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Five
reasons to Implement |
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| CPR Awarded IT Contract with the City of Grand Rapids |
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| Technology Advantage® | |
| CPR Announces Team Growth | |
| Free Windows Server® 2008 software | |
| CPR Learning Center News | |
| Upcoming Events: | |
| • | ITMA
September Meeting - Web 2.0 |
| • | B.O.S.S.
Seminar Series |
| • | MACB
Convention |
Phone Numbers: Grand
Rapids: Kalamazoo: |
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By: Milton Moore
As we close out the summer and enter into fall many companies are preparing IT budgets for next year. Two popular topics are Virtualization and Unified Communications. Unless a company has obvious pain points there can be hesitation to make the investment in Unified Communications.
It’s not if but when
Unified Communications – the integration of voice-data-video and web conferencing and collaboration is not going away. Businesses large and small are benefiting from this technology shift. In 2006, IP based phone systems surpassed traditional Private Branch Exchange (PBX) shipments.
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So
what are some of the benefits of Unified Communications?
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| 1) | Cost Savings – Examples are consolidation of a multiple phone systems to one cohesive solution, reduced long distance, and virtual call centers. |
| 2) | Productivity Increase – Presence allows for streamlined communications via multiple methods. |
| 3) | Remote Worker Support – Remote worker programs are becoming crucial for keeping employees connected wherever they may be. |
| 4) | Disaster Recovery – Prior to VoIP it was next to impossible to create a hot swappable DR solution for the phone system, but now that is not a problem. VoIP has made that a reality. |
| 5) | Green IT – Organizations realize that reducing their carbon footprint is important for the environment. Reducing travel and using technology like web conferencing can help. |
These
are just a few reasons – there are many more reasons to implement
Unified Communications now. Look for future articles that will expand
on each of these benefits. Contact
us today to discuss how Unified Communications can help your
organization reach its goals.
About
Milton
Milton Moore is Principal Consultant at IP Consulting, Inc, a CPR partner.
Prior to founding IPC he was a Senior Systems Engineer with Cisco Systems
for more than 6 years. His certifications include the Cisco Certified
Internetwork Expert (Routing & Switching) and the Cisco Certified
Internetwork Expert (Voice). Visit Milton's blog at http://www.voip-tutor.com.
CPR Awarded IT Contract with the City of Grand Rapids
The City of Grand Rapids recently awarded a one year, $1.5 million contract to CPR to provide desktop support and manage the City’s IT network.
The City issued a request for proposal for IT Managed Services in late May. CPR was one of 8 vendors to respond. Following a comprehensive evaluation process, CPR was unanimously selected to meet the City’s requirements. The contract was officially signed by Mayor Heartwell on August 8, 2008.
CPR’s experience in providing full-time onsite staffing in support of computer operations was one of the main reasons the City chose CPR as well as their excellent references with large local organizations. Also CPR’s expertise in design and installation as well as their substantial depth of resources with management, technology and engineering professionals to assist with strategic, sustainable planning, implementation, integration, best practices, and process improvements influenced the City’s decision.
“CPR is well positioned to support the City of Grand Rapids desktop support and IT network requirements. We look forward to providing this service and helping the City achieve IT efficiencies,” said Pete Koelzer, CPR’s General Manager.
CPR has been helping local businesses with their IT staffing needs for over 25 years. Currently, CPR has 42 engineers working onsite at various West Michigan accounts. If you’d like information regarding CPR’s onsite staffing services, click here or call your Account Manager.
For more information on Technology Advantage® or any of our service plans, contact us at (616)575-8500 or click here to watch our podcast.
CPR Announces Team Growth with the addition of ten new teammates
Four new engineers have been added to our staff. Kathleen Shroyer and Phil Ryskamp joined CPR as Data Center Engineers. Matt Smith is working as a Systems Engineer with our Technical Services Group and Allie Miller joined CPR as an Outbound Engineer.
CPR also recently hired Beverly Buffinga, Mike Clarke, Marty Goodrich and Hollie Barton. All four of these teammates will be working as onsite engineers at various West Michigan Accounts.
In addition, two new teammates joined our Sales staff. Tom Keusch joins the IT Education Sales team and Ken Wisniewski joined our team as a Technology Advantage Account Manager.
Each individual brings a variety of skills and experience, and first and foremost a strong commitment to customer service.
| Free
Windows Server® 2008 Software As a Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions, CPR works with Microsoft to offer you top level training on the latest technology, direct from the experts. You'll learn the powerful new management tools and security enhancements of Windows Server 2008 and come away with the skills you need to configure, maintain, and troubleshoot Windows Server 2008, as well as a free copy of the software. That's right. Enroll and attend any one of three specific Windows Sever 2008 training classes between June 27 and December 31, 2008 (while supplies last) and you'll receive the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition— FREE. This offer is available for a limited time and only while supplies last so act now. Click here for more details. |
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Special Training Offers
ITMA
September Meeting - Web 2.0
CPR
hosts The Information Technology Management Association
meetings at our facility every month. The topic for
September is Web 2.0.
The meeting will review the following areas:
• What is Web 2.0?
• Social vs. Business aspects of Web 2.0
• Collaboration tools for the corporation
• Is there business value in some of these tools?
• Ajax / SAAS / Social Networking
• Facebook / Plaxo / Linked in
The September monthly meeting is offered only in Grand
Rapids. The meeting is at CPR on Thursday, September
11 from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
For
more information on ITMA or becoming a member, visit their
website at www.itma.net. |
To
join the September meeting as a guest, click
here. |
Checking the Pulse of Your Business
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
7:45am – 11:00amB.O.S.S. events are free to business owners and CEO's
Click here and we will send you an invitation and link to register for the event.
Wednesday, September 10 - Friday, September 12, 2008
Location: Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City, MI
Visit CPR at booth#61. Click here for more information.