Key Highlight: Auto-Attendants and High-Speed Internet

Proximiti provides equipment, network services, and enhanced communications services for a wide range of businesses in a wide range of industries. Proximiti's flagship product, the 3600 series, is a great fit for many retail operations as there is no phone switching equipment required at each site, simply the plugging in of Proximiti phones into a local area data network. This hosted solution offers multi-location retail operations great flexibility and useful features including four digit dialing between locations with all on-net calling (no long distance charges whether down the street or across the country), unlimited local and long distance calling for $30 per month per line, great voice mail, an auto-attendant that can provide callers with key information about store hours, and locations, and other useful features. District managers that travel to different stores can log in at any phone and all inbound calls are routed instantly to their location offering big savings on wireless phone use.

Many retail locations report that almost 80% of inbound calling can be managed with an auto-attendant to provide information such as store hours, location information, and instant connection to centralized customer support functions thereby freeing up in store personnel to focus on customers within the store. This important labor savings made possible with sophisticated call routing capabilities and automated messaging all are included as part of the Proximiti service set.

Small and mid sized retail establishments increasingly require high speed data connections to support inventory and business management applications managed from the main office. Credit card processing is increasingly moving to broadband data networks as well offering lower processing charges and faster checkout times for customers. This high speed connection also can support in-store Wi-Fi, whether offered as an amenity to customers or too for in-store network applications.

Increasingly, too, there is strong interest in providing video monitoring capabilities for store owners or main offices for inventory control, assessing busy hours, and other functions. The Proximiti solution can support all of these initiatives and also provide VOIP services saving on telecommunications costs.

For larger stores, the coming Wi-Fi phone handsets (expected to be available in Q1 2007) can allow for instant connection of inbound calls to specific sales associates, thereby increasing the personal touch for key customers.

Typical Configuration:
- A high speed data connection
- Proximiti ATA equipment that links telephones to your data connection
- Local and long distance services
- Auto-attendant
- Porting of Existing phone numbers to Proximiti network
- Voice mail
- Call routing rules

Proximiti Process
Proximiti can meet with your IT staff or general management to develop a comprehensive plan with specific recommendations for your retail store(s). Once the plan is approved, Proximiti directs all installation activities, training materials (very simple to operate, no real training required), and integration of key business activities. Upon activation, Proximiti then provides all on-going support, delivers an integrated yet simple bill, and assists your staff with any changes to your accounts. Proximiti's web portal allows for easy administration of new employees, voice mail, and other functions.

A Note on Proximiti's Messenger Application
Many retail locations need to contact customers about deliveries, appointments, and other functions yet tying up in store personnel for these types of customer contact is time consuming and not particularly efficient. Proximiti's Messenger application is an automated system for making outbound calls that can include client specific information. For example, a bedding store needs to inform 20 customers each day of scheduled deliveries of merchandise. In this application, the store can pull a customer list, the scheduled times of delivery, and message body, all of which can be read to the call recipient using a very advanced and natural sounding voice. The call recipient can acknowledge receipt of the message of if there is a problem, press 1 on their phone and be instantly connected to either store or other service center to re-schedule the delivery. Customers appreciate the courtesy calls, delivery trucks have high efficiency with fewer missed customer deliveries, and the cost of this service, less than $50 per month per store is a big labor savings. Better yet, Proximiti Messenger works 7 days a week and never misses a day of work.

Comments from District Manager for Retail Operations:
"Our phone system isn't a big part of our business costs and while the Proximiti service saves us substantially compared to prior costs, the real benefits of the Proximiti system are the increased management tools we obtain including video monitoring, the Messenger deployment is useful for notifying employees of work schedules and for customer deliveries, and our store personnel aren't tied up answering routine phone calls but are instead working face to face with our customers."