by Sean Murray | Oct 1, 2014 | Uncategorized
Every business owner – at one point or another – feels completely over their heads in overhead. We all want to save money – but we don’t want to sacrifice productivity. We want to increase productivity – but not at the expense of our profits.
For business owners who haven’t yet switched to the cloud – its not that they haven’t heard how “cool” it is. The questions come down to – is it right for my business? Will it be difficult to integrate? and at what cost?
So here are five reasons to help you make the leap forward:
1) Mo-Money in the Bank
Unlike non-cloud solutions – you are paying regularly for the hardware – upgrading the hardware – maintaining the hardware, cleaning the hardware – running the hardware – keeping the hardware cool – keeping someone around who can figure out what else you need to do with the hardware – paying the maintenance guy to run holes for wires – paying employees to sit around looking pretty while the IT guy figures out why no one can get work done. If you don’t think that kind of stuff adds up over time then you’re either very lucky, or not very intimate with your books. The cloud may not eliminate issues on your daily use PCs – but it sure takes that sting out of running the servers.
2) Wiggle Room
Inevitably, if you run servers in your office, there will be a day – unexpected and usually in the middle of an important conference call – that you simply run out of space on your server(s). Now the IT guy has to pick up some more hardware.. upgrade the server… wait, can’t do that while its on. “Everyone in the office – take an extra long lunch today! We’re sticking a metal rectangle inside of a metal rectangle. This could take a while…” On the cloud – you can pay for the space you need… when you need it. Don’t need a lot? Pay for a little. Need more? A few clicks can usually get you there – and at worst, a few more clicks than that will get you there.
3) An Ounce of Prevention
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” For anyone who has ever paid the bill for data recovery on a crashed machine… you know exactly how monetarily accurate this analogy is. The IT world knows that whatever is on that disk could make or break your business. It’s no secret that they can and will charge just about anything for this service – knowing you are backed into a corner. Of course, this doesn’t describe every data recovery business, but its common enough to be worth mentioning. Trust us – if you have never faced this issue – you never want to. With the cloud – your data is backed up securely in a protected location.
4) Employee Harmony
We know what you’re thinking – and no – the cloud will not dispel water cooler gossip or keep John’s hands off of Susan’s lunch in the break-room. However – John can work from home and eat from his own fridge. The cloud allows everyone to access necessary applications simultaneously – whether they’re in the next room – the next state – or delayed on a train on their way to work. Everyone has up-to-date and synchronized information at their disposal… and the key player in the office who just broke his foot can work from his bed at home if he wants to.
by Sean Murray | Sep 17, 2014 | Uncategorized
Society sure has come a long way since “turn left at the tree and go up the big hill.” Or for people who live in places like Atlanta “Turn off of Peach Tree Way to Peach Tree St. Head four blocks past Peach Tree Lane and take a right onto Peach Tree Boulevard.” Of all the pain points technology has decreased for us over the years, GPS navigation is one of the most pervasive – and most loved of those technologies.
But How Does GPS Work?
First, it’s interesting to note that you do not “have GPS” you have access to GPS via a GPS receiver. GPS itself is the Global Positioning System. The GPS is actually made up of 24 active satellites orbiting the Earth, with another 3 in orbit as fail-safes should others experience problems. These GPS satellites circle the earth twice each day and transmit signals to Earth.
GPS was originally developed and implemented as a military navigation system in the 70s, but was made available for use by civilians in 1983 by then-president Ronald Reagan. Civilian signals, however, were intentionally degraded in quality until May 1, 2000 by President Clinton.
The orbits are arranged so that at any time, anywhere on Earth, there are at least four satellites “visible” in the sky.
The signal these satellites transmit are low power radio signals. Civilians use the L1 frequency and can receive a signal from GPS only via line of sight. While the signal will pass through clouds or lighter weight objects – buildings and mountains tend to get in the way.
Each signal contains 3 codes. One code identifies the satellite itself. The second transmits the status of the satellite including the date and time. The third code is the Almanac data which tells the receiver where that satellite should be at any given time. A receiver uses this data from each of the satellites to determine your distance from each of those satellites. Your distance from each of those known points tells the receiver the point of your location.
