The Bill Police: Protecting Your Wireless Rights since 2003

Corporate Wireless is a headache to manage. We fix that.

Wireless Expense Management

Cost Avoidance versus Cost Savings: An Apples to Apples Comparison

We have had so many discussions regarding COST AVOIDANCE vs COST SAVINGS that we decided to write a blog about it to clarify the concepts.

First, we’ll look at Cost Savings definition, then Cost Avoidance definition and then a comparison of the two concepts. We’ll use the graphic below to illustrate, and we’ll deal in apples because that analogy seems to work (apple examples also helps when using our comparisons, that is, apples to apples – the old fashioned kind). [Read more…] about Cost Avoidance versus Cost Savings: An Apples to Apples Comparison

Beware Verizon Business Customers: a new “Economic Adjustment Charge” is coming to a device near you

Whats New?

Verizon has just helped itself to some new revenue sponsored by……YOU! They have added a new Administrative charge to help their bottom line and you will be the one paying for it.

How much will it cost?

Starting in June 16th 2022, Verizon will be adding $2.20 per Smartphone and $.98 for Tablets or Data only devices.

What are the details?

Verizon will implement a new “Economic Adjustment Charge” of $2.20 per line/per month for smartphones and/or data lines on plans that have recently been activated or upgraded, completed a “contract-based line term,” or have 12 months or less remaining on a device payment plan. For business accounts, tablets and non-smartphones will cost .98 cents per month. Both changes come into effect on June 16, 2022.

The new surcharges are only applicable to existing lines (lines activated before 5/16/2022) that meet the following conditions;

• If the line existed BEFORE 5/16/2022 AND is currently out of contract: line contract has expired, no current device installment, or line was activated without a contract (BYOD)

• If the line existed BEFORE 5/16/2022 AND has a current device installment agreement, and has 12 months or less remaining on the agreement.

• Lines that existed prior to 5/16/2022 and are currently in contract (or have more than 12 months remaining on their existing installment agreement) will not be charged the surcharge. However, once the line is upgraded – it will start to be billed the monthly surcharge.

• Lines that are activated on 5/16/2022 and moving forward will be subject to the surcharge, regardless of the contract status.

Why is Verizon doing this?

Verizon states, “From time to time, we review and make adjustments to fees to defray some of Verizon’s administrative and telco expenses and costs of complying with regulatory requirements.” Tami Erwin, the Head of Verizon Business stated, “We’re all feeling the pressure and we’ve been in the process of deciding how much of that pressure we can share with our clients.” 

What can i do about it?

Government and Non-Profit accounts have been the only organizations that are exempt. We have assisted customers to see if they are on a State Contract or can be listed as a Non-Profit with an exemption form. This may assist in getting those charges removed.

This is not a negotiable charge. It is just for the privledge of having Verizon as a carrier.

Please let us know if Bill Police can help you transition to an exempt account type. Contact us here.

Because we are ….Still Protecting Your Wireless Rights…….

Bill Police Launches New Portal

We are excited to announce our new Bill Police Analytics portal! We have been honing our wireless analytics for some time and officially launched our new portal in first quarter 2021.

We have received great feedback from the launch and hope it provides users with easy access to a “one touch” experience that can provide lots of relative data at a glance.

You can get to a demo of the portal from our website at www.billpolice.com and click on the “Request a Demo” button.

And we are….still Protecting Your Wireless Rights….especially for Eric today.

BYOD, CYOD…….CYA: How in the world do I deploy Wireless to my Employees Safely and with the Lowest Risk? (Part 4 of 4)

Many IT Execs are faced with choices of BYOD, CYOD COPE,  etc etc etc.   Deciphering the best way to put wireless devices in employee’s hands is a tough call.  Additionally, none of the information is simple and all parties involved can get very judgey about the right course of actions.

We have a 4 part series looking at the key issues of equipping employees.  This Part 4 (see Part 1 here , Part 2 here and Part 3 here) reviews additional food for thought to consider.

PART 4:  “WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?”

Motorola gathered survey responses from 1,000 consumers. The study reported that two out of three respondents said they recognized that the onus was theirs to protect the information on their phones. A total of 73% said they are concerned about smart phone security, and would actually rather share a toothbrush than their phone! However, 48% of them said they have logged onto an insecure network for convenience sake rather than security. And that is despite the fact that 34% store sensitive data like passwords to work email profiles and personal bank information.

 

It appears that there is a big variance between what a CIO would consider proper safeguarding of proprietary information on BYOD compared to what the  average employee understands.

