Volume 3, Number 1 – Spring 2008

Featured Articles

Cory Receives Prestigious Honor

Turn to Tech When Times are Tight

Could VoIP be the Solution for You?

Top 10 Reasons Why VoIP is the Future of Telephony

Cory Receives Prestigious Honor
Cory Communications named Top 25 fastest growing companies in South Jersey

Only in America can a business born in a basement quickly become one of the Top 25 fastest growing companies in its region. Cory Communications blossomed and reached this height in just 6 short years, thanks to savvy clients and superb providers.

“We are incredibly thrilled,” says Jack Zoblin, company president and founder. “Two outstanding institutions in the Delaware Valley worked the numbers and placed us among the top 25. It’s good to see that our mission of providing high-quality services at the best prices is achieving such great success.”

Recognized by Rowan University & Philadelphia Business Journal

Researchers at the Rohrer College of Business at Rowan University in conjunction with the Philadelphia Business Journal conduct the annual analysis.

The study reviews all private entrepreneurial endeavors based out of one of South Jersey’s 8 counties. The recipients of the South Jersey 25 all achieved significant growth in sales between fiscal year 2005 and 2007.

Honors at June 12 awards ceremony

Jack and his team won’t know Cory Communications’ exact position on the Top 25 list until it’s announced by the newspaper at a luncheon on June 12 at the Adventure Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront. (For details and reservations visit: www.events.bizjournals.com/4005.)

The region’s business community will know after reading the feature in the June 13 issue of the Business Journal.

About us

Cory Communications provides customized telecommunications solutions for businesses large and small throughout South Jersey, Philadelphia, and their national and international offices. The company offers clients services for data and voice, including local and long distance telephone service, high-speed Internet, T-1, and DSL, Voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, data services and audio and Web conferencing.

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Turn to Tech When Times are Tight
Technology helps companies save in a futuristic way

Gas prices. Traffic congestion. Airline woes. These are just a couple reasons why business travel is a very expensive hassle for companies large and small – for right now – and if the country’s most prominent economists’ projections are correct – well into the future too.

Executives dream about eliminating business travel all the time. They know it’s a waste of time and money. The good news is that it can be done.

It’s simple too. By enhancing existing telecommunications systems or incorporating some simple upgrades, companies are engaging employees and improving productivity more than ever before.

Cory Communications has the right solution:
Audio, Video and Web Conferencing

It might sound like something out of the 60s show, The Jetsons, yet as its theme song goes, “Machines do the working, machines do run, if they need anything they push a button and it's done.”

Most of the latest telecommunications technologies really are that easy. Just ask Jack.

“Companies are including Internet-based communications into their business plans already,” says Jack Zoblin, president, Cory Communications. “With just a few minor adjustments and some additional technology, companies can incorporate advanced communications tools into their daily practices and receive an incredible return on investment (ROI).”

Audio, Video and Web Conferencing:
Easy to implement, increases efficiencies

Jack recommends these services for small- to mid-sized companies with virtual or multiple offices – including those with a national or international presence. “The technology we have available today enables telephony functions that we used to see only in science fiction,” says Zoblin. “The future has arrived and it’s great for telecomm users.”

Audio Conference Service enables companies to conduct meetings with many people from anywhere, at any time. One call to Cory Communications is all it takes to set up an account. After that, each subscriber is given a dedicated dial-in number and a pass-code that never changes. There’s nothing else to do except start making those calls. Cory Communications has plans that allow companies to pay only for the minutes used, too.

The service is available for traditional telephone set ups – via a Private Branch eXchange (PBX) – as well as Web-based systems. And, according to Zoblin, adding a Web component makes the service even more attractive to companies large and small.

Web Conferencing is a tightly integrated audio, Web and desktop video conferencing tool that enables users to see, hear and actively engage others in a more natural and useful way via Internet Protocol (IP) technology. According to Arthur Gruen, of Wilkofsky Gruen Associates, the author of the “Telecommunications Industry Association’s 2008 Market Review and Forecast,” IP technology can improve business productivity up to 18% and achieve up to a 250% return on investment.

“Efficiencies increase when conference call participants have access to slide presentations and business documents and can work on them together in real time,” explains Zoblin. “The result is quicker and easier communications between you and your employees, vendors, clients and colleagues.”

