BTS News and "News you can use"

Green E-Waste Disposal  08/22/08

Did you know that in July 2009 a law (Intro 104-A) will go into effect in New York City which will require collection and recycling of “e-waste”, such as computers, monitors, cell phones and TV sets? But right now it is hard to find appropriate places to dispose of older equipment that can’t be donated. To help, BTS is offering its clients an easy way to get rid of old computer equipment in an environmentally friendly way. You can either bring your old computers before Friday, August 29, 2008, by our new offices (at 347 Fifth Avenue, Suite 703a, at the corner of 34th Street) and we will pay for it to be properly recycled by ARI Industries, with whom we’ve contracted for a pick-up and recycling. If you can’t get by our offices, we will pick it up from a location you specify for a fee of $75. If you have personal/business data on a hard drive you’d like to have erased, we will be happy to wipe it clean for only $40 per computer. Let us know at 212-967-5757 if you have any questions or want to make an appointment for a pick-up.
 

Address Change   06/24/08

BTS Specializes in SBS2003   04/12/2008

Microsoft Small Business Server has been an excellent solution for many of our clients.  Professional offices interested in: shared calendars contacts and email; data protection; data security; remote access and Exchange E-Mail hosting. SBS 2003r2 has been a great foundation for a growing office.  BTS offers monthly support agreements or quarterly checkups to ensure SBS is operating efficiently and cost effectively for our clients.

                              Click here to find out more

Iphone to sync with SBS2003 3/08/2008

BTS Laptop Recommendations  2/26/2008

Thinking of getting a New Laptop BTS would suggest you consider HP's product line which are robust and full featured.  However Laptops are a personal accessory so don't hesitate to look into Sony, IBM or Apple to find the right laptop for you.  JandR would be a good place to pickup and type to be sure the fit is right.  Let us know if we can help you pick one out.          

 Click here to view HP laptops that BTS recommends

iGoogle slowing you down?  11/12/2007

If iGoogle is slowing down your web searching.  Try clicking the link in the upper right "Classic Home" to switch Goolge to the original setup which will speed the loading of the page. 

Computer Recycling and Disposal - 3/15/2007

Retiring older computers? BTS can help. We will recycle/dispose by securely wiping your Hard Drives making sure all company data is removed.

Many firms implement Crosscut shredders to dispose of paper copies of their company data, but neglect to protect data left on old Computers. Using a UNIX-based tool, Business Technology Services can securely wipe all the data from your workstation’s hard drive, ensuring that your firm information will not be recovered. We implement a two step process to destroy, not erase, your data, and the result is a completely clean hard drive in which no data files can be recovered. If you have older machines that you are looking to replace, and want ensure that no one could recover your vital information, please give us a call.

Daylight Saving Time - 2/15/2007

U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, extended Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the U.S. by approximately four weeks. As a result, beginning in 2007, DST will start three weeks earlier on March 11, 2007, and end one week later on November 4, 2007, resulting in a new DST. For users using Windows XP, please be sure to run Windows Update and accept the critical update

If you have, a file server with Windows 2000 please contact BTS as soon as possible to have a patch applied.

Official Apple Reseller - 1/15/2007

Business Techology Services have officially become Apple Resellers. With Apple computers becoming more and more popular each day, Business Technology Services is there to provide our clients with latest in Apple Hardware and support.

Vista's Coming - 12/14/2006

You will be hearing more about this new operating system from Microsoft on January 16th when it is released. BTS does not recommend our business clients select Vista with new computers in Q1. Your office has applications that will require testing before bringing in Microsoft Vista. That said, if you have a need for a new home PC and that does not require any specialized applications at home, Vista would be a good choice.

For more information about Microsoft Vista, wikipedia has this listing; And for a summary of the different versions, click here.

Safe Senders List - 11/9/2006

Filtering junk e-mails can be annoying for small businesses; Often, important e-mails end up being filtered out of your inbox into the Junk Mail Folder. One way to prevent this from happening in Microsoft Outlook is using the “Safe Senders list” (a list of addresses that will not get filtered out like spam). You can edit this list by selecting Options from the Tools menu, then selecting Junk E-mail from the Preferences tab.

Microsoft Small Business Specialist - 10/03/2006

BTS is pleased to announce it has achieved Small Business Specialist designation from Microsoft.  We have demonstrated expertise in planning, and building solutions for small businesses.  Microsoft defines "Small Businesses" as less than 50 employees at one location and estimates there are approximately 5.9 Million Small Businesses in the US.

