Overheating iPads, Monet Software, Chevy Volt, Web-based Call Center

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David Sims
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Overheating iPads, Monet Software, Chevy Volt, Web-based Call Center

Officials at workforce management software provider Monet Software claim that call centers that use the company's Web-based offering, Monet WFM Live, can improve service levels and reduce operating costs "without the upfront expenses and IT requirements of traditional software."
Specific functions of the company's WFM Live offering include:
--Forecasting: Run simulations to calculate a precise forecast for future call volume, agent requirements and average handle time for any time interval of the day, based on historical data from ACD.
--Scheduling: Monet's advanced scheduling engine incorporates all call types and other activities to generate staffing schedules that optimize a wide range of factors.
--Intra-day Management: A graphical display of agents' schedules can be manipulated by dragging and dropping breaks, lunches and other exceptions. Real-time updates can be made to required and assigned agents instantly.
Read more here.
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No stranger to litigation, Apple has another lawsuit on its plate now: Some people are irked how fast their iPads overheat.
Industry observer Susan Jacobsson notes that a complaint was filed in federal court in Oakland on July 23 by Jacob Balthazar, Claudia Keller, and John Browning: "According to the filing, the iPad does not 'live up to reasonable consumer's expectations created by Apple... as the iPad overheats so quickly under common weather conditions that it does not function for prolonged use outdoors, or in many other warm conditions."
Mac.Blorge says that yes, in fact, "one way to insure that your shiny new iPad overheats is to turn it on, lay it down so that the noontime sun shines directly on its screen, and wait awhile for the iPad to be smart enough to turn itself off to avoid damage. Apparently, a group of attorneys somewhere has noticed that if you do something that stupid, the iPad in question does indeed overheat and turn itself off."
Having "proven to their satisfaction that the laws of physics still apply, the attorneys in question have filed a class action suit against Apple (instead of the universe, which actually enforces the laws of physics)," Mac.Blorge says, adding that "the overheating iPad issue is analogous to putting your foot in front of a bus tire and waiting until the bus rolls over it, then suing because the bus injured your foot."
Evidently -- we can't speak from experience here, we haven't received our iPad from our dear sweet loving wife for our birthday yet, and it never gets that hot or cold around here anyway -- users get a screen that reads "iPad needs to cool down before you can use it."
Read more here.
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Hundreds -- nay, thousands -- of call centers in recent years have switched to the SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) model of delivery. No doubt you've run into friends at cocktail parties and have asked them so, what's so good about SaaS -- isn't it just today's ASP, hosted software?
They might not have been able to give you a coherent answer, as they had a fistful of the shrimp dip and their fourth Manhattan at the time. We're just on our first beer, so we can give you a good, clear answer.
SaaS, according to a good summary from workforce management software vendor Monet Software, has numerous advantages over the traditional hosted or ASP models of the past. Yes these offerings are often confused but, not addressing the fundamental differences, have a huge impact on your call center business.
The traditional hosted model, Monet officials say, is simply hosting a client server application on a server at the vendor's site. The vendor then provides an application -- that was not originally designed to be hosted -- over the web, oh maybe with a few changes, and delivers it to each customer via a single, dedicated server.
Read more here.
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It's pricey to be so concerned, isn't it? General Motors has announced the base price of its Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in car with a range of about 40 miles just using battery power, is $41,000 before a $7,500 federal tax credit.
According to The New York Times, the Nissan Leaf, a fully electric car that goes on sale in December, starts at $32,780, and you can assuage your liberal greenie guilt with a Toyota Prius for anywhere from $23,560 to $35,000, depending on how tricked-out you want it.
And the Leaf has a range of 100 miles. Beyond 40 miles the Volt needs a gas-powered -- only the expensive premium gas will work, G.M. officials say -- engine to run another 300 or so miles.
Dealers in selected states, including California, Michigan and New York, "should begin receiving the vehicle in November," the Times says.
Read more here
 
 


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