Recently, AT&T has been under fire for misleading its customers on several of its program’s pricing strategies. Additionally, the FTC just discovered that AT&T is also affecting how a customer’s data functions in order to reduce AT&T’s data costs.

AT&T has developed the promotion of the Unlimited Data plan which is supposed to charge a relatively low flat rate for all the data usage the customer needs in a month without charging them overages. This is a highly competitive tactics since other telecommunications providers say that there are too many costs associated with unlimited data problems.

Seems too good to be true? Well, the Federal Trade Commission says that it is. Based on FTC research, AT&T is being sued for mis-advertising the unlimited data plan. Apparently, once the customer gets to a certain level of data, the service slows up to 90% of the speed, making it impossible for customers to use the data quickly and forcing them to either wait for their connection or give up and stop using it. The barrier ensures that AT&T does not have to pay excess costs for data, essentially setting a technical limit on an unlimited plan. This technique is called throttling and it is not legal. It is illegal because AT&T is telling customers that they will get the same access to unlimited amounts of data, but really they are guilty of false advertising by making it impossible to use the data (even though technically they are providing unlimited data to the user).

Although this is frustrating for an individual AT&T user, it could be detrimental to businesses using AT&T services. Businesses rely on access to large amounts of mobile data to speak, present, and share information with clients. The unlimited data plan is enticing because business owners and corporations generally use a large amount of data. However, AT&T’s tactic ensures that business communication will slow and valuable partnerships could potentially end because of lack of response.

In many articles, I speak of how important it is to monitor costs. However, it is also important to know the company providing a service respects you and your business. Telecom providers often are not seen as partners to a business because they are a necessity. However, you need to remember that you are a client to them and their main focus should be to make their service work best for your business, not to make money. Make sure that those you form business relationships with are serving your best interests, or find another resource that wants to see their client’s succeed.

Written by Todd Larsen, CEO Limitless Technology~Cost Reduction Specialists 

For just a minute I would like you to think about what win-win means. Immediately you should get a sense of cooperation, collaboration and the spirit of peaceful satisfaction. If not, I want to know your definition in the comments below.

The follow is an excerpt from Stephen Covey’s THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE – HABIT 4: THINK WIN-WIN…

“Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying. We both get to eat the pie, and it tastes pretty darn good!

A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:

• Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments
• Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others
• Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone”

While Stephen speaks of Win-Win from a personal perspective, he relates his meanings towards habits of successful people. In business and in life we at Limitless Technology ~ Cost Reduction Specialists believe in making sure we continuously focus on delivering Win-Win solutions for our Clients.

That stated, we all have heard great quotes from various people in our lives such as…

• Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. Vince Lombardi
• Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is. Vince Lombardi

Yet, there are also quotes that place emphasis on the short term conviction with a  long term right thing to do view…

• “The result of long-term relationships is better and better quality, and lower and lower costs”. W. Edwards Deming
• “It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come.” The Dalai Lama

We believe you need to study the context, application and outcome to define a true win-win outlook and practice. We would say winning is as much short term goal as it is long term Vision. At Limitless Technology ~ Cost Reduction Specialists we strive every day to make sure our customers see from us a win-win conviction.

We hope you will too.

Limitless Technology~CRS

Delivering expert results on: billing optimization services, telecom auditing, telecom contract management, telecom expense management, and telecom and technology consulting.

www.limitlesstechnology.com

US Based Executives ‘question business value’ of tech spend.

Recently I was exposed to a survey taken by multiple senior finance executives regarding their opinions and facts surrounding the cost of IT and communications. Overall the “gist” of the information gathered clearly shows technology is needed,  but do not believe they are getting the types of info they need, and the spend or “burn rate” was grossly negligent to the ROI.

Below are some of the highlights or the articles finer points.

After reading…what are you opinions or thoughts on high communication spend rates or the mismanagement of technology costs in business?

• Senior finance executives say their companies are weak at converting business spend to technology value.

• Almost none of those surveyed (3%) rate their companies as “excellent”, according to a new survey of more than 150 senior finance executives by CFO Research in collaboration with consultants AlixPartners.

• The survey also finds that more than two-thirds of financial executives (66%) give their companies a “C” or “D” grade when it comes to measuring financial returns from discretionary IT projects, such as big data ones, designed to improve or add to a company’s business and profits. Only 5% gave their companies an “A”.

• Meanwhile, at the other end of the IT spectrum, the survey reveals that “keep-it-running” IT costs – non-discretionary support and maintenance systems – are cannibalizing funds available for business-improving IT.

• A plurality of respondents (49%) estimates that, over the past two years, their company has maintained approximately a 70-30 ratio of keep-it-running to improve-the-business IT spending, and of that amount, a solid majority – 63% – believes that their company’s spending is weighted too heavily toward keep-it-running IT services, and that a greater share should be directed to improve-the-business IT projects.

