April 2002 Newsletter
As you would realise we have not forwarded to you a newsletter for some time. As with all companies business slowed initially after the introduction of the G.S.T. but has continued to pick up during 2001. Over the past twelve months we have spent a great deal of time researching new products, both from overseas, and by creating products for use in a wide range of applications. We still distribute "Takacom" products, but due to the expanding market of "wireless networking" we have been able to locate and import into Australia an exciting product at a very competitive price. "Tellus Group Corporation" are a very well respected company operating out of Taiwan, and exporting all over the world with their range of high quality products, and we have been able to obtain the distribution of these products throughout Australia. You will notice from the following information that wireless networking is in it's infancy in Australia but is due for great expansion in 2002 when the advantages is realised.
The products we have developed ourselves have been due to innovative and concentrated application by our technical staff, and although initially they were developed for a certain application we now believe that they can be adapted to a wide range of issues, and upon reading this information you may yourself be able to think of other applications they can be adapted to. I know that perhaps they may be outside of your current product range but diversity quite often leads to greater sales and profits.
"Takacom" VR-150 Voice Recorder
Sales of the VR-150 Voice Recorder have continued to increase over the past twelve months as distributors have realised the wide application for this machine in the government and corporate world. In South Australia a number of machines have been sold to Government departments for use by the receptionist to record abusive phone calls, lawyers and medical practitioners are using the VR-150 to record their conversations with clients to avoid costly litigation. In the corporate world where companies are dealing in tenders and contracts they are recording conversations in regard to commitments and negotiations. I am sure you can think of many other applications for this very easy to install and use machine.
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The dealers who have had the most success in selling the VR-150 are the dealers who have introduced the product to company management and government departments. The VR-150 is not a "shelf" product, it is a product that needs to be sold, there are many applications and people in your daily business routine that can use this product, but they are not aware that such a product exists. It is easy to install, probably less than 15 minutes, and is available to users of both digital and analogue phone systems.
WE HAVE RECENTLY OBTAINED NEW STOCK OF THIS PRODUCT AND DURING THE NEXT THREE MONTHS THE DEALER PRICE WILL BE $385.00 PER UNIT INCLUDING GST. THIS IS A CONSIDERABLE SAVING ON THE NORMAL PRICE OF $500.50. DUE TO THIS PRICE DECREASE WE HAVE NOT SET A R.R.P. THE VR-150 CARRIES A TWELVE MONTH GUARANTEE.
"Takacom" AT-600Commercial Grade Answering Machine
This product still continues to enjoy steady sales throughout Australia. For those persons and companies who wish to have a quality and trouble free answering machine, the AT-600 is certainly the answer. The AT-600 when compared with other models available on the commercial market, is a machine that you can guarantee to last. We still have "Takacom" machines from 10-12 years ago regularly come in for service, they have been used day in, day out, by newspaper vendors, milkmen, medical profession, people who need the reliability of being able to record numerous messages every day. The AT-600 comes with a twelve month guarantee and reseller price is $213.95 including G.S.T.
"Tellus" Wireless networking equipment
As stated earlier we are now distributing WLAN (wireless networking) equipment for "Tellus" in Australia. In this time of new technology it always pays to be at the forefront, and competitive in pricing. As you would well be aware "wireless networking" is in it's infancy in Australia at present, but as with all new products and ideas, once accepted by the Australian public the trend is for them to be widely used.
After several years of fits and starts, the WLAN market finally gained acceptance as a legitimate enterprise technology in 2000 and is becoming a lucrative opportunity for electronic equipment suppliers with the market tipped to be US$3 billion in 2002.
Our products have many advantages over our competitors in both function and competitive pricing. Based on proven ATMEL chipsets, the Tellus product ensures easy, flexible set-up and once operational, provides reliable high throughput at all times.
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An advantage of the TWL-A11 Wireless LAN Access point over many of our competitors is the bridging function. The access points can be delivered pre-configured for bridging operation, this allows for point-to-point radio link over many kilometres (dependent on terrain) with a data speed of 11 Mbps. By using the bridging function, businesses no longer have to invest in expensive ISDN data connections and endure the on-going expenses these involve. Further, a businesses voice communications requirements can be solved using the same wireless link with the addition of VOIP (voice over IP) technology. Tellus wireless network equipment offers the best value whilst maintaining the highest data throughput and quality of service levels.
