. This article, provided by Nextiva, is republished through a content distribution agreement. The original can be found here. The Clock is Ticking Photo via Shutterstock The post Staffing Up For The Holidays appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 10 Things to Be Thankful For as a Small Business Owner Posted: 06 Nov 2013 11:00 AM PST
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we tend to turn our minds to the things that we’re thankful for. As an entrepreneur, I know that list is long for me, though I may not show my gratitude every day. Think about your own life, especially as it relates to running a business. What are you grateful for? Below is my list and maybe you can relate to some of these: 1. You Get to Do What You LoveWe hear that a lot. Small business owners do what they love. And it’s true (at least for most of us). Imagine (or remember) working in Corporate America in an industry you weren’t very passionate about. Now flip forward to now, when you wake up every day, excited about how you get to help people with your business. 2. You Have a Flexible ScheduleNot everyone does, and I appreciate that. But as a writer, I can write when I want, and still pick up my son after school. 3. You Work With Interesting PeopleBeing in the services industry, I work with people who are running all kinds of small businesses. It’s fun to get to know what they do, and their excitement is contagious. 4. You Call the ShotsAs the business owner, you get to decide whether you add a new product line, or take one away. You set the course for your business. There’s power in that. 5. You Compete With YourselfIf you’re like me, it’s less about the competition in your industry, and more about pushing yourself to do your best. I know I can improve my skills, and I take that challenge on wholeheartedly. 6. You Can Make Change HappenIf you want to make an upheaval in your company, you don’t have to wait for the red tape to make it a reality. 7. There’s No Cap to Your Financial PossibilitySure, most entrepreneurs don’t start out making that much money, but you’re not limited by your earning power the way you are in a job. Shoot for the stars, my friend. 8. You Can Take a Day OffNo, really. I know a lot of you feel like your business will wither without you, but taking time off is paramount to your success. And you don’t even have to fake a cough to your boss to do it. 9. You Surround Yourself With Smart PeopleYou can hire whoever you think will benefit your company the best, and have a hand in hiring, if you want it. 10. You Wouldn’t Change it For the WorldDespite the rollercoaster that is business ownership, and all the risk, there’s nothing you’d rather be doing. Thanks Photo via Shutterstock The post 10 Things to Be Thankful For as a Small Business Owner appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Amazon Offers Developer Select Status to Some Apps Posted: 06 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST
If you have a business app available through the Amazon marketplace, there’s a new way to get it noticed. Amazon recently announced a Developer Select program that will offer preferential treatment to those meeting what seem to be fairly minimal standards. You’ll find a brief overview of the new program in this video: Here’s what’s involved:
Benefits of the Amazon Developer Select ProgramOnce you sign up for the program, there are a number of benefits that will put your app ahead of the rest. Here are some of the basics:
Getting apps noticed can be harder than some first-time publishers realize. Fortunately, most of the requirements for participation in the program seem as if they would make for a stronger app offering anyway. Image: Amazon The post Amazon Offers Developer Select Status to Some Apps appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Power Up with 8 Battery Packs that Keep You on the Go Posted: 06 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST
Batteries are not a hot business topic, but we each crave longer battery life for our devices and equipment, especially when traveling. This short list of portable battery packs may help you just enough to keep an important business conversation going on your phone or allow you to finish a document on a tablet. A technical abbreviation that you'll want to know when considering an external portable battery pack is milliampere hour (mAh). It describes the energy charge that a battery holds and how long a device will run before you need to recharge it. I’ve included the Amazon link for each battery pack, when possible and some of these devices were sent to me for media reviews. Anker: Astro Slim2
This is my favorite for travel. Ultra-slim external portable battery that stacks against your smartphone and supplies simultaneous, full-speed charges for two devices. If you do a search for portable battery on Amazon, Anker frequently pops up first. It’s available here (not an affiliate link) on Amazon for $27.99.
Satechi Portable Energy StationAnother favorite of mine. This company makes lots of great travel products and innovative gadgets. I have owned this one for a long time and it has taken some abuse and held up well. You can find it on Amazon here for $59.99.
iWALK: Extreme Series Universal Backup BatteriesThis company has a large selection of portable batteries for devices, even one to power your laptop. Here is a link to the compact 5200 mAh model on Amazon, which sells for $43.99.
Snow Lizard: SLPower 7Like some of the chargers above, slim and easy to pack. Plus, you have to give them credit for a creative name. It’s memorable. Not sure what it has to do with batteries though. Amazon has it for $51.91 here. White or black.
Digital Treasures: PowerFlask
Although I don't think I would walk around with this battery in my pocket, it certainly fits. A portable, novel way to charge two USB devices simultaneously. You can find it on Amazon for $71.91.
Scosche: goBAT IIDual USB portable charger and backup battery. Available at: Amazon for $42.88. You can also get it at BestBuy.com and Buy.com.
New Trent: Powerpak+This battery is rugged looking and powerful. One of the small things I liked about it is the ridges on the side that made it less likely to slip out of my hand. You can find it on Amazon for $54.95.
Goal Zero: Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit
This small 3.5 Watt Solar Panel recharging system is pretty cool. It comes with four AA batteries (and will also recharge AAA). You also can purchase a portable unit called the “Switch” that is smaller than a roll of quarters, but powerful enough for smartphones, iPods or your GPS. It is available on Amazon for $119.99 (for the panel only) and $39.95 for the Switch. If you are out in the field a fair amount, this solar recharger may be the unit for you. You can plug your device into the solar panel charger directly. Of course, you could buy extra battery units for your device(s), instead, but this one at least gives you some recharge options.
You may not think about batteries on a daily basis, but if you find your devices running low all too often this list may help. It might help you to prevent that beeping tone that says, “You have less than 10% battery life remaining, plug in now…” How do you handle keeping your devices charged while on the road? Full Charge Photo via Shutterstock The post Power Up with 8 Battery Packs that Keep You on the Go appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
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