As far as telecommunications go… GPS is hands down one of the coolest inventions since the telephone – both amazingly simply – and astoundingly elaborate in its construction.
Have you ever gotten mad at your GPS for not working right?
Garmin shares the most common reasons for GPS errors:
Factors that can degrade the GPS signal and thus affect accuracy include the following:
- Ionosphere and troposphere delays – The satellite signal slows as it passes through the atmosphere. The GPS system uses a built-in model that calculates an average amount of delay to partially correct for this type of error.
- Signal multipath – This occurs when the GPS signal is reflected off objects such as tall buildings or large rock surfaces before it reaches the receiver. This increases the travel time of the signal, thereby causing errors.
- Receiver clock errors – A receiver’s built-in clock is not as accurate as the atomic clocks onboard the GPS satellites. Therefore, it may have very slight timing errors.
- Orbital errors – Also known as ephemeris errors, these are inaccuracies of the satellite’s reported location.
- Number of satellites visible – The more satellites a GPS receiver can “see,” the better the accuracy. Buildings, terrain, electronic interference, or sometimes even dense foliage can block signal reception, causing position errors or possibly no position reading at all. GPS units typically will not work indoors, underwater or underground.
- Satellite geometry/shading – This refers to the relative position of the satellites at any given time. Ideal satellite geometry exists when the satellites are located at wide angles relative to each other. Poor geometry results when the satellites are located in a line or in a tight grouping.
- Intentional degradation of the satellite signal – Selective Availability (SA) is an intentional degradation of the signal once imposed by the U.S. Department of Defense. SA was intended to prevent military adversaries from using the highly accurate GPS signals. The government turned off SA in May 2000, which significantly improved the accuracy of civilian GPS receivers.
by Sean Murray | Sep 3, 2014 | Cost Recovery, Phone Bills, Telecom, Telecom Bills, Telecom Refunds, Telecommunications, Uncategorized
This is NOT the kind of surprise most businesses want to find in the mail. A seven-person architecture firm in Georgia can attest to that. TW Telecom, in late March, experienced a 44-hour security take-down. During that time, the firm’s international calling plan was hacked.
In the digital age, telecom hacking has become an increasing problem for small businesses. According to our source story, the Communications Fraud Control Association found that global losses from telephone fraud in 2013 totaled an estimated $46.3 billion — up $6.95 billion from 2011.
Not all frauds are easy to catch. If your business regularly makes and receives calls in and out of the country – these instances can become more difficult to catch.
If you believe you may be getting overcharged for telecom services, it is important to contact experts who can audit your bills and recover your funds. Luckily, the better Telecom Bill Recovery Services will work on a contingency basis.
I have been helping companies reduce their telecom costs for over 30 years. If you would like your telecom contracts thoroughly reviewed by a seasoned expert with a consistent record of securing savings, contact me today.
by Sean Murray | Aug 29, 2014 | Electric Bills, Gas Bills, Uncategorized, Utility Auditing, Utility Bills, Water Bills, Water Leaks
DID YOU KNOW that utility companies often have more than one rate for commercial/business clients?
GUESS WHAT. They don’t hand out the best rates automatically. Customers must seek better rates for themselves.
The process of finding the best and most appropriate rate can be tedious – and frankly – as a business owner, you’re already busy running your own business.
This is where Applied Utility Auditors can help. We find overcharges for 80% of all clients.
You might be reading this because your business was referred to AUA or because we’ve contacted you about conducting a utility audit and you have questions.
We’re fortunate that the majority of our customers come from happy client referrals.
Here are a few quick points:
First, when you’re with Applied Utility Auditors, you’re in good hands.
Our team has over 75 years of collective experience in auditing:
• Telecom
• Electric
• Gas
• Water/sewer services
• General bill auditing
Second, our job is to find:
• Errors
• Overcharges
• Incorrect rate group assignments
Third, we get to work by:
• Auditing your invoices
• Analyzing usage
• Identifying the errors
Fourth, you reap the benefits:
• Cost and service recommendations are made
• New rates are negotiated with the utility provider
• Everyone’s favorite part: You score a REFUND!
• We continue monitoring your utility bills monthly basis to ensure accuracy
How Does Utility Bill Auditing work?
