The new company formed following the merger of T-Mobile and Orange is making some rapid changes. We have it on good authority that from some time in October, if you drop a call whilst with T-Mobile, your mobile device will, if the T-Mobile signal is weak or non-existent when you redial, seek to connect to the Orange network .

By January, roaming across the two networks should be seamless. It should also be possible from October onwards to be able to connect calls over the internet via your Broadband router.

No doubt, official announcements will be made in due course but if you are based in for example, North Norfolk and your mobile contract with Vodafone is up for renewal, it may be worth contacting Auditel for a detailed review before committing to a new 24 month contract.

Apple has denied a design fault in the antennae of the iPhone 4 and has blamed instead the formula used to calculate signal strength.

Link to article:

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2010/07/05/241834/apple-says-tests-confirm-iphone-4-has-best-wireless-performance.htm

I was thinking of getting an iphone but have put on hold – it’s a expensive device so I may stay with my Blackberry. If you are offered a ‘free’ iphone; remember it has to be paid for somehow so the cost may be built into your contract – the question is how?

Thanks to Alistair Macdonald of amtv for an enlightening talk this morning at Business Network on the 7 Rules of Business Networking:

1. Be there
2. Give to Get
3. Look good (visual impressions are so important)
4. Be Interested (be a good listener)
5. Business cards – look upon them as a tool. They should have enough white space on them for people to make notes on them about you
6. You are only selling yourself
7. FUKIT – Follow Up, Keep In Touch

Alistair had some great anecdotes and I’ve now realised that to spice up my round the table presentations at networking meetings, I must tell them that I play bass guitar in a rock band as let’s face it, utility bills can be a bit dull at times!

Alistair’s website: www.amtvmedia.co.uk

Business Network: www.business-network-south-manchester.co.uk

Twisted Lick rock band website: www.twistedlick.com

Taking a leaf out of a colleague’s book, thought I might describe the human side of a typical day (some of this may sound familiar):

Just finished finalising a 160 site electricity contract for a housing association client; found out this morning that not only does the acceptance form have to be signed but every page of the 10 page schedule. Unfortunately, the forms cannot be faxed as the purple coloured boxes on the form come out black so has to be printed, signed and posted.

Spent two to three hours pulling off copy bills from various energy supplier websites to carry out this quarter’s post audit for a multi-site construction company client; why has the Head Office supply not billed since last September?! Sent email to account manager and will no doubt have to chase up.

Stopped for lunch and the TV news. Growing annoyance at BBC’s announcement that they plan to close 6Music as it’s my favourite radio station to have on whilst trawling through copy bills and producing post audit reports (otherwise tedious work!)

Nice to have a week in the office; next week very busy out meeting clients and suppliers so where has this week gone?

Took a call from a colleague who was asking about making the leap from PC to MAC, I having done so about 6 months ago.

4:50pm – that’s enough spreadsheets; must get out for a walk; enjoy the Peak District landscape and clear my head.

5:35pm – back at the desk refreshed, get a bit more done before dinner (surprise! – Ellie’s school won the netball competition, despite not having played since last September!)

Time to fine tune what to say at tomorrow’s networking meeting presentation and update my blog!

According to one article in the Guardian, 78% of New Year’s Resolutions fail. However, those who succeeded in keeping their resolutions had a plan.

When it comes to getting round to reviewing non-core expenditure such as in energy and telecommunications, how many FDs have a plan and what resources are available to achieve it? Should they be talking to Auditel as their outsourced specialists to help achieve their New Year’s goals?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/28/new-years-resolutions-doomed-failure