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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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