Turning Green At Age 25? Business Reduces Footprint While Serving Clients Faster

Aug. 18, 2009 - PRLog -- Back in the early 1980's, phone on hold messaging was a novelty used by only a few businesses.

Today, every business worth its salt has a message playing while their callers wait on hold. Retailers usually have messages geared toward promoting slow moving items or brand new products. Doctors and other professionals like having on hold messages that mention their credentials and field of specialty. Many restaurants entice callers with mouth-watering descriptions of their culinary delights. Nearly all phone on hold messages give details about the business you are calling, their location, hours of operation, etc. The best use national voice talents (like AAA Phone On Hold does) and most messages include royalty free background music.

Primitive message players were clunky old tape machines that required complicated wiring to connect them to a business's phone system. The machine played a loop tape over and over when callers were put on hold. When the tape wore out or broke, the message stopped and a new tape was needed. Of course, the tape had to be shipped in an envelope with plastic bubble wrap to protect the contents. The whole process involved tons of plastic and paper that would eventually overflow our landfills. Not to mention the pollution created by the exhaust, and untold amounts of fuel consumed by the trucks and airplanes used by the US Postal Service and others. Well... those days are OVER (almost)!

Celebrating 25 years in business, AAA Phone On Hold has stopped selling cassette and CD message players to most of their new clients. With the application of MP3 technology now available in the message on hold industry, customers can receive their professionally recorded, customized audio messages via the internet. Whether it's attached to an email, or downloaded from a secure FTP site, audio delivered in MP3 or WAV format eliminates the need to ship cassettes or CDs. Some new VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phone systems even have the message player built-in to the software. However, these phone systems do not supply the custom messages digitally recorded by professional voice talent. You still have to go to a company like AAA Phone On Hold, for that.

Of course, downloading audio is not an altogether new concept. However, many on hold customers still have tape or CD message players installed at their place of business. The audio is stored in and then played from the unit's memory, so loop tapes are rarely seen these days. All on hold message players are specially designed for use with telephone systems and are built to last up to 10 years or more. Dolena Livolsi, Director of Operations for AAA Phone On Hold admits, "One of our clients has nearly 200 restaurants and all their locations currently use a tape or CD." Apparently, this can become an issue when trying to fulfill last minute message updates. Livolsi said, "Sometimes it takes more than 4 or 5 days for a package to be delivered from our production facility in Cleveland, TN, to a customer location on the west coast. Our clients deserve faster service than that. With the new USB players (as they're called), we can deliver the product in record time." Not to mention the savings Livolsi's company enjoys by reducing the cost of stocking, packaging and shipping CDs and tapes. Recent increases in the price of first class stamps have had an even greater impact on shipping items like cassette tapes and CDs (which are classified as media mail).

Not every industry can deliver its products via the internet, but all could enjoy the cost (and time) saving benefits of sending invoices by email, storing documents electronically, allowing employees to telecommute, using recycled paper products, installing power saving (and longer lasting) fluorescent light bulbs... the list goes on and on. For details on even more green solutions, visit whitehouse.gov then click on energy & environment. Visit http://www.AAAPhoneOnHold.com for more information about phone on hold services.

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About AAA Phone On Hold: Serving the nation since 1984, AAA Phone On Hold provides impact driven content for all phone systems, including VOIP. Restaurant chains, doctors' offices, car dealerships, welding suppliers, law firms, communications & technology providers, retailers, wholesalers, salons & spas, hotels & resorts, employment agencies, caterers, auto shops, manufacturing companies, amusement parks, boutiques & more count on us for marketing expertise & personalized customer service. http://www.AAAPhoneOnHold.com allows you to update your message script and choose from over 100 music selections online. National voice talent and royalty free background music combine to create top-of-mind awareness. Our custom on hold messages are designed to enhance your company image. Marketing isn't just about selling products or services, it's about creating memorable experiences. Sharing your world view can have a powerful impact on your clients and your business. Connect with your customers!