Today, with the help of mobile technology a number of American businesses are able to go virtual with much ease. This means loads of savings on rents, bills, mortgages, maintenance costs, etc.
However, while you are saving quite a bit of bucks on these overheads, compromise on customer service is a total no-no. This means that whether virtual or not, customers would expect top-notch service from your business. And why not? After all, the customer is king. The first impression is, more often than not, the last impression, and sometimes, that all starts with a simple “hello.” This is where the importance of a virtual office phone answering service comes into play. Also known as a virtual receptionist (VR), this service is nothing but the job of a telephone operator that has been outsourced. So, while you are operating from anywhere in the world, your VR answers the phone ever so politely, making customers believe that it is your office premises they have made a call to.
What does a virtual answering service do?
Your virtual office phone answering service performs a number of tasks like answering calls, taking messages, virtual phone number forwarding, handling emergency calls, etc. Apart from this, most VR’s also have access to the Internet that would help solve your customer’s queries in real time and even answer FAQ’s should they have access to your company’s database.
But how does a VR help you reduce business costs?
A virtual office phone answering service helps reduce your business costs by saving on the salary you would normally pay a receptionist. A full-time receptionist would easily cost you anywhere between USD 10 to USD 20 for 160 hours of work, i.e. 4 weeks of work, broken down into 8 hours per day. A VR would cost you barely 12 cents to a dollar for 720 hours of work per month (Yes, a virtual office phone answering service operates 24/7!). So, no matter how big or small your business is, hiring a VR can certainly help you save some big bucks!
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4 reasons why you must buy the Nike Air Max 90
Read moreThe Nike Air Max trainers have been around for more than four decades now, and they still hold a strong position in the shoe fashion industry. They are still as popular as they used to be in the early 70s. A major reason for the sustained popularity is the constant evolution of designs which have kept up well with the changing trends in the design world. The Nike Sportswear team has also worked well in incorporating the new upcoming designs of the Nike Air Max 90, a clear example of which is the Nike Air Max 2018. This Nike shoe is a pure mix of the new design and authentic Air Max style. If you aren’t convinced already, here are some reasons why you must definitely own a pair of the new Nike Air Max 90:
Breathable
The shoe is breathablethis makes a huge difference to most of the people that are looking to buy a new shoe. When you do not sweat or do not feel a tightness in your foot (wearing the ideal size for your foot), the shoe is considered to be breathable. The Nike Air Max 90 stands out as it is a multi-layered shoe and still extremely breathable.Comfortable
Along with being breathable, the shoe gives you a paramount level of comfort. This is one of the key factors for the popularity of the shoe, along with the exceptional designs, of course. According to a review, many customers have said that they feel like they are walking on air.Exceptional grip
The Air Max shoes are known mainly because of their superior grip and a heavy sole that adds bounce to the shoe. The waffle pattern on the outer sole is the one that adds extra traction to the shoe. This also prevents the wearer from slipping on a watery or oily surface. The grip is not heavy as most people believe that a strong grip means that it would add some weight to the shoe. However, this is not the case in the Nike Air Max 90.Stand-out designs
The shoe has evolved over the years, in terms of the model, design, and colors. There have been multiple collaborations of the Nike Air Max 90 that hold the potential to catch the eye of most people looking for Nike shoes. The new Nike Air Max 2018 is slightly simple as it is only available in gradient colors or solids. However, over the years, the Nike Air Max 90 has had many different and unique design patterns. -
Salient features of the new Microsoft Surface Pro
Read moreIt has been around five years that Microsoft launched its first installment of Laptop PCs. The Microsoft Surface and Surface Pro were more than just an eye candy to all users alike. When Microsoft launch tablets in the consumer electronics market, a market already dominated by tech giants like Apple and Samsung, it quickly gained popularity and became a competitive brand.
For Microsoft, it was all about maintaining a gold standard and giving consumers more freedom on controlling the software and hardware aspects of their laptops or tablets. Looking back half a decade, the Microsoft Surface seems to be a low-end laptop. The newest version of the Microsoft Surface Pro launched in the first half of 2018. It offers a 2-in-1 experience, giving the user the freedom to use it as both, tablet and laptop.
