To continue providing the best service and support to our customers, Avcomm Solutions has recently brought the VXi brand into our product offerings as yet another option for headsets. VXi Corporation, founded in 1989 in Rollinsford, NH, stated its mission as creating headsets for contact center environments that were tough, low cost, and easy to manage. Since that time, VXi has continued to make gains in the headset market and is a well-recognized headset manufacturer, found most commonly in contact centers and semitrucks throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Here’s what sets VXi apart from other brands:

Cost
The low price of the VXi headsets and accessories cannot be understated. Inexpensive, yet durable, VXi headsets are a great option for budget-conscious organizations. VXi reports a 2 percent breakage rate, which is similar to its competitors.

Warranty
The Warranty period for VXi products is similar to its competitors in length; however, with VXi, an additional warranty time is allowed. For example, if call center and office headsets carrying a 2-year warranty fail within the first year of use, VXi replaces it with a unit carrying a FULL, 2-year warranty. If any call center and office headsets carrying a 2-year warranty fail at any time within the second year of use, VXi replaces it with a unit carrying a FULL, 1-year warranty.

Should a VXi wireless solution or accessory fail within its 1-year warranty period, VXi replaces it with a unit carrying a FULL, 1-year warranty. You’ve got peace of mind with VXi products.

Interchangeability
VXi is the only headset manufacturer to offer headsets and bottom cables that connect to not only VXi products, but also to two additional brands: GN Netcom/Jabra and Plantronics. These headsets and direct connect cords have pin configurations compatible with QD’s of those brands. When choosing the correct headset or cord, V, P or G will be the choices: VXi, Plantronics or GN Netcom/Jabra. Y-cords, USB adapters, and more are all compatible with these 3 brands.

Economized Packaging
When deploying hundreds – or even thousands – of headsets concurrently, the packaging left behind from the headset boxes can be a real nuisance and mess to dispose of. VXi offers their headsets packaged 2 ways: the traditional box, and alternately in plastic bags. The smaller footprint of the plastic bags means it costs less freight to ship the headsets, and there is less packaging to dispose of once the headsets have been unpacked and set up at individual work stations.

You will notice on our web site that VXi headsets are marked either “Bulk” or “Box.” It is the exact same headset; only the packaging varies.

Products unlike any other:

Corded USB Headset for Contact Center with Built-In Presence Indicator
In 2013, VXi introduced the patented UC headset with a built-in presence indicator, the only headset on the market with this LED presence indicator. The indicator, built into the microphone boom, is the top-of-the-line UC ProSet LUX, a plug-and-play headset that gives you excellent sound quality— and a noise-cancelling microphone – across devices and media types. It visually notifies others if you’re available, on a call or not to be disturbed. In-line call controls are a handy way to answer/end calls, mute the call and adjust the volume.



Lowest Price Wireless Headset
VXi’s wireless headset, the V150, is the most economical wireless headset on the market today (MSRP $119.99). The V150 connects to desk phones and has a field-replaceable battery to extend the life of the headset for years. Three wearing styles included in the box – headband, behind-the-neck, and over-the-ear – allow the wearer comfort and personalization often found only in higher-end wireless headsets. We tested this product in our office and the sound quality, comfort, and range was really great! To answer and end calls away from your phone, (up to 300 feet away), purchase an EHS cable. The VXi EHS cable has an exclusive design that installs directly under the base of the V150 headset, so there is no cable clutter on your desk!

The Trucking Industry Loves BlueParrott
VXi has found success in the trucking industry, with the rugged BlueParrott B250-XT, introduced in 2007. This headset, available at most major truck stops and travel centers in the U.S. and Canada, has made it the #1 choice and most popular Bluetooth headset among professional truck drivers. Designed especially for high noise environments, BlueParrott headsets are an ideal solution.

