TECHNOLOGY
AT&T | September 22, 2023
AT&T's new fixed wireless home internet service for small businesses promises quick setup and reliable connectivity.
AT&T is expanding Internet Air to various locations, including Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia.
The service offers $55/month pricing with no extra fees, includes security features, and is eligible for financial assistance.
AT&T's latest breakthrough, AT&T Internet Air, aims to address the pressing need for consistent and dependable internet connectivity among small business owners. In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, the demand for a seamless online presence has never been greater. Yet, achieving strong connectivity remains an enduring challenge for those residing in regions with limited broadband options.
This innovation, introduced by AT&T, goes beyond the conventional realm of home Wi-Fi; it is a fixed wireless home internet service. In simpler terms, it delivers home Wi-Fi through AT&T's robust wireless network. Its remarkably swift setup process is what truly sets it apart, especially for small business operators running their businesses from home. In an environment where time equates to money, AT&T guarantees its customers a fully operational Wi-Fi connection in under 15 minutes. Once configured, users can count on a continuous, optimized, and secure internet connection.
Traditional internet options have long been a source of frustration for many, particularly in less densely populated areas. Erin Scarborough, President of Broadband and Connectivity Initiatives at AT&T, has emphasized that their team has made it a priority to identify and address these pain points experienced by customers—their solution: AT&T Internet Air. By harnessing the available network capacity in less congested areas, they have established a connection that is both dependable and robust.
AT&T has already rolled out this service to its existing copper-based clients, receiving positive feedback. The company's vision is crystal clear: to ensure that the selected locations have the requisite wireless coverage and capacity. This not only guarantees an exceptional in-home experience but also sustains the quality of wireless service for their mobile users.
User-friendliness is paramount for small business owners who often handle multiple responsibilities. Upon receiving the AT&T Internet Air package, customers can scan a QR code to access a comprehensive, step-by-step setup guide. Furthermore, the AT&T Smart Home Manager app streamlines the process and even offers a feature to help identify the optimal location for the home's connection. For larger spaces, AT&T provides add-on Wi-Fi extenders to ensure coverage in every corner.
Moreover, AT&T recognizes the aesthetic preferences of its users. The device itself features a sleek, modern design that complements any workspace.
AT&T Internet Air is steadily expanding its coverage, complementing its top-notch AT&T Fiber offering. New locations now include areas in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and many others, with recent additions in Cleveland-Akron, Orlando/Gainesville, Denver, and Providence-New Bedford.
For small business proprietors, budget considerations are of significant importance. AT&T Internet Air employs a transparent pricing strategy that is $55 per month (plus taxes), with no additional charges for overages, equipment, or annual contracts. Additionally, AT&T includes ActiveArmorSM internet security for added online transaction security. The service is also eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which offers financial assistance to qualifying households.
In today's digital age, where an online presence is critical for businesses, AT&T Internet Air presents a promising solution, particularly for small business owners. Its straightforward setup, transparent pricing, and robust connection represent a significant step toward ensuring universally accessible and reliable internet access.
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FINANCE
Mastercard | September 25, 2023
Mastercard has introduced new tools to assist small businesses with payment processing, financing, and cybersecurity.
Small businesses are adapting to an increasingly digital business environment, even amid labor shortages, to meet customer expectations.
Mastercard's Digital Doors program offers resources, including a Marketing Hub and cybersecurity toolkit, to help small businesses.
Mastercard has expanded its suite of services catering to small businesses, introducing an array of new tools to assist companies in areas such as payment processing, securing financing, defending against cyber threats, and more.
Ginger Siegel, the North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard International, highlights that this expansion aligns with the efforts of small businesses to adapt to an increasingly digital business landscape.
The ongoing labor shortage has presented challenges for many small enterprises in recruiting essential staff. However, despite these hurdles, companies must continue evolving to meet customer expectations, particularly in terms of digital interaction and seamless payment processing.
A recent survey by PwC Global reveals that 89% of financial technology, banking, and payment businesses polled believe that the continued growth of e-commerce necessitates significant investments in online payment solutions.
