Homeless Hotspot | 0 Comments
By evp on 03-15-2012 02:30 PM
This year at SXSW in Austin, TX they are trying a new method to get internet access to visitors. A marketing company called BBH Labs gave 13 homeless individuals a Verizon MiFi hotspot and a shirt that read “I am name, a 4G Hotspot”. Patrons could pay a small service fee ( typically about $2) and get the password to the Wi-Fi service and connect to the internet. All proceeds reportedly will go directly to the homeless person whose access was used.
Some are in favor of the experiment saying that is provides a job opportunity for homeless similar to selling a newspaper, while also providing a needed service for festival goers. While others state that using homeless people as a hotspot is dehumanizing, immoral and exploitative. The homeless participants seem to be delighted about the opportunity. CNN reports that participant Mark Smith said “They’re giving us the opportunity to work, You’re proving a service for the public. It’s like an individual business. ” What’s your take on it?
Read More… CNN.com
What are the best apps for your new Tablet? | 0 Comments
By evp on 02-22-2012 08:13 PM
You have just received your shiny new Android Tablet and now you’re wondering what to do with it. Once you’ve played with your settings and set up your email account that next best thing is to head to the Android Market.
In the Android Market you can browse apps, music, books and truly customize your tablet for your needs. The hard part can be deciding which apps are helpful and which are a waste of time. Since Android is an open source platform new apps are created daily with some 400,000 apps to chose from. USA today can up with a handy list of the 9 must have apps for your Android Tablet. Check em out:
- Dropbox
- Double Twist with AirSync
- HootSuite
- Evernote
- Apps Organizer
- Advanced Task Killer
- Skitch
- Google Reader
- Amazon Kindle
-Source Liz Patt- USA Today
EVP knows BYOD | 0 Comments
By evp on 02-17-2012 08:21 PM
The Employee Value Program (EVP) has been offering cellular discounts for years and helping your employees save on their personal wireless bills. We also want to help with your company wireless bill and reducing any overspend. EVP has seen more companies trending towards a BYOD platform and we want to make sure you are prepared if your company is moving in that direction. Whether your company provides devices for their employees now, looking to open up a new account or just want employees to get corporate email we have solutions for all your needs.
What is BYOD? BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device. This refers to employees bringing their own cell phone or tablet and getting company email on their personal device.
What are the Benefits? BYOD is a great option for companies with multiple branches or teleworkers to make it easy to manage cell phones across multi locations. While most companies do provide a subsidy back to the employee on the monthly service; BYOD still saves the company money in equipment cost and overages charges. Allowing employees to bring their own device has proven to increase employee satisfaction and free them from carrying around two devices.
What are the risks? We have seen many organizations that move to a BYOD platform and quickly realize that employees are already accessing company email on their personal device without corporate approval. The question isn’t about allowing or denying access, but how to manage it. It’s important to know that there are still come limitations to device management and not all devices will be compatible.
What can I do to make sure my company is protected? The answer is Mobile Device Management (MDM). There are multiple software programs to help companies manage their devices and control company information pushed to employees devices. By controlling and protecting data settings for all mobile devices in your network, MDM can reduce cost and risks to your company.
Contact EVP with any questions and we can connect your with a Mobile Device Management expert to help protect your company.
Chrome comes to some Android phones, tablets | 0 Comments
By brian on 02-08-2012 03:12 PM
Google’s Chrome Web browser in Beta is available for Android phone and tablets users — but for now, that is going be a small number of them who have the latest version of the Android operating system, 4.0 (also known as Ice Cream Sandwich), on their devices. The spare, uncluttered browser has a growing number of users.
Sundar Pichai, Google’s senior vice-president of Chrome and Apps, said in a blog post that “like the desktop version, Chrome for Android Beta is focused on speed and simplicity, but it also features seamless sign-in and sync so you can take your personalized Web browsing experience with you wherever you go, across devices.”
Among the features of Chrome for Android, Pichai said, is that users can:
- View open tabs: Access the tabs you left open on your computer (also signed into Chrome) — picking up exactly where you left off.