 

There is a lot of interesting data regarding purchase of mobility services.   Here are a few additional considerations:

  • There are risk implications for those companies that require mobile device usage without paying for mobile phone usage. A court in California ruled favorably for employees of an organization who either did not provide full reimbursement for business use or who did not provide a stipend at all.
  • There is risk of personal data being inappropriately shared – especially as it relates to company confidential documents and for HIPAA related information
  • A study with Enterasys states that 90% of employees disable auto-lock for tablets and 75% disable it for Smartphones. This can be a security leak.
  • About 37% of employees read work email on their personal devices every week, and more than one third said they used it for reading work documents, although the research noted that most did not want to use their personal devices

The Richmond Journal of Law and Technology Case Study,  Wherever You Go, There you are (with your mobile device):  Privacy Risks and Legal Complexities associated with [International] Bring Your Own Device:

Users are “responsible for safeguarding clients’ sensitive information and is under a high “duty of care” obligation… Client financial information is personally identifiable information and must be protected….polices need to be reinforced by ensuring that any device—whether a computer, tablet or smartphone—meets minimal security standards. Also, the company needs to be aware of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) litigation against firms that are negligent in providing duty of care, as it could be the next target. Some financial firms have been targets of class action suits that led to millions of dollars in damages”

 

So, there’s lots to consider, but be aware of the issues and allow yourself to make smart, informed decisions.

 

And as always, if you have questions, feel free to contact us because we are …..STILL protecting your Wireless Rights………

 

 

BYOD, CYOD, …CYA: How in the world do I deploy Wireless to my Employees Safely and with the Lowest Risk? (Part 3 of 4)

Many IT Execs are faced with choices of BYOD, CYOD COPE,  etc etc etc.   Deciphering the best way to put wireless devices in employee’s hands is a tough call.  Additionally, none of the information is simple and all parties involved can get very judgey about the right course of actions.

 

We have a 4 part series looking at the key issues of equipping employees.  This Part 3  (see Part 1 here and Part 2 here) reviews the best way to pay the monthly bill and how to address key monthly issues like maintenance, usage and security.

 

PART 3:  DECIDE WHO OWNS THE MONTHLY COST

 

 

If Corporate Owns Monthly Cost: 

The Corporation will have much more control over cost, security, productivity, usage and accountability.  This requires some expertise to gather billing data, identify trends and pull out meaningful information but is worth the trade-off in savings.

If Individual Owns Monthly Cost:

The main benefit is less hassle when managing monthly billing using Individual Liable. While this is a “out of sight out of mind” approach, it is believed the risks far outweigh the benefits of not purchasing monthly services corporately.

 

The overwhelming industry opinion is that Corporate Liable billing is the most cost effective mechanism to pay for monthly service.

 

Consider these statements:

“The most effective way for an organization to manage its telecommunications resources is to treat wireless the way most organizations treat wireline services and other business productivity services.  This means that users contract for centralized billing for business lines”…. from the In-Stat report, Wireless Billing for Organizations:  Penny Wise and Pound Foolish.  

 

In an ATT internally published article:  Making the case for Enterprise Mobility:  Wireless Management and Spend Control, “There was a significant improvement in ll key management and cost metrics for the lines managed by the Enterprise purchasing in a corporate liable environment….with the organization in control of the devices, decisions can be made that embrace pooling, flat rates or other cost-savings measures that are just not possible in the individual liable model.  This can represent aggregate savings in excel of 30% for most organizations.

 

Bill Police too has seen significant cost reductions moving from Individual Liable to Corporate liable where the client saved over $600,000 in 13 months.  See the results in the below Table:   BP Ind liable graphic JUL16

 

Again,  as in Part 2,  an Important Additional Consideration:  Set a Policy:  Use the below considerations to set guidelines

No matter which choice is made, it is imperative to have an exhaustive policy in writing which makes sure the employee understands the process and signs agreement.  The policy should include:

  1. How the employee will obtain service?
  2. Who pays for the service?  How is this done?
  3. Who is supporting the service and rate plan to fit the user’s need?
  4. How are services insured that the organization is not overpaying?
  5. How is corporate billing information secured?
  6. What happens if the equipment is lost, stolen and who suspends?
  7. What if there is a breach of confidentiality (text messages with personal patient information send resulting in a HIPAA violation?)
  8. Who is responsible for monitoring productive and cost effective rates/plans?
  9.  What happens if the employee is using the device for home internet?
  10. What Apps will be allowed on the device and how is this monitored?   (Netflix sure sucks up the data and could cause overages on data pools)
  11. What happens when the employee leaves? (changing responsibility and who keeps the phone number?)

Still Protecting Your Wireless Rights…

 

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