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Meeting Notes

Meeting Date: August 1998

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

This month's meeting feature focuses on a topic that was discussed at an ACT! User Group meeting held earlier this year and whose meeting summary, up until now, escaped publication. ACT! User Group meeting notices are now available via e-mail. If you would like to receive meeting reminders via e-mail, simply send a message to info@etechsys.com.

MEETING FEATURE: The Portable Office - ACT! Faxing and E-mailing

Okay, you’re at a three day conference, there’s a break between panel discussions and you figure ‘this would be a great time to check in with the office’, right? Wrong! Everyone, it seems, is heading for the bank of four phones outside the restroom. Well, if you’ve packed your cellular phone, you’re in good shape. If you’ve got your laptop PC with you, too, you can even do more – like fax and send and retrieve e-mail messages without any "hardwired" connection to a phone line. Jim Koretz, ACT! Certified Consultant, showed us how at our March meeting.

Getting Started

The first step is to obtain and configure the necessary hardware and software. Assuming you are using a laptop PC with Windows 95, you’ll first need to get a PCMCIA cellular-ready modem. (Jim uses a Megahertz XJ56K.) In addition to a cellular phone with a modem jack (such as the Nokia 2160) you’ll need a special cable to connect the modem to the phone.

Next you’ll need some fax software. Jim recommends Winfax Pro for seamless operation with ACT!. The latest version (8.03) is best though Winfax 4.0 will work with ACT!, as well. Another option is Microsoft Fax (free with Windows 95). While other fax software can be used, fax numbers have to be entered separately in the fax software’s own address book (even if they are already in ACT!) and it will not be possible to perform broadcast e-mail from within ACT!.

System Configuration

Finally, you’ll need to configure your system. Start by configuring your modem by executing the (Windows) commands: START, SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL, MODEMS, DIALING PROPERTIES. If your cellular phone operates from a different area code, create a new profile within the ‘Where I am’ dialog box. Also, configure your modem for cellular connection by going to the Modem Properties General Tab and clicking on the PROPERTIES button. Go to the Connection Tab and click on the ADVANCED button. Select the Cellular Protocol check box.

Similarly, configure Winfax to work with the cellular network (WINFAX, SETUP MODEM, PROPERTIES, CELLULAR TELEPHONE, 4800BPS SETTING). Note that the bandwidth limitations of cellular networks make communications at speeds greater than 4800 baud unreliable.

But Can I Send E-mail?

It’s also possible to send and receive e-mail messages via laptop PC and cell phone. Eudora (e-mail software) is a good fit with ACT!. Use Windows Explorer (START, PROGRAMS, WINDOWS EXPLORER) to create a separate modem profile for cell phone based e-mail communication. Click on Dial Up Networking and Make New Connection. Although speeds of 9600 BPS are sometimes possible, 4800 BPS represents a more realistic setting. This is why Jim recommends setting the maximum speed to 4800 BPS. You’re ready to go. Now you can send and receive e-mail and even browse the Web (albeit slowly). Given the slower connection speed, consider limiting the size of (received) e-mail files to something like 40Kb and save the large downloads for another time.

Jim’s Final Thoughts

· It is not a good idea to drive while attempting to send faxes or e-mail(!)

· Check the strength of the cellular signal before attempting contact. The signal must be strong for a stable connection.

· Selling Tip: Send a fax or e-mail ‘thank-you’ immediately after meeting with a prospect from the parking lot.

OPEN FORUM:

Q: Can you explain what PC Anywhere does?

A: Sure. PC Anywhere allows you to tie two PCs together via a phone line. It works like a remote control for your PC. For example, you could use your laptop to retrieve files from your desktop PC in the office. Or you could (while at home) direct a PC at the office to print out a report for a coworker to take to a meeting. You can also use PC Anywhere to troubleshoot problems on a far away computer!

Q: A while back we discussed "signature fonts" (converting your signature into a font which could be used in any word processing document) and "logo fonts". Where can I get more information?

A: Check out www.skillnet.com.

OUR NEXT MEETING

will be Tuesday October 13, 1998. At that time we'll update you with the latest ACT! news and information from Symantec and, of course, answer your ACT!-related questions during our Open Forum Q&A session. The meeting will be held at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts Lecture Hall located at 201 Schaumburg Court (just off Schaumburg Road, between Plum Grove and Roselle Roads).

The ACT! User Group (a SIG of the C.C.S.) holds meetings on the second Tuesday of the month, eight months out of the year.

User Group meetings are free and open to the public.

E Tech Systems is an ACT! Certified Consulting firm and Symantec Authorized Training Center. E Tech has installed, configured, and customized ACT! for dozens of companies and trained hundreds of ACT! users. Alan Lee can be reached at E Tech at 847-352-4770 or via e-mail to alee@etechsys.com.

© Copyright 1998 by Alan M. Lee. Other nonprofit computer user's groups may reprint this material providing credit is given the author and C.C.S. Future rights for publication reserved by Alan M. Lee. ACT! is a registered trademark of Symantec Corporation.

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