• Audits are performed on a contingency fee basis
• No errors = no charge to you
• Begin by sending us a copy of a utility bill
• In 2-6 weeks, we’ll have our results and recommendations
What about the money?
1. The refund will either be a check or a credit on future bills.
2. Issue a check to AUA for 50% percent of the refund received.
3. Enjoy your savings! Remember, this is money you have already spent.
The AUA Team looks forward to working with you and adding to your bottom line.
by Sean Murray | Aug 4, 2014 | Paul's Picks, Random Fun, Uncategorized
Have you ever ever wondered where some words and phrases come from? Here are a few we can finally stop wondering about…
Booze – A combination of the Middle English (c.1300) verb “bouse”, meaning to drink heavily, AND the name of a famous Philadelphia distiller named E.G. Booze. Ben Franklin published a book of synonyms in 1722 and used the word “boozy” as a synonym for “drunk”.
Three sheets to the wind – was originally used to describe a drunk person in 1812 to describe the image of a sloop-rigged sailboat whose three “sheets” or sails had slipped through their blocks and were thus lost to the wind, and “out of control”.
Hammered – originally meant to be “heavily defeated”, and became officially recognized in 1986 as meaning drunk.
Dashboard – the original dashboard was a board in the front of wagons and carriages to stop mud from horses hooves from splashed into the vehicle.
Limousine – comes from the name of the Limousin region in France, where the chief city is Limoge. Apparently, the people of that region traditionally wore a hood that was similar to the hood, or profile of early luxury cars.
Chauffeur – another word with French origins meaning the “stoker” or operator of the steam engine (chaud, meaning “hot”, thus “chauffer” meaning “to heat”, from the Old French verb “chaufer” –“ to heat”.
Enough drinking and driving slang – Why are we buried in a…
Coffin – early 14th C. for a place to store valuables, taken from the Old French “coffin” meaning “sarcophagus”.
Dead as a doornail – meant “insensible” in the 1300’s, and by the 1500’s meant “inactive and dull”.
Dead man’s hand – in poker comes from the pair of aces and pair of eights that Wild Bill Hickock was holding when Jack McCall shot him in 1876.
Back to drinkin…
Dead Drunk – was first used in the 1590’s, and in a “dead soldier” became an empty bottle of liquor in 1913.
Thank you to the television show – “American Slang”, and to the web-site “Online Etymology”
If you ever want to grow a braincell back after all of that drinking…
Check out Paul’s Pick of the week: “Online Etymology”
And a final thought…
“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. – Richard Bach
by Sean Murray | Jul 30, 2014 | Telecom, Telecommunications, Uncategorized
In an effort to speed up data connections between Mars and Earth, NASA has reached out to US and international companies and scientists for solutions.
Currently, NASA depends on satellites used for research carrying specially designed radios – but the current technology is aging, insufficient, and will likely deteriorate before NASA’s budget allows for more satellites to be launched.
The Federal Business Opportunities website (http://FBO.com) states that the project would consist of “orbiters capable of providing standardized telecommunication services for rovers and landers on the Martian surface, in the Martian atmosphere, or in Mars orbit.”
Read More Here.
by Sean Murray | Jul 27, 2014 | New Jersey, Uncategorized
“U.S. top court declines to revive New Jersey sports betting law” reads a recent Reuters Article
The Federal Court pointed to a federal law which grandfathered only a few states into maintaining their sports betting practices back in 1992 – while giving other states one year to opt in.
Well, who is surprised that NJ fell asleep at the wheel on that one. In the Pre-Pocono-Casino era, NJ was happy as thin-crust pizza-pie to stick with what they were already best at in AC. Years later, with the gamblers flooding to newer out-of-state casinos, NJ finds itself up against the Federal Government wagging their finger in a confirmed “No.” And are only left to cry in Paula Cole fashion, “Where did all the gamblers go?”
by Sean Murray | Jul 15, 2014 | Outrageous Bills, Uncategorized, Utility Auditing, Water Bills, Water Leaks
IN CEDAR GROVE, NJ
Kirit Kothari, of Cedar Grove, N.J., isn’t an abnormally thirsty person. Nor does he have an exorbitantly large lawn or garden — nor, for that matter, a personal water park in his backyard.
