Brad Hollerbach is the Director of Information Technology for the Southeast Missourian. His opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the newspaper or its editorial board. He writes this blog primarily for his own amusement and to parody the absurdities of the world we live in. He lives with his wife and two cats that don't really care for one another in Cape.

Caller ID Best Feature On Phone System

Posted Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 9:13 PM

We recently replaced our phone system at work.

The old one had served us well, but after 15 years it was time to be put down. The clock was ticking as to when it would have a fatal failure on a key part for which we had no spare.

There are many things to love about our new phone system, but the one feature I find myself using on a daily basis is Caller ID. We didn't have that capability with our old system since it was created in the Time Before Caller ID.

I love this feature because I get a lot of unsolicited calls from businesses trying to sell the Southeast Missourian a variety of computer products.

Sometimes, I think the receptionists even think of me as our company's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYEXzx-TINc" target="_blank">Mikey for phone calls they have nowhere else to send.

Caller: "Hi this is Ralph from Widgets And Beyond. Could I speak to the person who handles widget purchasing for your company?"

Receptionist: "I don't know if we use widgets. I'm not even sure what a widget is. But why don't I let you talk to Brad. Perhaps he can help you."

With Caller ID I can now simply glance at the display on my phone and see who is calling. If I don't recognize the company, I will usually not answer. They can leave a message, and if I am so inclined, I will call them back.

I wonder if telemarketers who specialize in computer products realize that their target audience of information technology personnel is busy all the time and really don't want to chat with some stranger about toner cartridges or canned air?

Don't they realize we are constantly putting out system and user "fires" that are constantly breaking out? Those are situations inherent with information technology. Something is always breaking or getting broken or not working as some end-user expects.

And finally when everything does calm down and all the current "fires" are snuffed out, the last thing this I.T. guy wants to do is chat about computer consumables with some friendly-sounding fellow who says he's from Dubuque and will send me a "free" Cardinal jersey with my first order.

I just want to be left alone. So I can play with my widgets.

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WOW Brad , sounds as if your so busy there would be no time for blogging?

-- Posted by rockman54 on Wed, Mar 4, 2009, at 10:27 AM
Yes Rockman. I am busy at work. I do respond to comments while I'm in the office -- as I am doing right now -- but I write the blogs at home in the evening.

And the telemarketers haven't tracked me down there yet. Of course, I am on the state and federal Do Not Call Lists which actually seem to work so that might explain the solitude.

Thanks for reading.

-- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Wed, Mar 4, 2009, at 12:14 PM

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