The Parrott Button on the B350-XT can be set to your choice of mute, speed dial and more, with the free BlueParrott app for smartphones (both Android and iPhone compatible). The app also allows push-to-talk, similar to a walkie-talkie. You can also stream music or GPS directions to the headset; talk for 24 hours (!); and use with 2 cell phones, or a phone and PC at the same time.

We are excited to announce this new venture with VXi, and invite you to view the entire line of VXi on our web site here: VXi Products.

When your alarm rings each weekday morning, what is your typical response? Do you rush out of bed, excited for the day; or do you tend to “snooze” the alarm a few times, dreading what’s coming next?

If you’re in the latter category, this blog post is for you. Fear not and take heart! We will attempt to help you find hope in your workday. Seven tips from bayt.com just may be the inspiration you need to keep going back to the 9-5 grind (or, the best 8 hours of your day!).

The first is a big picture tip: Clarify your goals. Before you begin, ask yourself what you want to achieve.

Next, establish a game plan to reach those goals. How can you reach your goals? By creating a series of manageable steps that are achievable, provides not only a sense of success, but also a forward momentum that will lead to the ultimate goal. Be sure to ride the wave of success when you reach your goals. It’s easy to forget about the steps that led to your success, and the amount of time it took to get there. This positive wave can then provide the energy to continue onto the next goal. In celebrating success, don’t forget to reward yourself. When you reward yourself, the anticipation of that reward is culminated and a sense of excitement is felt!

As with everything in life, it’s important to keep things in perspective, maintain a healthy work/life balance and most importantly, THINK POSITIVE. Positive thoughts lead to positive actions; a great way to “stay positive” is to recall a moment of success at work, a compliment from a co-worker, or an upcoming day off. Visual reminders, such as displaying positive quotes in your cubicle, can also remind you to think positive.

Tell us what keeps you motivated and excited to go to work each morning on the Comments tab, above!

The phone rings. You answer the call. During the conversation, you need to access a file in an office down the hallway. Do you:

a. Hang up on the caller and assure them you'll call back once you have found the file?

b. Ask them to hold; place the handset on the desk, walk down the hall, visit with co-workers along the way, find the file, go back to your desk, and hope the caller is still on the line?

c. Continue the conversation as you walk down the hall, grab the file, and walk back to your desk?

If you have a wireless headset, you can answer "c" with confidence! Corded headsets are the workhorse of the office headset world. Contact centers and offices may find that it's best for their employees to stay close to their desks when on the phone. In other situations, and increasingly more common (57 percent in a 2012 study), organizations have found that wireless headsets give workers freedom to conduct their jobs most efficiently and effectively.

Jabra and YouGov questioned more than 11,000 mobile and office workers in 12 countries about their office environments, and which office tools are most valuable for them. The study found that headsets increase overall work efficiency and job performance, with 75 percent of calls being answered when wireless headsets are used.

Workers using the traditional desk phone and handset "say they feel hindered in performing regular office tasks and would have the potential to be more efficient if they were equipped with a headset at work." High sound quality and comfort are key priorities for people using wireless headsets.

Wireless headsets are ideal for employees who need the freedom to roam from their desk without having to miss or terminate a call.

Organizations recognize the benefits of headsets that move with you, enhancing employee efficiency and productivity. Making the most of your time, and money, makes sense for any size organization, which is why we love wireless!

Interested in experiencing complete wireless freedom?

Here's what you'll need:

1. Desk phone, soft phone, or mobile phone

2. Wireless headset – With so many options and connectivity types available, it's important to consult with an Avcomm headset expert to be sure you choose the headset that best fits your environment and requirements.

3. EHS cable or Remote Handset Lifter—This is an optional add-on device which alerts you of an incoming call by sending a tone into the headset. You can answer and end calls by simply pressing a button on the headset, all while being up to 450ft.* away from your desk!

*Actual headset range is dependent upon model of headset and user environment.

If we can help answer any questions you might have about wireless headsets, please let us know! Our dedicated team has been trained to discover and suggest the best solutions for your unique needs.

