Communicatons for all businesses-

Press, 25 February 1988, Page 27

Communicatons for all businesses -

Telecom Corporation of New Zealand, Ltd, have an expert team of business account representatives based in Christchurch to service the business community. The team -are consultants as much as sales representatives. Regular contact with defined customers takes care of their communication needs. They keep clients up to date with the latest developments and help them plan future communication needs, say Mr Phil Watts, the sales manager and Mr Alex Maclaren, the district sales manager. Business account representatives also give advice to new clients about the best communication system for their needs. Obviously the p.a.b.x. system is the most important piece of equipment

for any business. Once older electro-mechanical systems needed a special room. Most new electronic systems now need very little space and can be hung on a wall or placed unobtrusively into the office space, he says. Many new electronic systems are capable of switching voice and data. Computer terminals can be interconnected to telephone lines using existing wiring. Data terminals, modems and other sophisticated equipment are available. Telecom sells and services facsimile machines, terminals for videotex and the “brilliant” new Starnet — an electronic messaging service.

Later this year a mobile telephone service (car

phones) will be introduced plus a range of other telephone handsets. Advantages ' over old systems include facilities for call forwarding — if you are not at your desk, your calls can be switched to another number; and call pick-up. which enables you to answer someone else’s telephone without getting out of your chair, Alex Maclaren says. The systems are programmable and can be tailored for specific needs such as newspapers, travel agents or hotels.

Telecom offers free training on a one-to-one basis with the installation of any of its equipment. For those still renting old equipment, a number of special, "very good” offers will let them swap into the most modern electronic systems for

little additional cost, says Alex Maclaren. Telecom is also offering a number of payment options, not just the old twomonthly rental. "Negotiation is what it’s all about,” he says. The business systems section of Telecom is one of the fastest growing areas of the corporation, say Phil Watts and Alex Maclaren. Since Telecom’s business sales section began it has doubled in size and

has outgrown its present premises .in Telecom House. “It was set up nearly two years ago before Telecom became a corporation. It was recognised that a commercial approach for the business community was needed. “A survey showed what the business community wanted and our section was set up in response to that — customers saw a need for personalised service,” says Phil Watts.