• The survey goes on to show that, despite massive IT investments in recent years, companies are not getting enough of the kind of information they need to successfully run and grow their businesses.

• “The message from CFOs and other senior finance executives is loud and clear – companies are spending too much on IT, and they’re not getting the business information that they truly need,” said Meade Monger, managing director at AlixPartners and co-lead of the firm’s Information Management Services unit.

By Todd Larsen CEO Limitless Technology~CRS  April, 10th, 2013

Limitless Technology~CRS

Delivering expert results on: telecom auditing, telecom contract management, telecom expense management, and telecom billing optimization services.

www.limitlesstechnology.com

Cellular companies are usually the last to offer insurance. However, as the market has demanded that they be protected from broken and stolen devices, cell companies are beginning to see the light. Companies like Sprint now offer $11/month insurance on the iPhone that protects against any type of lost or damaged phone with a $50 dollar replacement fee (That sounds awesome right?). However, was this insurance created to help the customer, or make money off of Companies’ risk aversion?

Let’s say that you have 25 company cell phones in your business. The average insurance cost per phone is $8/phone. So the average cost for your business for the month is $200. That means your company’s cell phone cost for 6 months is $1200 dollars!

Let’s do a little more math to see if this saves you money. The average cost of replacement (smart) phones $425. Average deductible for a replacement phone is $100. If you lose 3 of the 25 phones in a six month period you still lose money buying the insurance. That’s because $1200 plus $300 in deductible is $1500. The purchase of 3 new phones costs $1275. So, unless your employees are using their phones as golf balls for the driving range, cell insurance is not the way to go.

Limitless Technology~CRS

Delivering expert results on: telecom auditing, telecom contract management, telecom expense management, and telecom billing optimization services.

www.limitlesstechnology.com

By Todd Larsen CEO Limitless Technology~CRS Feb, 7th, 2013

When we start our day, we think about our businesses or roles in business. What time is spent on being more effective and efficient vs. getting done what we “think” might be more important? How many times do we go back and say “it feels like the whole day got away from me”.

Why do we do this?

Is it the desire to please others? Can we control the items we let control our day. Does our dream of accomplishment outweigh our desire to fulfill those tasks? 

What else contributes to not accomplishing “what is most important”?

Not enough time, not enough people, not enough knowledge? Are these “not enoughs” within our reach, just out of our reach or too far beyond our reach?

About now you are either overloaded with thought, disappointment, disbelief, denial or are thinking “why is this guy asking so many questions”? And to the last question….isn’t that what we should be doing? Asking questions? (He’s doing it again…)

Shouldn’t we be questioning our methods, actions, processes, operations, distribution, tactics, finances etc.? Should we be challenging ourselves to improve: operations, procedures, knowledge base, and financials? Shouldn’t we be challenging the status quo, the mundane, the same, the “we’ve always done it that way?

I believe so. Problem is, we put that responsibility on our own shoulders all too often vs. utilizing the resources that surround us and actually are available to us! We cripple ourselves by thinking, “we, he or she should be able to do that or handle that.” We sometimes even kid ourselves, believing that we actually have the depth or skills to tackle that situation or define a solution for one in which we have little or no experience. In fact, we sometimes expect too much when we believe we or our internal staff has the ability to “know it all.” We forget there are others, (or don’t want to believe there are others) which can help us succeed quicker, faster…even better. 

Best part is we can change. We can seek: assistance, guidance, help, support, reason, and knowledge to help improve our businesses. Best of all, by using these resources we can prioritize and accomplish what we do best to ensure we are driving, building and growing the Companies we are part of more efficiently, effectively, productively and profitably.

Bottom line…All we need to do is ask for, or seek some expert help.

Limitless Technology~CRS

Delivering expert results on: telecom auditing, telecom contract management, telecom expense management, and telecom billing optimization services.

www.limitlesstechnology.com

#1   The top 1 percent of all income earners already pay 39.5 percent of all federal income taxes.

#2   When you take all forms of federal taxation into account, the top 1 percent of all income earners pay 28.1 percent of all federal taxes.

#3   The top 20 percent of all income earners in the United States pay approximately 86 percent of all federal income taxes.

#4   One recent poll found that 64 percent of Americans are in favor of raising taxes on those that make $250,000 or more a year in order to help balance the federal budget deficit. Another recent poll found that 72 percent of Americans favor raising taxes on those making $250,000 or more a year.

#5   Approximately 45 percent of all U.S. households pay absolutely no income taxes at all.

#6   Overall, U.S. households are now receiving more income from the U.S. government than they are paying to the government in taxes. This is clearly not anywhere close to sustainable.

#7   During 2010, the U.S. government paid out a combined $2.3 trillion in unemployment benefits, Social Security benefits, disability insurance, Medicare benefits, Medicaid benefits, benefits for veterans, education assistance and other direct transfers of cash from the government to individual citizens.