Getting Today’s Hardware Ready for 2007 - 9/15/2006

This summer has seen the release of a number of new technologies to support upcoming operating system upgrades. Intel’s Dual Core processor and AMD Athlon™ 64 bit processor are excellent innovations and it’s nice to note that while hardware prices are coming down, quality features continue to be expanded. This means that a $1000 computer bought today will significantly outperform the $1500 computer bought last year. In addition, many of these new technologies were initially marketed in late spring of 2006, so their prices have now dropped to their lowest to date. For anyone thinking about making new hardware purchases, it might be wise to think about taking advantage of this current price and performance opportunity.

    

BTS Joins Apple Consultants Network - 8/15/2006

Business Technology Services is proud to have become part of the Apple Consultants Network. This will ensure that BTS will have the latest information about new Apple software and technology. In addition, as part of the Apple Consultants Network, BTS will have priority access to full professional support from Apple to help in troubleshooting Mac issues.

Microsoft Conference - 7/15/2006

Business Technology Services was present at the Microsoft WorldWide Partner conference held in Boston. Microsoft is committed to a major technology refresh expected in the first half of 2007. This will include new versions of the desktop operating system, to be called Vista, Office Suite 2007, and a server operating system, to be called Longhorn. There will be many enhancements to security and personal productivity, which together will surely makes this a compelling platform. Microsoft users might want to make sure they have “Software Assurance” which includes a free upgrade for any Microsoft software purchase in the subsequent two year.

New Employee Andrew Jouan - 6/12/2006

BTS Welcomes New Employee Andrew Jouan

Business Technology Services is pleased to announce that Andrew Jouan has joined the firm. Mr. Jouan has an AA in Network Administration and has previously worked as a junior-level systems and network administrator. He also has experience with Unix and Linux.

Summer Planing - 05/15/2006

Time to get ready for summer! Check out the various remote-access options that can keep you in touch with your office while you’re sunning on the beach or cooling off in the mountains. There are a number to choose from, starting with the simple GOTOMYPC.com to the latest high-security VPN solutions. In addition to taking advantage of the good weather, this might be the perfect time to update your laptop. Don’t forget the sunblock!

Blackberry “Lite” - 04/15/2006

Small businesses now can have access to office e-mail similar to that used by Blackberry users in large corporations. Verizon offers a good solution for synchronizing a Palm or Windows mobile device to your office computer, through which e-mail, calendar and contacts can all be kept up to date. Remember, however, to subscribe to a data plan (currently at $59) because without it the synchronization can be costly. Among a number of mobile devices available for this service, BTS recommends the Treo 700W and the Motorola Q.

Cisco Partnership - 03/15/2006

Business Technology Services is now a Registered Cisco Channel partner. BTS can now offer Cisco hardware, besides having priority access to Cisco support specialists to oversee configuration and operations of Cisco devices. In addition, with a view towards more efficient support of the needs of some of our larger clients, BTS has now established a formal relationship with Professional Inter-Networking Group (PING), which is a Premier Certified Partner with capabilities to support large and multinational networks.

Backup Solution for SMB - 02/15/06

Small Office Backup to Internet

Interested in a way to backup data on-line? BTS has been testing several on-line backup solutions in the past few weeks and in our opinion Data Deposit Box is one of the best. It is especially suited to small businesses that do not want the hassle of scheduling regular backups. Data Deposit Box has a pricing structure that is scalable to the amount of data you want to backup and its backup runs whenever the computer is on and not being used, which means the process has little or no effect on system performance.

New Support Option - 01/15/06

Having trouble setting up an Outlook for an out of office message? Forgetting how to merge your mailing list into a letter? Wondering what to do with a strange message on your screen?

BTS now has remote control software which you can enable from our website for those quick questions which are hard to explain and easier to show. Check out our secure remote control software to speed resolutions of your computer problems.

Budget Management & End-of-Year Tax Savings - 12/15/05

If your company has been slow in carrying out planned technology projects or upgrades and if you find it has extra cash at the end of the year, there are clear tax advantages to getting these projects done before year-end.  Accountant Nancy L Adams of Adams & Salter, LLP, writes:

"… Among other items, the Section 179 deduction — the expensing election for capital purchases that would otherwise have to be depreciated — stands at $105,000, and can be applied to purchases of up to $420,000.  This limitation drops back to $25,000 after 2007, so now may be the time for these purchases…."

Nancy L. Adams, Accountant
Adams & Salter, LLP
132 Nassau Street, Suite 1402
New York, NY 10038
P: 212-732-8630
NancyAdamsCPA@aol.com

If you think your company might like to take advantage of this capital investment deduction, we at Business Technology Services would be happy to help. Please give us a call and we can discuss completing current projects or carrying out new ones in ways that will work for you, your technology and your tax advisors.