Hopefully your employees won’t need to hold up a fake face like the one Jane Jetson used on bad hair days, but having Web conferencing can transform the way your company does business and deliver considerable savings. It’s so easy even Mr. Spacely could use this technology to its fullest.

Web Conferencing features available through Cory Communications include:

Automatic “Get Participants”
Integrated desktop video
Reservationless meeting room
Document viewing
Whiteboarding
Chat
Moderator controls/participant list

“Recessions are scary for businesses and individuals,” says Zoblin. “We can help take the pressure off by setting up a number of cost saving and productivity enhancing services.”

Call 856.795.2223 or email info@corycommunications.com today to schedule a time for Cory Communications to review your specific situation and come up with recommendations tailored to meet your company’s unique needs.

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Could VoIP be the Solution for you?

Every day more and more companies are streamlining their operations by implementing a variety of Internet-based technologies into their daily operations. The Internet was born to transmit data and millions upon millions of workers now tap into it each day. Until a couple years ago, few people outside of the computer industry knew it transmits voice too.

Now the word is out and it’s quickly becoming the next best thing since sliced bread – or is it? It all depends on how your company uses the telephone to conduct business and what equipment is currently in place.

Cory Communications helps companies make the right decision

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as Broadband Telephone Service, is an emerging technology that transmits voice through the Internet or other packet switched networks. It works best and is most cost-efficient for companies that have more than 5 lines and need a variety of internal and external advanced programming capabilities.

In a flash, VoIP connects all of a company’s telephones – land lines and mobile – with multiple computers and carries telephony signals as digital audio over the Internet. Workers can easily make interoffice, local and long distance calls using either a traditional phone, mobile or their computer.

The technology enables companies to improve employee productivity and customer service. And, it can save up to 65% on monthly telecommunications fees depending on the type of VoIP you choose, the service provider selected and the term commitment required.

It sounds great because it is. But there are a number of considerations a company should critique carefully before making the switch.

More than one way to VoIP

“VoIP can be very confusing,” explains Jack Zoblin, president, Cory Communications. “We encourage our customers to engage us early in the process so we can work closely with the IT team to guide them toward making the right decisions based on the equipment in place and how the company uses the telephone to conduct business.”

Just about all new phone systems come equipped with Internet protocol (IP) capabilities these days, so upgrading existing equipment is easy, if needed at all. Deciding between purchasing a traditional premise based IP PBX or the Hosted VoIP systems, however, requires careful consideration.

Hosted IP PBX
The most popular and common VoIP service for small- to medium-sized businesses is a Hosted IP PBX system. Many companies already have PBX (private branch exchange) systems in place, so converting to Hosted IP telephony is an easy transition.

This option tends to be less expensive because the equipment is either purchased directly from the Hosted IP provider as part of the initial set up or the equipment costs are included in the monthly “per seat” fees. Either option results in lower costs when compared to purchasing a typical phone system. A Hosted VoIP system has all of the features of a sophisticated phone system except there’s no additional equipment to buy, install or maintain. Existing telephone numbers remain the same.

Calls between offices and employees are free regardless of geographical location. Cory Communications contracts with the top-hosted providers in the US so we can work with our clients to maintain and manage the service.

Bring Your Own Broadband IP

Bring Your Own Broadband IP (BYOB) is most viable for residential and small business users with only a few lines. The service uses existing Internet, DSL or cable to transmit calls over the Internet via an adapter provided by the service provider (truly voice over Internet). With careful planning BYOB is a very viable cost-effective solution that includes many cutting-edge features depending on the service provider selected. Existing phone numbers also remain the same.

Call Cory Communications to learn more about what VoIP can do for you

If you think your company can benefit from VoIP, call Cory Communications 856.795.2223 or email info@corycommunications.com.

Zoblin and his team will analyze and test your company’s existing network to make sure it has enough bandwidth and power to handle the demands of transmitting voice and data.

“The key to success is making sure the implementation of the VoIP system is handled correctly,” says Zoblin. “We will guide you to the right solution and make sure the transfer runs smoothly.”

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Top 10 Reasons Why VoIP is the Future of Telephony

There’s a lot of chatter in the telecomm world whether VoIP is a good or bad choice. Here at Cory Communications, we know VoIP is the wave of the future and recommend it to clients frequently.

