O/T - Website, Computery, Telecom Gurus out there

[thepeoplespal]

The Problem: The brother has a static website for his business and is very rarely online (once a month if he is lucky). So email is rarely answered promptly (other than by me), thus losing potential business.

Available Equipment:
He has a Mobile and is likely to respond promptly to any enquiries via a Text message.

I was wondering if it would be possible to get a Text message service for business leads from a Website interface directly to his phone and what it is likely to cost?

Thanks in advance

[sadoksevoli]

Check with his mobile operator site - Vodafone for example had Vizzavi and now vodafone live! which can integrate your mail with SMS although it does cost to notify you of mails and newer services need a WAP/GPRS phone - GPRS will also cost extra - BUT the latter means you can actually pick up the email in full on a GPRS phone and reply if needs be. To integrate this with the website set forwarding from that email address to the vodafone address or quote the vodafone address on your site. NOTE this is what what you could do although it may infringe the operator's T&Cs - otherwise approach the mobile network and find out how to do it above board - they'd probably love to help for a price.

[plotloss]

GPRS and a PDA take it a step further and allow full HTML e:mail editing should he require.

Other options would be to write an Outlook agent to forward the mail via SMS, I am sure there are gateways on the web that will provide this facility.

Matt.

[Don]

The fix.....is to go on-line more. Everything else will be inconvenient and expensive.

Why not fix up a computer to dial-up automatically and collect the mail once every day. Then just leave it switched on permanently (better for 'em anyway). Then at least the 'mail is there - staring at him.

A new habit of checking the mail would be a whole pile cheaper than any technological solution.

[PetrolTed]

Have to agree with Don on this one. If he wants to use the web to do business then he has to invest some time in it - every day.

Answering emails promptly is one of the best ways to cultivate a good relationship online. If he's not going to reply within 48 hours then he might as well not bother with a website.

Regarding remote access, he could always use Hotmail or Yahoo mail to pick up his POP3 mail from the mailbox whilst out on the road if he's in offices or near net cafes or those fancy BT phones?

[Richard92c2]

Another thing that may be an idea is to have an Auto Reply to the incoming mail, something like

"Thank you for the interest in my web-site, I am currently out of the office and will reply to your email within 5 working days"


Just an Idea!

[pbrettle]

Previously mentioned for Vodafone, but Orange (my business phone is on this network) and you can get a service that is email as well - as long as you have a phone that supports it (6310i does for example) then you can send and receive email from your phone. You register and get an orange.net email address - put this on your website - job done.

Ok so you need to pay the mobile bill, but it works. Though whatever you do - dont try Orange as the website is broken. Just tried to set mine up and it is bust - not a good sign.

cheers,

Paul

[thepeoplespal]

PetrolTed said: Have to agree with Don on this one. If he wants to use the web to do business then he has to invest some time in it - every day.

Answering emails promptly is one of the best ways to cultivate a good relationship online. If he's not going to reply within 48 hours then he might as well not bother with a website.

Regarding remote access, he could always use Hotmail or Yahoo mail to pick up his POP3 mail from the mailbox whilst out on the road if he's in offices or near net cafes or those fancy BT phones?

Thanks for all the replies.

The additional time online, isn't really an option as he already works long hours, six days a week to help pay for his TVR. I just thought a Webinterface to text on a phone would be the most effective tool to ensure a reply within minutes.

I do all the replies promptly by email for him, myself, but the website is really just a brochure site for his services. It allows his "word of mouth" marketing a little more substance.

[PetrolTed]

Manage people's expectations.

If the website is just a showroom and people won't get replies to emails then put an explanation to that effect with the contact details.

[Podie]

pbrettle said:
Ok so you need to pay the mobile bill, but it works. Though whatever you do - dont try Orange as the website is broken. Just tried to set mine up and it is bust - not a good sign.

cheers,

Paul

Orange.net has closed, since Orange has closed its ISP. However, Orange e-mail and the associated functionaility IS still available... via www.orange.co.uk

[thepeoplespal]

PetrolTed said: Manage people's expectations.

If the website is just a showroom and people won't get replies to emails then put an explanation to that effect with the contact details.

Already done so from 1st edition of site a few years or so ago. It does not do to disappoint customers in anyway, especially with regards to communication and getting in contact in a timely fashion.

The reason why I asked the question in the first place was due to "one to one" (Untenable option in N. Ireland) offering email to text in the past.
(e.g. [e-mail]) Thought I could try to update his site and the possible ways of getting in contact.

Cheers for all the input.

[ultimajohn]

I agree with Don. Use a W2k PC and it will go on forever. minimal cost and email collected promptly