The reason this is a big deal is that there is only so much spectrum out there, and with the rise of technology that uses this invisible space, there is very high demand for more of it. As we begin to use more devices which require this spectrum use, their value increases. As more of us adopt smartphones, tablets (like the iPad), and other data gobbling devices; the desire for companies who provide service for these devices to have more spectrum availability grows.

Want to understand more? Check out this great infographic from the FCC:

Now you know.

The thing is that yes, as the world of information moves faster and faster, it becomes necessary to have a plan with how to deal with all of this information. Take a peek at this great “infographic” from Mindjet.com. If you notice, several of the solutions are something that we can help you with!

Mindjet.com

Thank you to Mindjet.com for this fabulous illustration!

Direct Line TeleResponse is proud to be a sponsor of the Pleasant Hill Baseball Association, an organization that thinks of others in their time of need. It was devastating news for the Union City Softball Association who discovered their equipment storage sheds were broken into and robbed over this past weekend. Because of this thoughtless act by thieves, the youth in Union City California almost didn’t have a season.

Fortunately the Pleasant Hill Baseball/Softball Association, (PHBA) when they heard stepped up to the plate, literally. The PHBA pulled together their resources and  donated 15 teams worth of gear to the Union City Softball Association so that they may start their 2012 season without interruption. Great job PHBA, and we at Direct Line are very proud to be associated with such an amazing program who thinks of the kids and shares the wealth.  Play Ball! 

*Direct Line Teleresponse is sponsoring a boys baseball team this year! Stay tuned for updates on our little Pleasant Hill Cardinals!

This year, if you wander around our offices, you will see a theme of  excellence. We go all out with decorations, contests, awards, and of course we like to keep it fun!

Of course (as always) the goal is excellent customer service for our customers. The result we treasure the most are the kudos we receive from you.

“‘You sound so professional, I really honor having a good admin” ~  Amy M.
“Thank you, again, for superior service” ~ Angela X.
“We have been pleased with Direct Line’s service to the point that I now refer them to others myself!” ~ Joanne L.
“I keep hearing about how ‘awesome’ my receptionist is, they are shocked when I tell them it’s my answering service” ~ Rachelle G. 

The best compliment of all, is serving you!

 Thank you so much for your business, and we wish you a Happy New Year!

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.  ~Melody Beattie

On this Thanksgiving Day, we thank each and every one of you, our clients, our staff, our partners, our friends…our Direct Line Family.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Via: Online MBA News

What do you do when the power goes out?

Imagine that you have an emergency situation and your power is out, your phone line is down, or maybe you just forget to forward your phone at the end of the day and don’t have enough time to head all the way back to the office. Never fear, RACF is here.

What is RACF?

RACF (Remote Access Call Forwarding) is a system that your phone company adds to your account. With the addition of this system you are able to forward your phones to any other phone (i.e. cell phone, pay phone, home phone, answering service, etc.) when your phone system or power is down. The benefit of this system is that it allows for you to keep your phone operating when it otherwise would be down.  All you have to do is follow a few easy instructions and you would be able to forward your phone immediately.

Why RACF?

You never know when you will have a phone or power outage, therefore (especially for businesses) this feature is truly a “no-brainer”. When we at Direct Line TeleResponse make our current clients aware of this feature, it is amazing how many people say: ” Our power was out and we lost calls over several days. I cannot even tell you how much that outage must have cost us!” Because this feature has been so beneficial for our clients, especially in times of crisis (earthquake, flood, power outage) we have made it a point to alert all clients current and incoming about this amazing feature. It works whether you have an answering service or not, but we must say that adding on a professional, award-winning answering service can only help in these situations and of course on a daily basis to help you grow your business and keep your clients happier.

How do I get RACF?

Getting RACF is as simple as contacting your phone company and ordering the “Remote Access to Call Forwarding” feature.

Of course… if you are looking for an answering service, that is as simple as calling 888-365-2424 and asking for Greg. (He will take great care of you!)

ATSI is the industry’s trade association for providers of telecommunications and call center services including telephone answering and message delivery across North America and the UK. Direct line has won the Award of Excellence through ATSI for the past 10 years.

Six years ago, Direct Line decided to seek year-round testing and monitoring of call quality and signed up for the CAM-X Award of Excellence program in addition to the US counterpart (ATSI’s Award of Excellence). Participating in these two programs allows us to have year round testing, of our agents to encourage them to consistently maintain their excellent call taking skills as they never know when they may get a graded call.

Independent judges are contracted by CAM-X to evaluate message services over a six month period.  The criteria for scoring include: courtesy, response time, accuracy and overall service to their clients.  If the company scores 80% or better in ALL categories, they are presented with the coveted CAM-X Award of Excellence. We scored in the t0p 15% of all participants.

About CAM-X

CAM-X is an industry trade Association representing Call Centres and Telephone Answering Service companies from coast to coast across North America who work together to share ideas, develop new technologies and network with their peers in order to continue the growth of their businesses as well as that of the industry. CAM-X members are leaders in the field offering the most progressive of solutions available in today’s call centre environment.

It was September 10, 1979 that we opened our doors as Direct Line Answering Service at Dwight and Fulton streets in Berkeley California. In the 32 years since, some things have changed (such as our location and our name), and others have remained the same (several of our long-standing customers and our owners). We are honored and privileged to have the opportunity to serve the greater San Francisco Bay Area community, as well as serving our clients around the world. Thank you for being a part of our business family, and we look forward to serving you for another 32 wonderful years and beyond.