Here’s why:

1. Advanced Programming
All VoIP systems offer local and long distance service at reduced cost. They are also highly programmable with features such as automated attendants, extension dialing, voicemail, call forwarding, call on hold messaging, conference calling, call waiting, caller ID, speed dial and call blocking. Some services offer “click to call” functionality (the computer makes the call via a mouse click), call logging and tracking, and “Find Me/Follow Me” (individual lines) and “Hunt Group” (conference calling) services.

2. Low Cost
Very few Hosted VoIP systems require a significant capital expense. Calling plans include unlimited internal calls (interoffice and remote workers included) and reduced rates for local and long distance. Some providers offer free calls to anyone on its service and low international calling plans. VoIP is a great way to connect remote workers with the corporate office.

3. High Quality
VoIP telephony quality is getting better and better all of the time. Now, no one will be able to tell if you’re using a VoIP phone or a traditional phone. The industry has done a tremendous amount of work to improve past problems such as Jitter (time delay) and packet loss (some data is lost in transmission). However, the quality of your VoIP calls depends on the quality of your Internet connection.

4. Low Maintenance
VoIP equipment needs no maintenance. VoIP control systems allow the company to manage individual calls and the functions of its phones from a simple interface, typically Web-based. The telephone system can also be pre-programmed to work differently at different times. And, with Hosted IP PBX, all of the equipment and management of the service are handled externally.

5. Mobility
You can probably use VoIP while you’re on the go. WI-FI hotspots such as airports, restaurants and hotels that enable Internet access should automatically enable wireless VoIP service, too.

6. Multitasking
You can use your telephone and computer at the same time. Both premise-based IP PBX’s and Hosted PBX’s can utilize the data cabling, saving money on inside wiring. New installations that would have required a separate run of lines for both voice and data can now be consolidated. On exiting locations, some engineering may be required to insure that the existing network infrastructure can support the application of both voice and data. This may involve a small expense to upgrade LAN switching to POE (power over Ethernet).

7. Unified Communications
Unified Communications (UC) integrates disparate communications systems, devices and applications into an existing information technology (IT) infrastructure. UC brings everything together into one source and enhances the effectiveness of fixed and mobile telephone systems, email, instant messaging (IM), voicemail, fax as well as audio, video and Web conferencing and more. UC offers end users a more complete yet simpler and more effective work environment.

8. SIP Trunking
SIP – or session initiation protocol – is for companies with an existing IP PBX systems. SIP Trunks are a very cost effective way for companies to save due to the low cost of each trunk compared to the cost of primary rate interface (PRI) switching systems. SIP Trunks come in increments of 1. PRIs come in increments of 23 channels.

SIP Trunk-based VoIP systems also offer free calling between all users on the service. The company is responsible for maintaining and managing the telecommunications system.

9. Improved 911 Service
In its infancy, there was no easy way for VoIP providers to connect their customers’ computers and telephones to local 911 emergency services. Since this was a significant public safety issue, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stepped in and mandated Enhanced 911 (E911). E911 makes it possible for all VoIP providers to connect their customers to local emergency services operations through a simple process. It is important, however, to know exactly how your VoIP provider handles E911 and what, if any, issues that may arise.

10. Few Disasters
The region Cory Communications serves is pretty much a disaster-free area. The Delaware Valley is not subject to wide power outages due to wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather-related emergencies like many areas of the country. VoIP phones will not work during a power outage unless the company has a backup power system.

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Acknowledgement
Cory Communications would like to acknowledge that the fall 2007 issue of the Cory Communicator included a story about redundancy. It has been called to our attention that a very similar story previously ran in the D&M Enterprise Group’s newsletter. It was not the intention of Cory Communications to use another telecommunications service provider’s information as its own. We sincerely apologize.

Cory Communications, Inc. is a full-service telecommunications company based in Haddonfield, NJ. Founded in 2001 by Jack Zoblin, an industry veteran with over 17 years telecommunications experience, the firm provides a complete range of voice and data products to business clients in South Jersey and throughout the country.

For additional information, visit www.corycommunications.com, email Cory Communications at info@CoryCommunications.com or call toll free 877.489.8186.

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