Why Telework Works

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="064285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Telework Coalition</B></FONT><B>  </B></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="063d2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Telework Coalition"><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id296.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Membership Sponsorship Opportunities"><U>Membership & Sponsorship Opportunities</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Sponsors"><U>Our Sponsors</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id270.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TelCoa in the News"><U>"TelCoa in the News"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U>Calendar</U></A></div> <div> <A 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Telework Coalition, TelCoa, promotes and encourages the benefits of telework, telecommuting, the virtual workplace, and the distributed and decentralized workforce.  I realize many of you telework, although a lot of people who do don't call it that.  But, when you use technology and telecommunications to enable work to be performed independent of location, you are teleworking or telecommuting.</div> <bR> <div> Teleworking has been with us for over 20 years but there are several factors that have caused it to grow at a higher rate over the past few years.  These include the proliferation of the PC, the virtual ubiquitous use of the Internet, and the availability, although its deployment has been much slower than many of us would like to see, of broadband Internet connectivity to the home, which enhances the experience and escalates its capabilities to new levels.</div> <bR> <div> Security is always a major issue.  If working solely from home there are not the same concerns about security that are necessary if remotely accessing a corporate network, but you should still always use a home firewall to keep out unwanted hackers or intruders, especially if using an always-on Internet connection such as DSL or a Cable Modem.  ZoneAlarm, from ZoneLabs, at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.zonelabs.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.zonelabs.com"><U><U>www.zonelabs.com</U></U></A></FONT> and BlackIce Defender from NetIce at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.netice.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.netice.com"><U><U>www.netice.com</U></U></A></FONT> are both good, ZoneAlarm is free for individual users.</div> <bR> <div> Virus protection can't be overlooked.  McAfee, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.mcafee.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mcafee.com"><U><U>www.mcafee.com</U></U></A></FONT> and Norton, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.symantec.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.symantec.com"><U><U>www.symantec.com</U></U></A></FONT> are the most popular.  VirusCatcher, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.vcatch.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.vcatch.com"><U><U>www.vcatch.com</U></U></A></FONT>, and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Dr. Solomon's</FONT>, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.drsolomon.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.drsolomon.com"><U><U>www.drsolomon.com</U></U></A></FONT> are also worth looking at.</div> <bR> <div> Let's briefly touch on remotely accessing a network. This brings up serious security issues. Many larger companies and corporations use a VPN, or Virtual private network.  It allows users whether at home or while traveling to access corporate files and email.  The degree of security can be as high as the company wants, as long as they are willing to pay for it. VPNs use encryption of data and various forms of user authentication to obtain the desired levels of security. Most of these systems combine hardware and software and often require modification or upgrades to corporate networks. Providers include Cisco, Citrix, Netilla, Safenet, and many others.</div> <bR> <div> There are also some products that are strictly software and Internet based that are very simple to install and use.  Usually geared to a smaller group or individual, they have no upper limit as far as number of users, and the cost is based on how many users there are.  One is called GoToMyPC, with info available at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gotomypc.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gotomypc.com"><U><U>www.gotomypc.com</U></U></A></FONT>.  It is quick to install, and provides access to the corporate network and all files including email, or to your home PC while traveling.  It is secure and used by several large corporations for their remote access.  Since it is used over the Internet you can use any computer anywhere, as long as there is Internet access, to get to your files.  One thing, however, it works a whole lot better if there is broadband access on both ends, and does not work too well with satellite Internet access due to latency issues.</div> <bR> <div> Another area I want to cover is telephone service.  It is important that teleworkers be accessible in many ways, including voice.  Many of the newer and larger phone systems can direct your calls to you wherever you are.  Siemens and Nortel are a couple of the larger providers.  </div> <bR> <div> There are also some new services that offer the same capabilities, virtually. They have many of the features of a larger corporate PBX, without any of the connected equipment, and at a much lower cost.  For example, there is a company called e-cerv with a service called Aptela, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.aptela.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aptela.com"><U><U>www.aptela.com</U></U></A></FONT>.    