Tasty Words….

Yep – the sound you hear is me eating my words. When the Blackberry Storm came out in December I was excited but then disappointed… WELL, that was then & this is now. After reading about software updates, BB APP World & improved features; I decided to give the Storm another whirl. This is where the eating my words comes in – I LOVE THE STORM!

Paying too much???

By changing this small business to one of the NEW Small Business Share Plans with Friends & Family for Business, reviewing their actually needs & usage; this local small Business may be able to save up to $635 per year.

Check out Is your Business Paying Too Much?

LBVRAR Peer to Peer Tech Workshop

LBVRAR TECH Committee Invites you to an

Interactive Hands-On Technology Workshop

Location: Dabney Lancaster – Rockbridge Campus- Computer Lab
Date: April 21 Time 1-3PM Space is limited: 24 computers plus wi-fi for additional laptops
Sign up today email: ae@rockbridgerealtors.com

Topics to include:

• Tools from NAR (Many REALTOR tools are now FREE)
• REALTOR TOOLS FROM VAR

NEW from LBVRAR:

• New Website: RockbridgeRealtors.com (a work in progress)
• Flickr.com LBVRAR Group photos
• Listing Syndication & Point2Agent tools

Plus general how do I do that?? Technology Question & Answer Session
May include:

• Photo tips
• Blogging
• New Technology

Presented by LBVRAR Technology Committee in accordance with LBVRAR Strategic Plan directive to: “Encourage members to embrace technology in their business models, as a tool for better serving customers and clients.”

PrimeTime2Go for BlackBerry: TV Shows Coming Soon to Your RIM Smartphone | CIO – Blogs and Discussion

Research In Motion on Wednesday took the wraps off its much anticipated BlackBerry App World mobile software store, but that’s not all the company’s co-CEO announced in his CTIA Wireless keynote address: BlackBerry users will also soon be able to download and view TV shows from networks like NBC, CBS and MTV, thanks to a new app called PrimeTime2Go.

PrimeTime2Go for BlackBerry: TV Shows Coming Soon to Your RIM Smartphone | CIO – Blogs and Discussion.

How do you?? Create a Slide Show for a Blog?

I’m often asked “How do you??”  This is the kickoff of a series designed to answer tech questions.

Click the Full Screen button to view the presentation

Finished show:

Beyond Blogging with Jeff Turner

Jeff Turner aka @respres takes VAR Legislative Conference09 attendees “beyond blogging”

note: photos by Candy Lynn taken with Samsung Omnia cell phone

Verizon Announces Expanded Rural Broadband

Tony Melone, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Verizon Wireless, said during an interview at the CTIA Wireless 2009 tradeshow Wednesday that the new 4G network that the company is building will blanket the entire continental United States, including the far corners of rural America.

“The licenses we bought in the 700MHz auction cover the whole U.S.,” Melone said. “And we plan to roll out LTE throughout the entire country, including places where we don’t offer our CDMA cell phone service today.”

Very exciting news for those of us in the rural areas of the country.
Also read “Doing the wi-fi shuffle”

morning over the blue ridge

morning over the blue ridge

Originally uploaded by candylynn

Gotta love getting up when this is the view…

Doing the Shuffle…

Do you drive around looking for wi-fi at coffee shops? Do you pay high hotel “internet access fees” when you travel? Do all the coffee shop employees for a 50 mile radius know you by first name?  Then you’re doing the “wi-fi shuffle” – perhaps its time for an aircard!

Here’s my wi-fi shuffle story: (Disclosure – see New Venture – Cellular Sales)

Life in rural Virginia is great – I love waking to the view of the sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains everyday.

Blue Ridge Wake up

Morning View

BUT the high speed internet choices are limited- mostly to satellite. For years we struggled along with dial up.  I hung out in coffee shops when I needed to upload photos, send or recieve attachments, write blog posts,etc. Not the most efficient use of my time.  A couple years ago I found the Verizon “Mobile Broadband” – aka Aircard.  I now can work from home, the car (well could if I did not get car sick), on the deck, at clients homes,  in meetings,  really any where I want to. I am a true believer!

Here’s what Verizon Wireless says about Aircards:

Mobile Broadband is the premier wireless data service from Verizon Wireless on the most reliable high-speed wireless data network in the U.S. Mobile Broadband runs on an EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) network that we are continually improving to keep it the best choice for data products and services. The latest network enhancement to bring customers even faster speeds is the deployment of EV-DO Rev A. Mobile Broadband offers customers:

• Wireless Internet access, access to email and attachments, and corporate intranet access at high speeds

• True mobility through Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) technology. No need to search for Wi-Fi hotspots.

• Downloading and uploading of complex, large files quickly and easily

• Increased productivity with flexibility to work outside the office at broadband-like speed, comparable to that of cable modem or DSL.

STOP the Wi-fi Shuffle TODAY!
Contact me: candy@candylynn.com or call 540-460-0058
for a GREAT deal on a Verizon Aircard -Free after mail in rebate! Yup Free with a new 2 year contract.

Are you paying too much?

Daily the news is – well -pretty darn gloomy, jobs lost, homes lost.
In my new venture with Cellular Sales – Verizon, I am pleased I’ve been able to help folks save money.  Below is an actual free Plan Review I did today. It is typical of what I find:

• Most folks think they need more minutes than they do.
• Most folks are paying too much for their cell plan.
• Most folks have no clue what their actual usage or needs are.

Plan Review:

Current plan:  Verizon NATIONWIDE SELECT FAMILY SHARE  4000 minutes
Includes Voice Calls, Unlimited Messaging, Long distance, No Roaming

$200 first line
$9.99 each additional line  (extra features not included)
Total monthly base = $219.98

• Average Minutes used over the last 3 months
  • ***-****-  645
  • ***-****- 472
  • ***-****-    56
    Total  1173 minutes (peak out of network, these are the minutes that count towards your shared minutes)

Suggested Plan:

NATIONWIDE SELECT FAMILY SHARE 2100 minutes
$130 first line
$9.99 each additional line
Total monthly base =  $149.98

Note: there is also a 1400 Minute plan BUT that may be cutting it close

Features review:

• • ***-**** – insurance $4.99/ month
  • ***-****- no added features
  • ***-****- insurance $4.99/ month, Mobile email & unlimited web for smart phone $29.99/ month

Features discussion:

For your current use of the phones you have, your features are appropriate. The only thing you may consider is the need for the insurance, that is a personal consideration. Your annual cost for the insurance is $60 per phone & there is a $50 deductible if you use it.

Currently only one line is using a smart phone – it has the best plan for that phone currently offered.

Phone Review:

You all are eligible for new phones on the 1^st of April 09.

Tell me about how each of you use a phone. I know there is already one smart phone user & ****has expressed an interest in one too. How about ******?

Once I have information on your phone needs ie:  basic phone – used just to talk & get Voice mail or smart phone – used as an expanded office tool with email & web access; I’ll be able to make some recommendations.  At that time I can bring some phones to your office for your hands on consideration.

Recommendation for now:

Change your plan to the 2100 minutes & save $69.99 per month (that’s $839.88/year)

Cell phones are part of our lives, they have become part of our culture. To most of us they will be the last thing that is cut when times are hard.  So why are so many folks paying too much?

Contact Candy TODAY for your FREE Consultation!
candy@candylynn.com