In response to these challenges, Mastercard is proactively addressing the needs of small businesses through various services, many of which are integrated into its Mastercard Digital Doors program. This initiative initially emerged as an online resource center during the pandemic, offering an array of tools to assist small businesses in establishing an online presence, facilitating digital payments, enhancing cybersecurity, and streamlining various other digital operations.
One notable addition to the Digital Doors program is the Marketing Hub platform, designed to connect small businesses with select service providers capable of meeting their specific needs. Furthermore, Digital Doors now provides additional resources to aid small business owners in promoting their operations effectively.
According to a Mastercard study, the second most significant challenge for small and medium-sized businesses is acquiring new customers, even though 47% of companies report being in a "growth mode."
The Digital Door Marketing Hub extends valuable savings on supplementary services to support businesses in their marketing and advertising endeavors. This includes discounts of 20% on specific Hootsuite services geared toward enhancing social media marketing, as well as discounts of 40% on selected FedEx Express shipping services and 20% on selected FedEx Ground shipping services.
Another crucial service Mastercard Digital Doors offers is its collaboration with the Global Cyber Alliance. This partnership delivers a Cybersecurity Toolkit for Small Businesses, equipped with scanning tools that identify and assess vulnerabilities in data encryption and website security. This toolkit empowers small businesses to fortify their defenses against online fraud and malicious internet traffic.
Mastercard goes a step further by providing education and coaching initiatives tailored for small firms, including a partnership with Hello Alice, a platform that assists entrepreneurs in navigating financial and operational challenges, further demonstrating Mastercard's commitment to empowering and supporting small businesses in their journey towards growth and success.
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SMALL BUSINESS TRENDS
NEXT Insurance | September 20, 2023
NEXT Insurance, a renowned digital small business insurer, recently unveiled an innovative new offering that will empower agents to tailor coverage quotes precisely to the unique needs of their small business clientele. NEXT's Coverage Builder represents a significant advancement in granting agents the capability to finely customize small business insurance quotes while still retaining NEXT's hallmark instant bind capabilities. Coverage Builder is designed to be swift, user-friendly, and exclusively tailored for agents before purchase, equipping them with the necessary tools to choose suitable limits and maintain complete control over the coverage they're quoting.
With the introduction of Coverage Builder, agents can set their base policy limits, add or remove specific coverage, or adjust limits post-purchase. This functionality, combined with the convenience of instant underwriting and pricing updates, not only saves agents valuable time but also enables them to make adjustments instantly without the need to pick up the phone, eliminating the need for direct communication with an underwriter.
This represents NEXT's ongoing commitment to supporting its agents, offering them a digitally driven quoting experience that is user-friendly, accessible, and 100% online. Additionally, Coverage Builder will be accessible to all NEXT customers post-purchase, enabling small business owners to tailor their policies with immediate pricing adjustments and seamless policy management.
Cody L Slocum Lammers, Commercial Lines Agent & Broker at Affordable Insurance Solutions, commented,
NEXT's Coverage Builder feature is 100% hassle-free. This new feature sets NEXT Insurance to a new level, above its competitors, as this allows agents the flexibility to customize policies to fit the needs of each individual small business. It's user-friendly and simple to understand- this is truly a game changer for NEXT Insurance agents!
[Source – Cision PR Newswire]
This announcement follows NEXT's recent commercial umbrella/excess liability coverage launch to aid small businesses in their entrepreneurial journey. The digital small business insurer has also made strides by announcing its integration with Ivans Download for General Liability and Workers' Compensation policies and appointing Jack Ramsey as Vice President of Agent Business. These developments underscore NEXT's dedication to its agents and mission to enhance small business clients' insurance purchasing process with a smoother and more intuitive experience.
About NEXT Insurance
NEXT Insurance, a leading digital small business insurer, is spearheading the transformation of small business insurance by offering streamlined, digital, cost-effective, and tailored coverage solutions. With the trust of over 480,000 business proprietors, the company offers policies that are both convenient to purchase and grant uninterrupted access to Live Certificates of Insurance, additional insured, and more. Pioneering an industry historically known for its complexity, NEXT leverages the power of AI and machine learning to simplify the buying process and make affordable coverage accessible. Established in 2016 and headquartered in Palo Alto, the company has garnered a total of $881 million in venture capital funding.
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