Completely integrate your cloud communications system into Google for Work.

Make Gmail™ and Google Calendar™ your business communications hub.

• Make and receive calls and business texts from Gmail with your RingCentral cloud phone system.
• Increase Google Hangouts™ attendance from 15 to 1,000 with RingCentral Conferencing.
• Fax directly from Google Drive™ and Google Docs™ using native fax capabilities.

Advanced cloud phone features expand the power of your Google platform.

• Combine RingCentral and Google contacts in one easy-to-search screen.
• Schedule RingCentral Meetings® or audio conferences from within Google Calendar.
• Click to dial any phone number that appears in Gmail.
• Listen to your voicemails directly within Gmail.
• View your complete communications history—calls, texts, faxes, and voicemails.

Extend Google Hangouts access to everyone.

• Enable non-users to dial into and participate in your Hangouts.
• Invite as many as 1,000 audio participants to a single Hangout.
• Archive the audio portion of your Hangouts with RingCentral call recording.

Home security is extremely important, but sometimes homeowners don’t recognize their need for it until their home has been broken into. Once a break-in has occurred, installing a home security system may seem like a measure taken too late, but it’s a smart step to take, because properties that have suffered a burglary are four times more likely to be targeted again. It’s important to take steps to prevent future incidents and bolster your family’s state of mind. Unfortunately, during the chaotic aftermath of a burglary, it’s easy for homeowners to become overwhelmed and not know the right steps to take. Here, we offer a timeline of actions to take after a break-in.

• Immediately following a break in: Call the police immediately. You must file a police report within 24 hours in order to file an insurance claim, and if you report it quickly, there is a greater likelihood of the police catching the culprit. If you get a look at the intruder, make notes while you’re waiting for the police, so that you will be able to clearly tell them details like the person’s sex, race, age, clothing, height and which direction he or she went. You can look around to see what’s missing, but don’t touch anything if you can help it, and consider going to a neighbor’s house until the police arrive. Once the police give you the go-ahead, you‘ll be able to begin reclaiming your home, by cleaning up broken glass, boarding up windows, discarding broken or unusable furniture, and covering damage to make the house feel more like your home again.
• The next day: If you haven’t already done so, call the insurance company and file a claim. You’ll need to provide the number from the police report to do this. Now is the time to take pictures documenting damage and loss, as well as collecting receipts, serial numbers and other pertinent information, so that you can provide the claims adjuster with this information when he or she comes out to the house.
• In the coming weeks: Identify your home’s weak spots to prevent a future break-in. Reinforce your windows, install deadbolts and install motion detecting security lights to make your home a safer place. Now is the time to decide on a new home security system, as well, enlisting the help of experts to protect your assets. Visit pawn shops in your area, to see if you can recover any of your belongings; sometimes items show up weeks later, so keep checking back for things that are important to you.
• In the long run: Having your living space violated has a much more far-reaching impact than the simple loss of belongings. If you or a family member experiences ongoing feelings of anxiety you may want to consider counseling to help cope with the emotional and psychological repercussions of a break-in.  After all, it’s your home and it should feel like it.

If you don’t have a home security system, One-Stop Communications can help. With features like remote security monitoring, One-Stop Communications has a security system to fit the needs of every home and family. 

Sources: 
http://lifehacker.com/what-should-i-do-if-i-get-robbed-1251681893
http://www.safewise.com/blog/what-to-do-when-your-house-is-broken-into
http://www.ackermansecurity.com/resources/blog/weve-been-robbed-6-point-checklist-of-what-to-do-after-a-home-break-in
http://www.safewise.com/blog/how-your-family-can-recover-after-a-burglary/
http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2013/may/18/what-do-after-burglary
http://www.itstactical.com/intellicom/mindset/what-to-do-in-the-crucial-three-hours-after-a-burglary/

The Consumer Electronics Show has come and gone, leaving behind it a picture of the changes to come to the world of home automation. Coming close on the heels of Christmas, the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is like a second holiday for technology buffs. The coolest new products were spread across 2 million square feet of showroom space, and 170,000 attendees ate it up like candy.

Here are five takeaways from this year’s event:

Home automation remains in the spotlightAs expected, home automation was one of the show’s biggest stars. There were new offerings from established manufacturers and providers like Honeywell, Interlogix, Alarm.com and Nortek. Google and Samsung each revealed more about their strategies, while Apple was conspicuous with its absence. And newer DIY players with names like MyFox, Smanos and Chuango joined existing offerings from iSmartAlarm, iControl and Canary.

Right now, it’s a land of confusion. But sooner or later, the market will shake out and the best solutions will bubble to the surface. In the meantime, no one could blame consumers for waiting to see who survives the competition before opening their wallets.

