Some Helpful Links

admin    IVR     telemarketing laws, voice broadcast

Voice Broadcast regulations

When it comes to outbound automated voice broadcasts, a service of Advanced Telecom Services, it is important that all message comply with Federal and State Do-Not-Call statutes and regulations.  If you need assistance in understanding the legal obligations imposed in state and federal laws, please contact your attorney for further guidance.

Some useful links that will help you gain an understanding of the laws that pertain to do-not-call regulations can be found below:

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 47 CFR 64.1200 and CFR 310.

900 Numbers Need Automated Credit Card Tandem

admin    800 Numbers, Credit Card Processing, IVR     800 Numbers, automated credit card

There is a movement in America to cut the chain of the land line phone.  Nearly a quarter of all American households are now cell phone only households.

Perfect Match: Automated credit card and 900 numbers

More and more, Americans are relying on their cell phones as their primary means of telecommunications.  And, since cell phones in the USA have never been set up to allow 900 number calls, it’s important that pay per call programs have the ability to also earn revenue from cell phone users.

Advanced Telecom Services offers a complete automated credit card processing solution for callers who prefer to pay by credit card or debit card rather than 900 number.  The automated credit card program gives customers the ability to process high risk credit card transactions from consumers.  There is an option for built in fraud control and credit card scrubbing to limit bad debt.

Some consumers will prefer 900 numbers and some will prefer credit card processing.  If you want to get that beach house from your audiotext program, then it’s important that you offer both.

Vintage ATT 900 Number Promotion

advanced34    900 Numbers, Cool Stuff, IVR     900 Numbers, AT&T 900 numbers, history of 900 numbers

For those of you who have been in the 900 number industry for a while, this is an interesting promotional video that we found.  It is from back in the day when AT&T was promoting 900 numbers for everything, including information on how to make your plants grow better.

If you are into the 900 number industry, this is interesting reading about the History of 900 Numbers. This video from AT&T 900 is just one part of that history.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHlvh5lMtk&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Hulkamania Runs Wild Again

advanced34    900 Numbers, IVR, Telemedia     900 number, Hulk Hogan

Last week, the return of Hulk Hogan to pro wrestling gave TNA Impact its highest ratings ever for Monday Night.

Hulk Hogan led TNA to its highest ratings ever.

TNA Impact airs on Spike TV.

The special live three hour edition of TNA Impact recorded 2.2 million viewers.

Advanced Telecom Services owes a lot to Hulk Hogan.  ATS was fortunate enough to do the WWF wrestling hotline and the Hulk Hogan Hotline during Hogan’s time at WWF and later at WCW.  AT&T has confirmed that the Hulk Hogan Hotline was the biggest 900 number in the United States from 1991 through 1993.

President Bob Bentz remarked for years what a class guy Terry Bollea (Hulk Hogan) is.  “He once called on Christmas Day to wish my son and me a Merry Christmas.  That small gesture meant a lot to me.”

It’s good to see Hulk Hogan back in the ring where he belongs.  Hopefully, he’ll think about bringing back that 900 number again.

Tiger Woods Chat Line

advanced34    900 Numbers, IVR     chat lines, Tiger Woods

We’ve all had some fun at Tiger Woods’ expense, but probably not as much as Jimmy Kimmel has had.  Kimmel announces that Tiger Woods has a new source of income — a chat line.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfoSnCuPLxI&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

VoiceTone For Rotary Dial Phones

advanced34    800 Numbers, 900 Numbers, Cool Stuff, IVR, Technology     % homes with rotary phones, rotary phones

When Advanced Telecom Services began in 1989, it wanted a differentiator

In 1990, 38.5% of US households used rotary dial phones like this one.

in the IVR marketplace.  It wanted something so that it could deliver value to the caller over what other 800 number IVR and 900 number service bureaus offered.

That differentiator was VoiceTone — ATS’s exclusive voice recognition software that enabled rotary dial callers to say their selection as opposed to pressing it on a touchtone phone.

While speech recognition might seem commonplace today, back in 1990, it was far from common.  Rotary callers were simply not able to interact with automated telephone systems until Advanced Telecom Services’ VoiceTone came on the scene.

And, back in 1990, this was a significant market as 38.5% of all households used rotary dial phones!  (See Page 199 of Adult Literacy and New Technologies).

Employment Opportunity

advanced34    900 Numbers, Cell Phones, Dating, IVR, Telemedia     jobs Philadelphia, marketing jobs, telemedia jobs

Marketing Manager job opening at Advanced Telecom Services.

Advanced Telecom Services and Advanced Mobile Solutions are seeking a full-time marketing manager in its Wayne, Pennsylvania offices.  The marketing manager will report to the presidents of each company. 

Successful candidate should have a college degree and a minimum of two years experience in both internet marketing and traditional marketing.  Candidate should also have a passion for both mobile phone and internet applications.

The marketing manager will have outstanding written communication skills.  He or she will also have knowledge of internet advertising, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, and conducting webinars.  Some knowledge of html and CSS is a plus.  Traditional marketing skills required include literature design, database management, email promotions, and trade show participation.

Salary plus 401k with matching, paid vacation, and medical and dental benefits provided.  Apply to: bobb@advancedtele.com. 

Advanced Telecom Services, founded in 1989, provides telemedia services to media and advertising agencies.  Services include mobile marketing, interactive voice response, 800 and 900 numbers, and internet dating solutions.  Advanced Telecom Services has offices in the USA, Canada, UK, and Ireland.

Advanced Mobile Solutions, founded in 2005, specializes in delivering mobile content to large database companies.  The company has been funded by Ben Franklin Technology Partners.  Its impressive client list includes apartments.com, Houston Chronicle, and BHI.

ATS-Prague Office

advanced34    Cool Stuff, Czech Republic, IVR, Telemedia     ATS Praha, ATS-Prague, Bob Bentz, Michal Horak

One of the great success stories of Advanced Telecom Services has been its office in Praha, Czech Republic.  The office was established in 1997 as ATS’s fourth country location following its expansion from the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, and then Czech Republic.

The first meeting held to discuss the establishment of ATS-Praha was held at the Imperial Cafe in Prague.

Bob Bentz and Michal Horak celebrate 12 years in business in Prague.