#8   59 percent of all Americans now receive a government payout of one form or another.

#9   The ultra-wealthy keep much of their wealth outside of the United States so that the government cannot tax it. It has been estimated that a third of all the wealth in the world is held in “offshore” banks.

#10   Thanks to new corporate tax cuts in Japan, the United States now has the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world.

#11   Large corporations have become masters at avoiding taxes. Back in the 1950s, corporate taxes accounted for about 30 percent of all federal revenue, but in 2009 corporate taxes accounted for just 6.6 percent.

#12   General Electric has been a great friend to the Obama administration. According to the New York Times, General Electric made a total of 14.2 billion dollars in profits last year. So how much did they pay in taxes to the U.S. Treasury? According to the New York Times, not one penny was paid.

#13   Even though Boeing receives billions in federal subsidies every year and even though it has a bunch of juicy government contracts it did not pay a single penny in federal corporate income taxes from 2008 to 2010.

#14   Exxon-Mobil paid $15 billion in taxes in 2009, but not a single penny went to the U.S. government. Meanwhile, their CEO brought in over 29 million dollars in total compensation that year.

However…I think my question was should we worry about taxes? The answer is no. Worrying never helped anything. Instead try to understand better how you can impact future change. Educate your children, or other children if you do not have any, on how taxation affects us and make them better educated voters.

Also, know what you should or should be paying for in taxes (as well as, not paying for).  Look at your local candidates, as well as, your state and national government leaders taxation platforms, and make better voting decisions in the years to come.

And when it comes to watching you own personal or business wealth remember…

taxation reduction, cost reduction, lower telecom costs, billing optimization

Approximately 4% of the United Kingdom’s population drives uninsured.  The United Kingdom already have CCTV cameras that monitor gas stations customers to make sure they do not steal gas. Now, after a proposal from Ernst & Young, they are utilizing those cameras to also make sure uninsured drivers can’t fill up.

Now uninsured drivers will be caught in the act and be barred from fueling up until their information is recorded. For insured drivers, no record of the customer’s car will be kept.

Isn’t it great that any government cares enough about its good citizens to monitor and stop those who can hurt them? And…Wouldn’t it be great to have a company that guards good companies against wrong billings and corrects them without causing those companies any stress?

Limitless Technology CRS can do just that, but with even less effort for the customer (unlike customers in the UK who may have to wait behind an uninsured driver who can’t fill up at gas stations). With no upfront cost, and with no risk to you…we take your business’ bills and find all those errors and extras fees that cost your company money. Limitless Technology CRS makes sure you know every correction before the corrections are made.

BOTTOM LINE We Improve BOTTOM LINES at no inconvenience to you!

Call Limitless Technology CRS today at (866) 504 4050 or go to www.limitlesstechnology.com to learn more.

Regardless of our reader’s or our political views, we would like to congratulate our new president. Both candidates ran excellent races and Limitless Technology CRS respects both men. What Limitless Technology CRS really wants to stress is how, now that Obama is elected,  does he plan to save your families and our businesses money?

Your Family– Obama plans to extend the payroll tax cuts. What does this mean? This means that employees in the past paid 6.2% towards payroll cuts and now will pay 3.2%.  This simple action will save families $1,500 annually.

If You Have A Small Business– Obama plans to include small business in the payroll tax cuts for the first 5 million dollars of their payroll. They will not have to pay the full 6.2% until the have exceeded their first 50 million dollars net increase in the company’s payroll.

Way To Save on Employment with Obama- Hire a veteran! It is a patriotic way to support your troops and it can also save your company money. If a veteran has been unemployed for six months or more and your company employs them, your company can save upwards of $9,000 dollars on tax deductions.

These are just a few of his ways to save, and each can have positive or negative effect on the economy based on the decisions of US citizens. Limitless Technology CRS however, can only improve your company’s bottom line and welfare.

Call (866) 504 4050 or go to www.limitlesstechnology.com today to find out more on how we save you money.

Obviously Michael’s rare and valuable phones would make him money if he decided to sell them. However, most of us our not lucky enough to make money off our phones. Most companies, in fact, spend way more than they need to to have a telephone line. The average line costs companies $56 per month (that does not even include long distance).

If a company had 1,000 phone lines their cost per month would be about $56,000. The yearly total adds up to a stunning $672,000 a year (and that is just to talk to your customers!). Limitless Technology Cost Reduction Specialists often reduce companies telecom spend by 25%. That means you would 14,000 dollars, a $168,000 yearly savings!

Think about what your company could do with $168,000? Would you start a new ad campaign? Maybe you would hire a few more employees? Or just maybe you would buy your top 168 employees an antique Superman telephone.

Limitless Technology can provide you with these savings, call us at (866) 504 4050 or email us at www.limitlesstechnology.com for more information.