Fortune Magazine recently released its ranking of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the country. In addition to such perks as compressed workweeks, job sharing programs, and subsidized gym memberships, telecommuting was offered at an overwhelming 85 percent of the companies.

Telecommuting, work at home, and work from home programs offer obvious benefits to employees (no commute, dress code, or office politics, among other matters); yet the organization can reap rewards, too.

In a study reported by the Harvard Business Review, Ctrip, the Chinese travel web site, gave its call center employees the choice to work from home or stay in the office. Half of the staff chose to go home. The result? Those working from home completed 13.5% more calls than the staff working at the office!

Increased employee retention, schedule flexibility (in essence, the business is open longer hours to the public), lowered overhead and program stability are additional organizational benefits.

To make working at home a success, the right tools are essential. Unified Communications allows for collaboration with co-workers, customers, and more, and is delivered through programs such as MS Lync, Cisco Jabber, and others. UC integrates video, email, documents, fax, phone and computer to create a fully functional and collaborative workspace.

As insignificant as this may seem, one of the most important tools that ensures an optimal user experience is the actual audio hardware device being used for the voice communication. These audio devices can be in form of a headset or speakerphone. Investing in a high quality UC platform is a no-brainer. The audio device is just as important!

This is commonly referred to as "the last 3 feet" in the communications continuum, and can make or break the success of your telecommuting solution. We recommend taking the time to work with a headset expert to evaluate your company's UC environment and hardware needs. Testing the products for comfort and high quality voice transmission is key. A good, high quality audio device must be used in order to achieve the optimal experience for everyone involved. Companies are investing significant amounts of money in UC platforms and must spend ample time evaluating their audio device options as well.

Fortunately, Jabra, Sennheiser and Plantronics produce high quality headsets for every situation. Here at Avcomm, our training and expertise allows us to match the best solution for each environment. Each organization is unique and we are prepared to work on your behalf.

Taking a cue from those 100 best U.S. companies, small and medium sized businesses can offer the telecommuting option to their employees as a viable benefit that doesn't cost a lot.

To see the entire list of best companies, and the benefits they offer, go to the CNN website.



BACKGROUND on the 100 Best Companies study: Forbes magazine, in conjunction with the Great Place to Work Institute, chooses the companies based on these criteria:
       1. Company must be at least 5 years old and have more than 1,000 U.S. employees
       2. Employees are randomly surveyed and 2/3 of the company's score is based on the Trust Index survey, which asks questions related to attitudes about management credibility, job satisfaction and camaraderie.
       3. Responses to the Culture Audit (including questions about pay, benefit, training, recognition, diversity efforts, methods of internal communication, etc.)

Information on the benefits of telecommuting came from the Research Advisors article here.

We love Kit Kat’s take on breaking away for a few minutes to get re-energized!

Though many of us dream of tropical vacations that would surely be the answer to all of life’s stress, boredom, and hard work, the answer could be much closer to home! A chance to get away leaves us feeling refreshed, invigorated and ready to face our responsibilities once more. Maybe it’s for a professional development opportunity, or a recertification; an afternoon meeting out of the office; a girls’/guys’ night out; a fun run; a continuing education class … the opportunities are endless!

If you don’t have a day, or even an afternoon to spare, don’t despair – even a few minutes each day can make a huge difference.

Quick (up to 5 minute) mini breaks:

1. Watch a fun YouTube video, such as “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” – the latest YouTube sensation!



2. Step outside for some fresh air and take a walk around the block.
3. Stand up & stretch at your desk.
4. Read a blog on a subject you want to know more about – not work-related!
5. Meet up with a co-worker you don’t usually spend time with, and catch up.

When you get back to your work routine, you can look at your desk with fresh eyes and (hopefully) a renewed vision!

Of course, if you have a chance to take that tropical vacation …. GO!

Tell us: What's your favorite way to take a mini break?