Sending a physical card means that they can carry these Mother's Day wishes with them always. 

​We have simplified your Mother's Day message. Use one of these:​
​

• I'm so glad I didn't fall far from the tree.
• You were right about absolutely everything. Thanks for being my mom!
• Moms are like buttons—they hold everything together.
• My love for you is bigger than the pile of laundry in my room.
• Thank you for all the hugs, words of encouragement, and impeccable patience through the years.
• I'm so proud to be your kid!

​
Find more messages for mothers and mothers-in-law!

Delta Air Lines is exploring the possibility of using SpaceX's Starlink service to offer in-flight internet access.

As The Wall Street Journal reports, Delta CEO Ed Bastian confirmed that "exploratory tests" have been carried out using Starlink's technology. However, there are several steps required before it can be used on commercial flights.

SpaceX wants to partner with carriers to offer Starlink on flights and has been granted FCC approval to test the system on aircraft. There is no regulatory approval for the system being used on commercial flights yet, though. Elon Musk also pointed out last year that Starlink needs to be certified for each aircraft type, so the focus is on the most popular ones first (Boeing 737, A320, and Gulfstream).
​
According to J. Armand Musey, founder of Summit Ridge Group, which is focused on the satellite industry, it's going to take several years before Starlink is an established in-flight internet provider thanks to regulations and the long-term contracts carriers already have with other providers.

Change can be hard, but in technological industries it is imperative to constantly learn, innovate and grow! 

We hope you enjoy our rebranding and agree that it reflects our commitment to innovation and simplifying business communications.

We changed up our fonts, colors, logo and website to something simpler and easier to read. Communicating clearly is important to us!

In an increasingly internet-dependent world, businesses are now more than ever tasked with finding solutions that meet customer as well as in-house needs. Most companies have discovered meeting these needs is, in itself, not the issue. The challenge arises from needing to meet demands faster than the competition. In order to do this, businesses are forced to evaluate their internet services and how these services directly impact business capabilities, efficiency, deliverables, and revenue.

For those outside the tech realm, tech terminology can seem quite intimidating. This post is not intended to add to that confusion. Instead, we’re going to clearly break down all things Business Class Internet and why your business is at a disadvantage without it.

Is Business Class Internet Really Necessary for my Business? 

The short answer to this question is that it’s really up to your business. However, there’s a reason (well, multiple reasons) most businesses utilize Business Class Internet. It’s even in the name after all! Business Class Internet, and other high level internet types, make all the difference in performance.

Consider the following advantages of Business Class Internet on business performance:

• Increased reliability and accountability
• Can be tailored to fit business needs and objectives
• A variety of Internet Service Providers offer Business Class Internet, which means your business has options
• Reduced frustration and increased employee morale in having a faster internet option
• Higher speeds and synchronous, or symmetrical, speeds

Now, with the above reasons in mind, you tell me if you think Business Class Internet is worth it.

Cost

This is usually the deciding factor for businesses thinking about Business Class Internet, and it’s understandable. As good as something can sound in theory, if the price isn’t right then the discussion is over. That brings us to the big question: what is the cost of Business Class Internet?

Well, there is no answer, or not a single one anyway. This is because Business Class Internet has average speeds anywhere from 50Mbps to 1GB and can range from $75/mo to $1,000+. This is due to the fact that there is no universal standard for Business Class Internet. It’s not a one size fits all solution because every business has unique needs.

However, one of the advantages of working with Simplified Communications, is that, as an independent broker, we can put together an ideal package, utilizing the best services for the best prices available.

For existing customers that really need to watch the spending, and you’ve been in your contract for 12-18 months, we may be able to reduce your costs. 

Not All Internet is Created Equal

To determine the best internet for your business, it’s important to understand the totem pole of internet types. Residential/standard internet comes in at the bottom, with the lowest cost but restricted upload speeds and slow, best-effort service agreements that might make you want to pull your hair out.

​Business Class Internet is a huge step above residential with its ability to offer higher speeds and synchronous speeds for upload and downloads. Business Class Internet also often comes with a Static Internet Protocol (IP) address and improved service level agreements for quicker service, which means any internet problems that occur can be addressed swiftly.