Keeping Software Up to Date - 11/28/05

Stable and secure software is critical to any business.  That’s why BTS will ensure that your software is up to date and in full working order.  But you can do a lot to help on your own: for instance, we at BTS strongly encourage our customers to make full use of the updating software provided by many software vendors.  Windows Update by Microsoft is a prime example (it is located on the start menu, under all programs).  This software updates all the drivers on the computer (the software that controls the hardware) so that it runs as efficiently as possible.  In addition, security updates, some quite important, are applied when available in order to keep your computer safe from hackers.  For these reasons, Windows Update is essential to properly protecting your data as well as increasing performance of your computer.  Feel free to contact BTS to help you keep your computer running at its best with all your software properly updated and protected against outside

Spyware/Malware - 10/3/05

Spyware/Malware is an ever growing threat to computer users.  These programs collect data about the individual user or perform functions without the user’s consent.  Unwanted pop-up ads are an example.  Even though these programs are not technically viruses, they should still be considered potentially dangerous.  For instance, computers will often run slower than they should when these types of programs have attached themselves to the operating system.  To protect against these intrusive programs, BTS recommends “Microsoft Anti-spyware Beta” located at (link).  Just follow the instructions and download today to protect your personal computer.

Web Names and Web Hosting - 09/20/05

Does your business need a web presence?  Do you want to set up a website but don’t know how or where to begin?  Getting a place on the web is actually very inexpensive and easy.  BTS recommends you first register the “domain name” or Internet address of your future website. For example, the our domain name is www.btsgo.com.  There are a number of places where you can easily register a domain name.  Some of the best known are Network Solutions, Register.com or Godaddy.  Prices do vary and registration can be significantly cheaper if you opt for longer periods of time.  The next step in securing a web presence is to find a reliable and appropriate server to host your future website.  What this means is, you have a website name, and now you need to make sure the web hosting company can handle all the services you feel you need now or will need in the future, such as storage space, customer support, handling financial transactions in a secure way.  BTS encourages you to consider the following when choosing a web host:

• The amount of storage space on the server
• The amount of traffic allowed in and out of the server
• Ease of use for e-mail hosting
• Reliability for customer support
• Additional features that you may require (ie PHP, SQL, CGI, etc.)

BTS uses http://www.interland.com for its web hosting, as do many of our clients.

Finally, you need to design your site or, more efficiently, get a good web designer to get the best for your purposes out of all the latest design features available.  This is a little like choosing clothes — one style works for you better than another. BTS has a roster of top-notch web designers that you can contact to discuss your specific needs with and then find the designer that works best for you and your business.

Of course, we at BTS are ready to help you get your name up on the web now or to assist you in any part of the process we’ve listed above.  Just give us a call at 212-967-5757.

BTS is now a Microsoft Certified Partner - 08/25/05

Business Technology Services is proud to become a Microsoft Certified Partner. Microsoft has acknowledged BTS in providing excellent support and services to each of our clients. Through this partnership, we will be able to improved customer support and services.  Additionally BTS will be provided the latest Microsoft Technology.

 

Iomega Rev - 06/16/05

The Iomega Rev is a wonderful backup solution for a sole proprietor business. With the USB or Firewire addition, it can be attached to virtually any computer for easy backup. Since the cartridges are removable, it can be kept safe at an off-site storage location. It's even compatible with popular backup software such as Dantz Retrospect Express and Veritas Backup Exec. It's 8X faster than a tape drive and has a shelf life of 30 years. Visit the Iomega website for more details.

Iomega Rev

New MCSA Specialist - 05/23/05

Business Technology Services, Inc is pleased to announce that Jonathan Tan has joined the firm. Mr. Tan is a graduate of Rutgers University where he majored in Computer Science. He spent over a year and half with telecommunications company Cablevision in New York, where he was a member of the Technical Support Group.  Mr. Tan brings to the Business Technology Services a range of high-level technical certifications, which, along with other critical IT skills, will prove highly useful assets to current and future clients of BTS.

New office - 05/01/05

Business Technology Services is pleased to announce it has moved into new offices located in the Empire State Building:

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4912
New York, New York 10118

Telephone 212 967 5757

 

Outlook "Out of Office" option for POP mail users - 03/25/05

To setup an "Out of Office" message when you do not have a MS Exchange Server follow these Microsoft directions. Be sure to leave your computer running, logged in, with Outlook running which will generate the reply message. Lock the computer with a screen saver or ctrl-alt-del.

• Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2002
• Outlook 2000

New Mac Specialist - 07/01/04

BTS now has a Certified Apple Helpdesk Specialist on call for any Macintosh related issues.