Vendor Profile
Telescan:
Raising the Bar for TAS Services

The advertising slogan that says "You've come a long way, baby," perfectly describes Telescan's ascent in the TAS industry.  George Meyer, founder of Telescan, was the originator of DID call processing equipment for the TAS industry in 1976.  Telescan continues to provide customers with TAS hardware and software equipment known for its reliability and cost-effectiveness.  Telescan is rolling out the red carpet to new and prospective customers to demonstrate how Telescan can help their businesses grow.

"We are ratcheting up our hardware and software offerings to provide even more advanced services," says Bob Vornberg, Telescan's director of product development.  "We are mindful that the answering service owner is in a competitive environment and expects the best return on his capital investment in equipment.  Telescan's reputation of providing highly functional, reliable systems at a reasonable price is an asset to our customers."

Telescan is a 26-year-old St. Louis-based company that provides messaging hardware and software for the telephone answering service (TAS) industry, including voice mail, fax transmission, alpha and email messaging, and on-call scheduling for inbound call centers.  Since 1976, George Meyer has been the engineering vision behind Telescan, developing one of the more reliable and responsive TAS systems in the industry.

To assure Telescan customers a continuity of service well into the future, the Meyers have developed a succession strategy entailing the sale of the company to Roger Young and Robert L. Riggs, Jr.  Young and Riggs now serve as president and director, respectively.  Meyer will remain with Telescan to provide engineering and product development consultation.

"We are delighted to work with George to bring Telescan into a whole new era," says Riggs.  "George is a visionary and has the technical expertise to help us raise the bar for TAS services nationwide."

Telescan has an admirable record of accomplishment for its reliable equipment and software.  Discussions with users in the Telescan Users Network (TUNe) show that Telescan rates extremely high in reliability.  Service technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for fast, efficient response to customer inquiries and system support needs.  In addition, Telescan provides software upgrades twice a year, incorporating new profit-generating features that users have requested.  Consequently, Telescan enjoys an excellent relationship with customers, who have been with them for an average of twelve years.

Telescan continues to be an industry leader with its Prism™ DSP digital switching platform and EarthNet systems.  Telescan's products are geared towards providing powerful call processing tools for the agent, automated message delivery, and easy management administration.  Telescan will also soon be introducing Spectrum by Telescan, the next generation in a long line of TAS messaging equipment.  Designed with TAS profitability in mind and backed by Telescan's technical support, Spectrum by Telescan will offer a full range of messaging solutions including:

·        Two-way Internet and wireless communication

·        Hypertext navigation and point-and-click functionality

·        Web-enabled Windows workstations

·        Integrated order entry

·        On-call scheduling

·        Instant messaging/chat with Spectrum Messenger

·        Full digital switching for more than 4,000 ports

·        Appointment scheduling

Telescan recently released Spectrum Messenger, which provides secure, encrypted communications across a local-area network and the Internet.  Spectrum Messenger can be used with any TAS system. 

Unlike email programs or simple chat programs, Messenger allows control of both the client side and server side.  The primary purpose of Spectrum Messenger is to connect all users together, allowing them to send messages to each other based on their level of access.  With Spectrum Messenger, a company can:

·        Allow users to send messages to each other or to many users

·        Restrict message recipient lists

·        Be notified of events, using flexible, built-in reminder management

·        Track message activity, with reporting capability

Secure encryption guarantees network messaging security and allows for worry-free communications of sensitive information.  Complete, encrypted logs are automatically backed up for added protection.

Telescan also recently introduced Spectrum On-Call Scheduler.  This new product addresses the growing need in the TAS industry for efficiently keeping track of clients' complex schedules so that messages can be relayed accurately, day or night.  Spectrum On-Call Scheduler assists TAS owners who are often faced with the opportunity (and challenge) of efficiently keeping clients and their customers connected 24/7.

Spectrum on-call scheduler can reduce the complexity and labor-intensive nature of managing these client-scheduling needs.  For example, the on-call schedule editor allows clients to enter their own daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly schedules, along with contact information using any Windows-based PC or laptop.  The editor then allows the client to instantly send the personalized schedule electronically to the TAS server, where it becomes available to call agents who are processing calls.  The call agent simply takes the message and clicks on the appropriate contact method to instantly relay the message, whether to a phone, digital pager, alpha pager, or email address.

As a companion product, Telescan will soon be releasing an appointment scheduling tool to provide another revenue-generating tool to TAS owners.

Spectrum represents the latest in innovation and technology while still reflecting Telescan's original vision – to provide profit-generating tools for the TAS industry.  Not only will Spectrum by Telescan be offered to new users, but for existing customers.  Telescan will provide a modular upgrade path, eliminating the need for major expensive hardware upgrades.

Community involvement is another important facet of Telescan.  Telescan had the opportunity to assist a women's shelter in East Los Angeles that was seeking to become financially self-supporting.  The shelter approached Telescan in the hopes of purchasing TAS equipment and training with a $10,000 grant.  Telescan was pleased to meet the needs of the shelter.  Now, the site is generating revenue and providing valuable on-the-job experience to its residents.

"It builds character within a company when the company and its employees do good for the community," says Patty Anderson, director of sales.  Telescan employees support Ronald McDonald House, serve Thanksgiving dinner at local shelters, and participate in fund-raising events.  Anderson is also working to organize Telescan's participation in Habitat for Humanity.

Key Players at Telescan:

·        Roger Young, president

·        Robert Riggs, Jr., director

·        George and Judy Meyer, founders

·        Bob Vornberg, director of product development

·        John Jones, director of engineering

·        Kenneth Scott, director of operations

·        C. Michelle Ashley-Thomas, director of training

·        Wes Morgenthaler, director of customer support services

·        Patty Anderson, director of sales

·        Nicholas Naimo, product development

·        Catalin Geanta, software developer

·        Jerome Daniel, computer service technician

·        Phil Allbright, service technician

·        Mary Stuckey, administrative assistant

·        Joanne Baker, receptionist

At a glance, Telescan:

·        Provides TAS systems and applications

·        Utilizes the new Prism™ digital switch platform

·        Offers 24-hour system support services

·        Sells third-party hardware and software for billing, voice recording and other ancillary TAS services

·        Provides training for customers and a software maintenance/upgrade subscription service.

 You can contact Telescan at 800-770-7662, at www.telescan.net, or email them at info@telescan.net.

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