Let us take a closer look at its features and what makes it worth a buy:
Build and design
It can be confusing to differentiate between the new Microsoft Surface Pro and the Surface Pro 4 as both have a similar look. However, a keen eye will notice that the Microsoft Surface Pro now comes with a magnesium-aluminum alloy frame with more dramatically rounded edges. The new Microsoft Surface Pro is 292mm long, 201mm wide, and a mere 8.4mm thick. Its 12.3-inch PixelSense touchscreen offers a vibrant 2736×1824-pixel resolution.Drawing inspiration from their own arsenal of PCs, Microsoft Surface Pro offers a “studio mode” giving users a Surface Studio-like (Microsoft desktop) experience. The “studio mode” offers a 165-degree angle, allowing users to do much more than just doodling.
The keyboard or as the company fondly calls it, the “Type Cover,” is offered as an accessory. Which means you will have to pay extra to use the tablet as a laptop. This might not work well with consumers who are looking for a comprehensive solution. The “Type Cover” connects to the tablet magnetically. Although it adheres to the screen perfectly, the arrangement can be wobbly if you get too comfortable with it and use it on your lap. The keys are backlit which is helpful if you are using the laptop in a dark room. However, the layout is cramped if you are used to working on a full-size keyboard.
Technical specifications
The following three variants are offered in Microsoft Surface Pro:- Microsoft Surface Pro with Intel® Core™ m3 processor, 128GB SSD storage (Solid State Drive), and Intel® HD Graphics 615
- Intel® Core™ i5 processor with 128GB/256GB SSD storage powered by 4GB/8GB RAM and Intel® HD Graphics 620
- The most popular variant is equipped with an Intel® Core™ i7 processor with 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD storage powered by 8GB/16GB RAM and Intel® Iris Plus Graphics 640
All variants have a single USB 3.0 port for swift file transferring and a mini display port to cast Surface Pro on bigger screens and projectors. This can be handy for presentations or watching movies in a small room. It also houses a micro SDXC card reader, and a headphone/mic jack.
The battery life has always been an important component of a tech gadget as it powers all the components present in them. A RAM is only good enough until backed by an efficient battery. The official Microsoft website claims loftily that the Surface Pro’s 42 Wh (Watthour) can run a video playback straight for up to 12 hours.
Microsoft has tried to up the ante by making the Surface Pen more sensitive by increasing the pressure levels. This gives the users more control over the intensity and width of the lines in their illustrative drawings. They also offer Surface Pen Tip Kit which lets you select a tip based on size and level of friction. The Surface Pen tip kit is offered as an accessory, which is a down-low for users looking for a comprehensive solution.
Price and availability
The basic variant of the Surface Pro which has an Intel® Core™ m3 CPU paired with 128GB SSD storage and 4GB RAM costs approximately less than $800, but it just escalates from there. If your work involves using high-end editing and project-building software, you might have to go with techier and pricier variants. Microsoft Surface Pro with Intel Core i7 with 1TB SSD storage and 16GB RAM can go well over $2600. If compared with leading competitors, such as Apple, they might fall behind as Apple offers a 10.5-inch iPad Pro with 64GB SSD with Apple’s signature A10 X processor for approximately $650 while the most heavily-equipped Macbook (with 512GB and same CPU) costs around $950. Microsoft surpasses Apple given the technical specifications offered for the price.Having said that, Apple outruns any other brand in terms of security. The curated app store is a boon for people who are in search of a failsafe OS. They have been able to thwart cyber threats in under a week. This gives them an edge over any other brand. However, when it comes to flexibility, Microsoft seems to be flexible in terms of an OS as it gives plenty of elbow room for apps. It gives the users more functionality as compared to iOS.
The new Microsoft Surface Pro is a good idea if you are planning to upgrade from the Surface Pro 4 as it comes with more variants and an enhanced battery performance. The Microsoft Surface Pro straddles the fine line between entertainment and productivity. Its 2-in-1 aspect is a sure seller, but it can be heavy on the pockets.