Through our many years of work in the communications industry, we have learned a few things. We learned that Central Coast business needed a "one-call" solution for phone and data systems. We learned that such a full-service provider should be able to:

Assess all communications needs

Recommend the appropriate
integrated system

Implement that system

Support the client in the use of
the technology

Maintain the system

And be willing to stand behind
their work

And we decided to make it a point to help bring the consumer out of the telecommunications blackhole.

One of the most interesting ways we do this is by providing the consumer with a "taste" of the various systems by having

them test-drive before they buy. At the location of their choice, we bring our custom-fitted, shiny, red trailer appropriately called THE EDGE.

The Norcast Team designed and detailed THE EDGE for the purpose of breathing life into the conventional proposal process. Once inside, business profes-sionals are introduced to the many ways of staying connected to their customers, to their communities, to their competitors and to the world through the use of voice-mail, phone, Internet, long distance, data networks, fiber optics closed circuit television, commercial sound systems, and VOIP. And staying connected is what Norcast is all about and why we are producing this newsletter. We have information which will help business make more informed telecommunication decisions. And we are eager to share this information.

We will update the information here several times a year and though it will evolve, we intend to always feature a "core" message regarding our company or exciting changes in the industry, we will spotlight one of our clients, acquaint you with our exceptional team members and always offer a column of industry definitions commonly used in our work.

It is Norcast's goal to help Business understand how "state-of-the-art" communication systems can increase profitability and efficiency and ease the stresses of everyday business operations.

Nearly everyone has heard of CT
International. The company has a name worldwide for its ability to supply the medical and computer electronics industries with products ranging from latex gloves to plasma derivatives, coagulants, vaccines and bio-technology drugs.

But the Central Coast probably knows the company best for the uniqueness of its new building. In sharp contrast to its industrial surroundings, the Art Deco construction -­ streamlined like a 1925 bus airport ­- hearkens back to a time when quality and style mattered.

When the company was ready to move into the new facility on Santa Fe Road, it was deter-mined to move into the 21st century at the same time. This meant establishing a new phone and data system in the 30,000 sq. ft. office space. And that's where Norcast came in.

We worked closely with Jeff Phillips, MIS Manager, to help the company get the systems that would address its needs. We in-stalled the systems and integrated the various technologies.

CTI selected the Axxesory Talk option which provides full voice-mail and fax integration with their Exchange Server and Outlook Client. Part of their package also included Inside Track accounting software which allows the sales managers to track the number of calls each sales representative handles on a daily basis.

"The moving of 14 lines, a T-1 line, and installation of the new phone system was handled by Norcast with minimal down-time", comments Jeff. "Work began late Friday afternoon and we were operational Monday as employees came to work. The work performed by Norcast and the service in configuring the various systems was of the highest quality."

The solutions we devised for CTI would not necessarily be recom-mended for other operations, but Norcast's specialty lies in our ability to custom design systems to address individual needs.

The Norcast team appreciated the challenges that the CTI projects presented and we are confident that the improvements will serve them well.

We supplied the Inter-Tel Axxess digital phone system which allows CTI the ease of expansion, automated call routing, and full functionality with their existing T-1 line to share bandwidth for outbound sales calls and Internet access. We programmed this technology to route music through the phone system to each office which eliminated the expense of having sound speakers installed in every room.

Most people spend a lifetime trying to unite passion with expertise in order to attain a "dream career". This is not the case for Mike Thomas.

From accompanying his grand-father on PG&E emergency calls, Mike
recognized what he wanted to do early in life so he came to the Central Coast to pursue a degree in Engineering Technology from Cal Poly.

During his college years, Mike worked for a company that specialized in commercial sound systems and business machines. He got the job, not through his technical expertise at the time, but through an interest Mike shared with the owner of the company ­ restoring old juke-boxes. And though he didn't get the job because of his technical experience, he did keep his job with the company for that reason.

He helped move this company ­ of which he became part owner ­ into the new age by incorporating phone services.

For a number of reasons the company closed its doors in 1999, right around the time Phil, owner of Norcast, and Mike met.

It did not take long for them to realize their commonalities in professional interests and vision. Thus the relationship between the two was solidified and the direction of the new company, Norcast Technology Services, was decided.

As Senior Engineer for Norcast, Mike acts as liaison between the sales force and the service arm of the company. He creates the appropriate solutions for the client, he presents these, and he directs the installation process. He is an office communications / data networks expert and he brings a broad base of knowledge and skills to an industry which gets much more technically complex as it gets more user friendly.

When asked what excites him about his association with Norcast, he is clear. "Norcast is the only company on the Central Coast that has amassed such impressive talent and who can truly offer "solutions not found in the books" which will fulfill the communication needs of area business operations."

When not working, Mike pursues his love of restoring jukeboxes which supplies collectors around the world with beautifully refurbished bits of history.

Business phone systems of today are much more than the "fielding of calls." They are an important part of business strategy and can be instrumental in directing promotional energies. One such system is Inter-Tel's Inside Track Call Accounting Package.

Inside Track has the ability to help you determine whether your resources are being fully utilized, if your employees are productive, and what areas need improvement. Your creativity is the only limit to the uses of Inside Track as a vehicle to help your business run more efficiently.

This package, through a series of preprogrammed or customized data collecting processes and reports, can:

Inside Track operates in the easy-to-use Microsoft Windows environment and supports up to 1000 locations ­ of which the teletraffic can be monitored as a whole or as separate entities.

Reports can be customized to suit individual business needs and can be sorted by account code, call cost, call elapsed time, call start time, call type, date, telephone number, tenant/ department, etc.. And by incorporating the enhanced database feature, reports can even be more informative and can provide a complete profile of your entire telephone system.

Norcast is pleased to offer this amazing tool and is ready to help determine if this is the most beneficial system for your business operation.