Then there is Enterprise Class Internet sitting atop of the totem pole. This is the internet solution for businesses who rely heavily on the internet. Enterprise Class Internet includes dedicated service, quality level service agreements offering same-day repair, and project management.

Trying to decide between Business Class and Enterprise Class Internet? Know that dual connectivity is an option as well. This is a combination of Business Class and Enterprise Class Internet. Depending on the needs of your company, this might be the best fit for you! Reach out to our team to find out which service is best for your current trajectory and growth in your business!

Business Class Internet Reliability

When signing up for Business Class Internet, you will also sign a service level agreement that lays out the level of uptime and service you will receive. This is important because technology is not without issues. But having quick solutions and nearby customer service representatives goes a long way in addressing issues the same day and ensuring your Business Class Internet is functioning properly again in no time. Additionally, you will receive dedicated account managers and business specialists who monitor your network for both performance and security.

Service level agreements will vary from carrier to carrier, but you are typically offered four minimum guarantees:

1. Mean repair time 
2. Jitter: the fluctuation of latency over time
3. Latency: time it takes for a packet to arrive at its destination
4. Uptime: percentage of the time your internet will be up and running

Another reason why Business Class Internet is regarded for its reliability is because it provides customers with a Static IP address. Your IP address is your network’s online address. A Static IP address is permanent, in contrast to a dynamic IP address that changes regularly. Most businesses request a Static IP because it makes their network both more secure and more reliable. This is important especially if you have employees working across various locations or you use a virtual private network (VPN).

Know Your Provider Options

Business Class Internet is offered by most of the top Internet Service Providers such as:

• Comcast 
• Spectrum 
• Lumen 
• Verizon 
• AT&T

Unsure of which is for you? Simplified Communications usually recommends utilizing the Business Class Internet option from your preferred Internet Service Provider, but we’d be happy to share our expert advice if you’d like to learn more.

All the above information is meant to serve as a comprehensive guide for anyone wishing to learn more about Business Class Internet or businesses considering the transition to Business Class Internet.

​We understand this can seem like an intimidating process to some, but know that our Simplified Team is here to walk you through it. With us by your side, we’ll get you through all things Business Class Internet and, by doing so, get you an internet service that can finally keep up with you!

In the information technology world, Log4j could become the equivalent of a particularly virulent Covid variant—and for businesses, a potentially bigger danger. 

Log4j is an open-source, Java-based utility that logs error messages in software applications. In early December, a cybersecurity staffer with the Alibaba Cloud service in China discovered a vulnerability—a flaw—in Log4j that could open millions of businesses and other organizations to cyberattacks. A second flaw was found shortly afterward. 
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Compared to a data breach releasing sensitive information of millions of retail customers, the dangers of Log4j’s flaws are harder for non-IT people to understand. But as a cybersecurity threat, Log4j could become a disaster of pandemic proportions. That’s because innumerable organizations have the utility in their IT networks—and many don’t even know it’s there. Log4j could allow cybercrooks worldwide to steal data, encrypt servers, shut down factory floors, deceive companies into wiring them money, and demand thousands, even millions, of dollars in ransom. 

Continue reading.​

SpaceX has quietly rolled out a new, more powerful “premium” tier of its Starlink satellite internet service that’s targeted at businesses and enterprise customers.

The new product, which was added to the company’s website Tuesday night, comes at five times the cost of the consumer-focused standard service. Starlink Premium requires a $500 refundable deposit, a $2,500 fee for the antenna and router, and the service costs $500 per month.

The standard Starlink service, which launched in October 2020, has a $99 refundable deposit, a $499 hardware fee and the service costs $99 per month.

Elon Musk’s company is touting improved hardware, faster service speeds and priority support in its pitch to prospective premium customers.

“Starlink Premium has more than double the antenna capability of Starlink, delivering faster internet speeds and higher throughput for the highest demand users, including businesses,” the SpaceX website said.
​
The first premium deliveries will begin in the second quarter, the Starlink website notice added.

Whether you have big plans for Valentine's Day or prefer to Netflix alone--we're curious how the data of CandyStore.com measures up! Did they get your state right? Are you an outlier?