- Get smarter suggestions: If you visit a site often on your computer, you’ll also get an autocomplete suggestion for it on your mobile device, so you can spend less time typing.
- Sync bookmarks: Conveniently access your favorite sites no matter where you are or which device you’re using.
Right now, only about 1 percent of Android users have 4.0 on their devices, according to the Android Developers website. The vast majority of Android users have versions of Android 2.7 or earlier.
If you are one of the lucky 4.0 folks, Chrome in Beta is available for download from the Android Market. If you’re not, there’s no word from Google on when — or whether — Chrome will be adapted for pre-4.0 users.
Source MSNBC
Update to the Sprint discount policy | 0 Comments
By evp on 01-27-2012 09:18 PM
Beginning 2/1/12 the employee discount will only apply to the primary lines on share plans. In the past the discount was applied on secondary lines for Family and Business Share plans, but soon only the primary line will receive the service discount. While this may come as a shock for Sprint users this new policy change falls in line with the other carriers. You can read more directly from the carrier at Sprint Invoice.
For more clients this will not make much of an impact your the monthly bill and Sprint is typically the low cost leader for messaging and data plans. The link also gives a handy tool to compare the rate plans and value to other major carriers.
Holiday gift ideas from EVP | 0 Comments
By evp on 12-20-2011 10:00 PM
It’s 5 days before Christmas and if you are like many people you are just now starting your holiday shopping. Trying to find the perfect gift, holiday traffic and gloomy weather (like we have now) can all lead to added stress this time of year. EVP has some easy gift ideas for the holidays. With most carriers now carrying the iPhone an extra charger or OtterBox can be a nice stocking stuffer. EVP carries a variety of cases for just about every phone and tablet. Docking stations, bluetooth headsets, batteries and more we have the gifts that keep giving year round.
Our Shop Site list some last minute specials with reduced pricing to help you with last minute gifts. All items can be shipped to your home or office or swing by the office on your way home. Check out a few of our items:
Now: $18.99
Now: $34.99
You’re in luck, we’re hiring… | 0 Comments
By evp on 12-09-2011 08:16 PM
EVP is growing and we are looking for some fabulous people to join our team. If you or anyone you know would make a good fit send your resume to careers@myrcg.com
Job Openings at RCG- EVP Corporate Account Manager
RCG is looking for an exceptional individual to work with our inside sales team and spread the message that we make voice, data and wireless easy! “B” players need not apply.
If you are…
- Awesome- Meaning that you come to RCG with a big smile, positive attitude and desire to get 1% better each week. Our company culture is a little wacky so we need you to drink the Kool-Aid.
- An “A” Player- We are not looking for your typically blah 40 hours a week, just passing by or killing time type employee. From your fist day you are the type of individual that stays until the job is done and goes above and beyond for all our clients.
- Enjoy a challenge – Our products are always changing and new services and plans seen to launch daily. You want to stay ahead of the curve and enjoy learning more about the industry to help educate your clients and stay “in the know”
… Then you may be the right person for us.
What in the heck does EVP stand for?
EVP is a solution suite of RCG and stands for the Employee Value Program. This group was created in 2003 to help individuals of qualified organizations get discounted cellular service. We work with our favorite HR’s across the country to help promote the employee discount and directly with the employee to get their new accounts established. Our clients call in from across the country so phone skills are super handy for our department.
The extra stuff:
We’d like for you to have a college degree and some prior sales experience is preferred (no Girl Scout cookies don’t count). This position involves you on the phone most of the day talking to awesome clients and making them feel good about their purchase. RCG uses a handy CRM tool called RQ and we live and die by this software. You will learn to love it just as much as we do. Lastly the EVP team is a tight knit group and we are quite friendly, so share your thoughts, feelings and dreams with us. No really, we like to help you make it happen.
The stuff you are really reading this for:
- Total package potential: $35,000- the sky’s the limit.