With their system you give out one phone number.  You then program it to point to your cell phone, office phone, home phone, or any other number where you might be while traveling.  It can answer, ask who is calling, has voice mail, conferencing capabilities, and even lets you transfer calls to others on the same system.  The concept, that started as something called unified messaging, is growing.  We use it for TelCoa and Business & Technology Insider Radio.   There are even systems that do text to speech conversion and read your emails to you.</div> <bR> <div> There is a company called RoamSecure, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.roamail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.roamail.com"><U><U>www.roamail.com</U></U></A></FONT> that will work with Outlook to take your email and forward it to your cell phone or PDA. You can tell it whose email you want to include or exclude.  It strips away the `froms' and `tos' and just sends the message. </div> <bR> <div> There are a few other things to touch on that use current technologies and the Internet to enhance your remote working experience and collaboration capabilities, especially from the home.</div> <div> These include:</div> <div> The virtual office.  These give you a the place to store emails, spreadsheets, and other documents. Groups can access them 24x7.  Several are even free.  Try <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.groups.yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.groups.yahoo.com"><U><U>www.groups.yahoo.com</U></U></A></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.eroom.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.eroom.com"><U><U>www.eroom.com</U></U></A></FONT>, or <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.groove.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.groove.net"><U><U>www.groove.net</U></U></A></FONT>.    </div> <div> Collaboration, chat, and instant messaging.  They are web based, some are free  including AOL, MSN, and ICQ. Several services offer more features, and apply more to corporate environments. Take a look at Plethora Technologies, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.plethoratech.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.plethoratech.com"><U><U>www.plethoratech.com</U></U></A></FONT> or Centrivity,<A HREF="http://www.centrivity.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.centrivity.com"><U> www.centrivity.com</U></A>.</div> <div> Audio Conferencing.  All of the major long distance companies have it.  Some smaller companies have good rates and value added features.  I've used Communique Conferencing at  <A HREF="http://www.ccimeet.com/index.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ccimeet.com/index.asp"><U>www.ccimeet.com</U></A>.</div> <div> Video Conferencing and White Board capabilities.  Share images and draw between 2 or more, at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.cuseeme.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cuseeme.com"><U><U>www.cuseeme.com</U></U></A></FONT> or <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.microsoft.com"><U><U>www.microsoft.com</U></U></A></FONT>, for Netmeeting, with inexpensive pc cameras, many of which cost less than $100.00.  Also try <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.eyeball.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.eyeball.com"><U><U>www.eyeball.com</U></U></A></FONT> for two way video.  Corporate solutions including equipment from <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.picturetel.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.picturetel.com"><U><U>www.picturetel.com</U></U></A></FONT> and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.polycom.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.polycom.com"><U><U>www.polycom.com</U></U></A></FONT> for higher priced and more sophisticated video conferencing capabilities can be found at GSS, Global Systems Strategies, at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gss-inc.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gss-inc.com"><U><U>www.gss-inc.com</U></U></A></FONT>. </div> <bR> <div> By the way, I have been using something called video email from a company called VIDISolutions at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.vidisolutions.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.vidisolutions.com"><U><U>www.vidisolutions.com</U></U></A></FONT>.   You send an email with a link that contains a full motion video with sound.</div> <div> For meeting planning take a look at Outlook, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.evite.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.evite.com"><U><U>www.evite.com</U></U></A></FONT>, or <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.invites.yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.invites.yahoo.com"><U><U>www.invites.yahoo.com</U></U></A></FONT>. </div> <div> Web conferencing is offered by several companies such as <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.evoke.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.evoke.com"><U><U>www.evoke.com</U></U></A></FONT>, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.placeware.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.placeware.com"><U><U>www.placeware.com</U></U></A></FONT>, and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.webex.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.webex.com"><U><U>www.webex.com</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> A good place to get more info on many of these topics is a book by a gentleman by the name of Roger Kropf called <I>Afteremail</I>.  I do recommend it highly.  Go to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.afteremail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.afteremail.com"><U><U>www.afteremail.com</U></U></A></FONT>. </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>