The TWL-A11 can be combined with an existing network as a wireless overlay, or can create a standalone wireless network enabling mobility quickly and cost effectively. Business can easily accomplish required LAN changes to overcome limitations when occupying older buildings, temporary sites or leased office or warehouse accommodation.
WIRELESS QUOTE:
SEATTLE, Washington -- Microsoft chairman Bill Gates told about 400 of his biggest fans from around the world that wireless networking would become commonplace in the next 10 years. "Every business, every home, every convention center will be wired up with high capacity 802.11," Gates said, referring to one of the short range wireless networking standards that has gained wide acceptance in the past year. "That's finally the way that we will have information anywhere we want it. In business, take your portable to a meeting; at home, have your video, your audio, your photos show up on even very expensive little screens."
All "Tellus" product comes with a twelve month guarantee and is available as follows:
TWL-A11 Wireless LAN Access Point$676.61
TWL-C11 Wireless LAN PC Card $282.56
TWL-PCA PCI to PC Card $123.36
Should you require further details, technical information, brochures or demonstration please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Fire Station Interface
Over the past twelve months we have developed a product for use as a "paging fire station interface". The Country Fire Service in South Australia issued a tender for companies to supply an interface which could be used in their fire stations throughout South Australia to enable the Government Radio Network to send out "a page" to all relevant personnel attached to a fire station or group of fire stations, and then if desired locally generated commands could be forwarded. The unit is also capable of setting off the fire alarm, open station doors, turn on lights etc. and at the same time monitor smoke detectors, movement, power failures etc. At the time there was not a product on the market which would enable these functions to be carried out. Our technical department developed such a product based on a micro-processor, and a "Flex" paging receiver. The unit is capable of forwarding messages using local area paging, and/or "PET protocol" dial away via PSTN and GSM networks. It has up to 64 dry contact alarm inputs and alarm outputs, and is capable of being connected to a PC or printer for hard copy of activations.
This unit has fully programmable options and can be configured to operate under many applications, and not only "Flex" protocol but can use "Pocsag" if required. It may be that you have other government departments or industry where this unit will be of use.
AFA GSM V.28 RS-232 MODEM
This is a product which has been developed by our research team due to a request from an existing client. The main emphasis of this product is that it is micro-processor controlled, thereby allowing it to be tailored to meet the requirements of numerous applications from simple GSM modem communications through to the monitoring or activation of remote digital or analogue devices in a variety of fields via a RS-232 V.28 interface. This unit is small and compact, 40mm x 195mm x 80mm, therefore can be used in conjunction with other devices. Another feature is that it supports G3 fax transmission and reception to 9600bps.
AFA GSM SECURITY COMMUNICATOR
The instigation of this product came from a Tender issued by the Education Department in South Australia. We all know the appalling damage and cost caused to the community every year by vandalism in school grounds, and the shrug of the shoulders by departmental officers and police when the ire of the public is aroused by these needless acts. We experience the same damage here in South Australia as do all other states, however we decided to produce a product which will help in the identification of these people. Our unit is very small and unobtrusive which can be installed with a fire or burglar alarm.
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When a person is detected on premises, or a fire is indicated, our unit notifies the local police or headmaster of the school immediately via the SMS service, thus enabling rapid attendance, quite often before the security company has reacted to their alarm, because these people designated by the school are in the local neighborhood. This device once activated can also turn on lights, sprinklers, alarms etc. by commands internal or external, thus creating a situation which certainly helps in the apprehension of the offender with as little damage to the school as possible.
EMBEDDED MICRO-CONTROLLER APLICATIONS.
For whatever control application you may encounter, we have the equipment and skills to quickly provide a solution that will overcome your customer's problem, and at the same time be surprisingly cost effective. We will make the unit to your specifications as required. Examples of applications include remote telemetry, SMS notification of system status, smart access control systems, SMS and paging servers etc.
As you will see from the above we have certainly become more diverse in our range of products, from those of a communication need, to the exciting development stage where it is never known what tomorrows problems may be. In this early part of the 21st. century people are looking for cost effective and time saving applications to make their businesses and their own lives more sustainable. You may not have an application at present, although I am sure that if we think beyond the circle, there may have been in the past, or certainly we may encounter a problem in the future which needs to be solved. We at AFA Communications Pty. Ltd. certainly look forward to discussing your requirements with you or your customer.
We hope that the above information gives you avenues in which to increase your turnover in the year 2002, and should you require further information please do not hesitate to contact us by voice, fax or e-mail so that we can attend to your requirements.
Sales & Marketing:Technical Advice:
Anthony ArthurKym Swanson