- No cap on commissions you create your own paycheck
- 401K if you want to retire one day
- Quarterly bonus based on the whole team killing the profit numbers
- Plenty of paid holidays like Christmas and such
- The best benefit of all…. The RCG team, because we are amazing. Come see for yourself!
Starbucks has the nation’s largest mobile payment program | 0 Comments
By evp on 12-07-2011 07:28 PM
Less than a year ago Starbucks introduced a new mobile payments system through the Starbucks Card Mobile iPhone and BlackBerry applications, which is used at nearly 7,000 Starbucks across the US. Coffee lovers can easily pay for their favorite latte with their phone versus a debit card. The Starbucks app allows you to reload your Starbucks card and scan the bar code at checkout. Since the app was launched over 26 million transactions have been made according to Computerworld.com. Matt Hamblen states “Starbucks didn’t divulge the total number of purchases with mobile devices, but said $110 million had been reloaded onto Starbucks cards directly through the mobile app since January. Globally, $2.4 billion was loaded onto Starbucks cards in fiscal 2011, with the cards making up one in four transactions in U.S. Starbucks stores. Starbucks cards were launched a decade ago and $10 billion has been loaded onto them, the company said.” Starbucks is only the beginning, with this kind of success I would imagine other retailers hopping on the bandwagon. Smartphones and apps continue to make our daily life easier and a bit more entertaining, what will they think of next?
- Matt Hamblen- ComputerWorld.com Article
Google Music: iTunes for Android or something more? | 1 Comment
By brian on 11-18-2011 04:46 PM
Google Music, an online music store and “free locker” for digital music, was rolled out to the public on Wednesday.
Google Music, with more 13 million songs, will be integrated with Android Market, the company’s online store for smartphone apps and videos as it plays catch-up with its rivals. Apple, Amazon and Facebook have to varying degrees integrated music into their core online and mobile products. Google Music will allow the Web search leader to do the same by letting consumers access music from various Internet-connected devices and easily share tracks with friends. Google has negotiated U.S. deals with three of the four major music companies: Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group; Sony Corp’s Sony Music Entertainment; and EMI. It has also signed deals with the increasingly influential independent label group Merlin and London-based Beggar’s Banquet label group, home to the year’s biggest selling artist, Adele.
While no single Android phone has approached the popularity of the iPhone, Android smartphones as a whole have become a serious force, capturing more than half the overall market during the last quarter. (Android phones amounted to 52% of the global market compared to about 15% for the iPhone, according to Gartner). For someone trying to decide between buying an Apple or Android device, iTunes could be a deciding factor. Google Music, at least in part, could take that bullet out of Apple’s gun.
Let us know your thoughts! Leave comments below.
Got a new phone, but not sure how to use it? | 0 Comments
By evp on 11-01-2011 02:54 PM
EVP wants to make sure that all clients love their new phones and get the most out of their device. From the basic to the most advance we know them all and even have free training classes available. Chris Pennington teaches our informative and easy to understand classes to help you maximize your device. Your invited to join us at any of our classes below held at our office in Cool Springs, TN.
Android Clinics- 1st Wednesday each month.
Need help understanding your Android Device?
Smart phones are getting smarter by the minute! Let us help you conquer your Android and make it work for you. In our Android Clinics, we will explore all the things you need to know to make your Android more productive, efficient, and easy to use.
If you’re in the dark about Android, you don’t have to tackle it alone! Our clinics can make it easy for you
BlackBerry Clinics- 2nd Wednesday each month.
Tablets are taking over and you need to know what they have to offer!
We can show you all the tips and tricks to help you become a BlackBerry master! Using a BlackBerry for business? We can show you how your BlackBerry can be like having an office in your hand. Our BlackBerry Clinics are great for new users or veterans who need a refresher.
Tablet Clinics- 3rd Wednesday each month.
Need help understanding your Android Device?
We will walk through all the essential elements of products like the iPad, BlackBerry Playbook, and the Android operating system for tablets. Even if you don’t own a tablet, please come to learn more about this new kind of device!
To register and get more info visit our Training Guide.