Tell us about your favorite Valentine's Candy!

• 47% of people said they will buy themselves a box of chocolates this year.
•  58 million pounds of chocolate are bought during Valentine’s Day week.
•  The peak selling period for conversation hearts is only 6 weeks long. Wow!
•  It takes manufacturers 11 months to produce enough for those 6 weeks.
•  Vodka infused with candy remained popular with conversation hearts last year.
•  Children receive 39 percent of all Valentine’s Day candy and gifts.

Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson and Otis Boykin are two names you may not be familiar with, but you have used many products and technologies that they're responsible for inventing. 
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We can thank Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson for her breakthrough scientific research at Bell Laboratories that paved the way for these inventions and products:

• portable fax
  
• touch tone telephone
  
• solar cells
  
• fiber optic cables
  
• the technology behind caller ID and call waiting

Jackson's interest in science and math started in childhood. She conducted studies and experiments for fun; these passions took her to MIT where she studied physics. Besides Jackson's important discoveries, she was also the first woman of color to earn a Ph.D. from MIT. 

Dr. Jackson is currently the president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where her goal is "to achieve prominence in the 21st century as a top-tier world-class technological research university, with global reach and global impact." 

Otis Boykin is included in the list of great Black Inventors in the technology realm. He had 26 patents at the time of his death in 1982, including the wire precision resistor and pacemaker control unit.

Boykin graduated from Fisk College in 1941, then worked with the Majestic Radio and TV Corporation, and P.J. Nilsen Research Laboratories. 

He invented for fun and on his own time, and eventually started his own business. 

The resistor that Boykin invented would later be used in radios and televisions. He also created a breakthrough device that could withstand extreme changes in temperature and pressure, which was used by the United States military for guided missiles and by IBM for computers.

AT&T and Verizon will hold off on rolling out 5G within 2 miles of airports when the rest of their 5G networks go live Wednesday – a move lauded by the White House.

"As the nation’s leading wireless provider, we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports," Verizon said Tuesday. "The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and our nation’s airlines have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports, despite it being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries."

​AT&T expressed similar frustration.
​
"At our sole discretion, we have voluntarily agreed to temporarily defer turning on a limited number of towers around certain airport runways as we continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA to provide further information about our 5G deployment, since they have not utilized the two years they’ve had to responsibly plan for this deployment," an AT&T spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We are launching our advanced 5G services everywhere else as planned with the temporary exception of this limited number of towers.”

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile will put down 3G for good this year. Even if you don’t have a 3G phone anymore (and chances are you don’t), the technology most certainly changed your life 

The history of the world is divided into two eras:
​
B3G (Before 3G): During this time, cellphones were primarily used for talking and texting. Sure, you could load a website but you could also snowshoe from New York to Alaska in the same amount of time.

CBE (Cellular Broadband Era): Once the heavens opened and the cell towers ushered in 3G, we got it all: speedy mobile web browsing, apps that let you summon a car (or burrito) to your door and an endless stream of selfies. And it only got faster as time went on.

Starting next month, the third-generation wireless networks that served as a rocket booster for the smartphone will be turned off forever.

Cisco is putting resources into augmented reality hologram technology for its Webex conferencing software.

The enterprise giant is betting that AR technology will gain momentum as companies adopt metaverse-style works.

It’s part of Webex’s strategy to regain market share, a key figure tells Insider.

The metaverse, commonly seen as a technology that allows people to communicate with each other in 3D-rendered virtual worlds, may seem like an unlikely investment area for Cisco, whose core business is networking hardware and software. But Cisco is betting that building its own version of the metaverse could be a secret weapon for its Webex conferencing tools, as it aims to regain market share by attracting new customers who want hyper-realistic workplace video conferencing.

This is a great time of year to assess your services and make sure everything is set up for a productive 2022. And we can help. ​

You don't have to figure it out. When it comes to voice, internet, and digital collaboration We got it Simplified for you! 

• As your telecom broker, we can get the best services for your business, for the best price.  
  
• You have a lot to juggle. We simplify all your phone and internet accounts under one point of contact.