But somehow, according to a bill he’s received from the Cedar Grove township’s water department, he owed $10,457.90 for water and sewer fees incurred through January, February, and March of 2011. That adds up to nearly 1,000,000 gallons of water for a home of two people. For comparison, an Olympic-sized swimming pools holds about 630,000 gallons…Read More on this and Other Crazy Water Bill Stories from the Huffington Post Here.
You may be surprised to know that this is an area where we have discovered some of the greatest savings for our clients. Not only do we perform the functions normally associated with electric and natural gas auditing, but we are expert in finding and repairing leaks and securing significant refunds/credits. LEARN MORE
by Sean Murray | Jul 1, 2014 | Lawyers, Uncategorized
A big-city lawyer was representing the railroad in a lawsuit filed by an old rancher. The rancher’s prize bull was missing from the section through which the railroad passed. The rancher only wanted to be paid the fair value of the bull.
The case was scheduled to be tried before the justice of the peace in the back room of the general store.The attorney for the railroad immediately cornered the rancher and tried to get him to settle out of court. The lawyer did his best selling job, and finally the rancher agreed to take half of what he was asking.
After the rancher had signed the release and took the check, the young lawyer couldn’t resist gloating a little over his success, telling the rancher, “You know, I hate to tell you this, old man, but I put one over on you in there. I couldn’t have won the case. The engineer was asleep and the fireman was in the caboose when the train went through your ranch that morning. I didn’t have one witness to put on the stand. I bluffed you!”
The old rancher replied, “Well, I’ll tell you, young feller, I was a little worried about winning that case myself, because that durned bull came home this morning.”
Two attorneys went into a diner and ordered two drinks. Then they produced sandwiches from their briefcases and started to eat.
The owner became quite concerned and marched over and told them, “You can’t eat your own sandwiches in here!”
The attorneys looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and then exchanged sandwiches
The Case of the Unarmed Burglary
An attorney defending a man accused of burglary tried this creative defense: “My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few trifling articles. His arm is not himself, and I fail to see how you can punish the whole individual for an offense committed by his limb.”
“Well put,” the judge replied. “Using your logic, I sentence the defendant’s arm to one year’s imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses.”
The defendant smiled. With his attorneys assistance he detached his artificial limb, laid it on the bench, and walked out.
Good News: You Don’t Need To Hire a Lawyer to Recover Overage Charges on Utility Bills.
by Sean Murray | Jun 30, 2014 | Reduce Overhead Costs, Save Money, Uncategorized, Utility Auditing, Utility Bills
1. Get money back from utilities.
Did you know that as much as 80% of utility bills have errors? Utility bill auditors can recover past over-payments without costing you a cent.
Applied Utility Auditors Can Help
2. Conduct an energy audit.
Professionals can visit your site to identify wasted energy and inefficient equipment. Even recommend shifting some production to off hours to lower your electrical bill. Contact your electricity and gas providers who often provide this service for FREE.
3. Review TeleCostly Services.
Nearly 90% of telecom bills are incorrect. A Telecom Bill Auditor can help you recover over payments – and guide you, if necessary toward a more effective and appropriate provider or plan.
Telecom Auditing Specialist Paul Steberger Can Help!
4. 
Limit the Lights.
Activate lights by motion detectors or turn off lights when not needed. Consider disconnecting lights from unoccupied areas of facilities and replacing them with tap-light.
5. Soft on the Wallet Software.
Buy used software – Many online auction sites (like Ebay) have a good selection. Make an investment in your company’s future by turning to the cloud. Cloud Hosted Applications can save you tons of money in ongoing expenses.
6. Stuff the Cracks.
Improve your insulation and seal air leaks on the premises to reduce HVAC costs.
7. On-site Storage.
Stop using offsite storage – make a place on-site or consider disposing or selling it – Remember, out of sight and out of mind does not mean it’s not still out of pocket.
8. There’s No Place Like Home-Base.
Stop all non-essential travel and stay close to the office – use the phone, video conferencing or Internet meetings (where documents can be shared between computers).
9. Cash in on Space.
Lease out unused office space as office condos or unused facility space as storage space.
10. Don’t Pay for the Paper
Many businesses still pay for paper publications out of sheer habit. Magazine, newsletter and newspaper subscriptions can often be converted to electronic subscriptions for less or for free.