Stuck on self-monitoringHome security is acknowledged to be the centerpiece of home automation, but it’s surprising to see how many solutions still depend on self-monitoring rather than central monitoring.

That always brings us back to the same issues. How many consumers understand the responsibility of having to react quickly and correctly every time the smartphone signals an alarm? How many are ready to hand that responsibility off to a neighbor or family member instead of a trained professional? And how often will a homeowner have to sweat when they’re without cellular coverage, or stuck in a situation where they can’t instantly react?

Being able to monitor your house remotely sounds like a great idea, but it’s hard not to recognize the value of professionally monitored systems. 

The camera will be kingWired magazine noted that some of the most useful smart-home solutions are variations of good old video cameras. They’re becoming smarter as they begin to incorporate technology for facial recognition, threat assessment, environmental control, or even health monitoring. 

As video gets more affordable, practical and versatile, it may become very appealing to consumers who have already come to accept the fact that cameras practically watch our every move. It would be a small leap to being comfortable with having one in your home, particularly when it offers powerful functionality.

Sexy vs. practical – The media tends to sell a smart-home image of a fantasy world where all your household devices work together like a symphony. Wired offers a different vision: a relatively limited number of practical devices – not just video, but locks, thermostats, light bulbs and other devices you use each day – that will be useful, reliable and easy to control with your smartphone.

But hey, how can a remote-controlled front door compete with a flower pot that tells you whenever a houseplant needs to be watered?

Wonderful world of wearablesWearables were also big at CES this year. The emphasis was on not only expanding and improving functionality, but also making them a little more attractive.

The technology also went beyond what you can wear on your wrist:

• Skin sensors that will communicate a person’s temperature or other vital signs directly to a smartphone. There also was discussion of a temporary tattoo that could be used to track vital signs of hospital patients.
• Smart clothing that could theoretically take the place of a personal trainer, monitoring the effectiveness or technique of your exercise regimen.
• Last but not least, a belt that not only tracks your activity, but automatically adjusts when you sit or stand. As if that weren’t enough, it also reminds you that maybe it’s time to drop a few pounds.

Sources:
http://www.achrnews.com/articles/128464-jan-5-2015-home-automation-and-control-market-worth-1281-billion-by-2020
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/home-automation-market-to-surge-to-us164-billion-by-2019-transparency-market-research-279917242.html
http://www.wired.com/2015/01/home-security-internet-things/
http://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/features/ces-2015-wearables-roundup-646523
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/ces-2015-top-10-wearable-4949652

If you made a New Year’s resolution list, you might want to consider putting a home security system on it. But even if you’ve got a home security system that has all the bells and whistles, there are other things you can do that will not only make your home safer, but also help you get the New Year off to a great start.

Beyond a home security system, here are some ideas for your list of resolutions.

• Make your home as safe as possible. If you don’t have one already, maybe it’s time to consider installing a carbon monoxide detector. Also check for radon gas, and if necessary test for lead paint and asbestos flooring. It’s also a good time to pay attention to hazards you may not always consider, such as lint buildup in vents and ducts behind the dryer, or poor ventilation that fosters mold. Looking out for these simple details can help keep your home safe and your family healthy.
• If you have an older house, have the wiring checked. Each year, home electrical problems result in thousands of home fires, hundreds of deaths and millions of dollars in property loss. Taking a proactive step to have your wiring inspected can make your home safer, protecting your family and finances from calamity.
• Be mindful of safety hazards in your home. Now that Christmas is over, it’s time to throw out the Christmas tree before it gets too dry and becomes a fire hazard. Make simple repairs before they become more complicated or dangerous. Use good security habits, like installing security lights, bolstering door locks and reinforcing windows. By resolving to be mindful of your home, you’ll be protecting your home, your belongings and your family.
• Are your finances healthy? Some resolutions for your home should involve your monetary health. Resolve to cut costs by making your home more energy efficient and you’ll be surprised at how much money you save. Resolve to pay extra on your mortgage each month, and you’ll pay it off years sooner than projected.  A home security system can often do more than just protect your family and your property; it can also be a boon to your budget. Check with your insurance company to see if discounts are available for homeowners with a security system.

If you don’t already have a home security system, look no further than One-Stop Communications. With the very latest technology in home security, we offer home security systems that are right for virtually any household, from the simplest system to the most high-tech.  Some even offer the latest in home automation, including remote security monitoring. 

Sources: 
http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/clean-and-organize/5-new-years-resolutions-for-your-home
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/6-new-years-resolutions-homeowners-2.aspx
https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/home-and-property/homeowners/discounts/home-monitoring-offer
http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/holidays/christmas-tree-fires
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/home-diy/safety/10-ways-to-secure-your-home.htm