Limpert Tech "SullyCast" on ALT 105.7 and iHeartRadio 5/22/21 - JR Luna, AT&T Hurricane Preparedness

Rick talks hurricane preparedness this week with JR Luna of AT&T.

Hurricane season starts June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30, with a peak in August and  September. AT&T is committed to keeping its customers and FirstNet subscribers connected during the upcoming hurricane season throughout the SE and up/down the East coast.

Have a listen to Rick and JR:

AT&T has spent more than 150,000 hours in the field over the last 25 years. We have invested more than $650 million in our Network Disaster Recovery program (NDR), making it one of the nation’s largest and most advanced. The teams stand ready to restore and maintain service if and when disaster strikes.  

Per AT&T:

How we prepare our network:
⦁    Boost network capacity to accommodate increased call volume.
⦁    Test the high-capacity backup batteries located at cell sites.
⦁    Stage extended battery life and portable generators and maintaining existing fixed generators.
⦁    Top off generators with fuel at cell sites and switching facilities.
⦁    Stage additional generators in safe locations for immediate deployment once a storm has passed.
⦁    Embed FirstNet liaisons from AT&T in state and federal emergency operations centers to help ensure first responders have the mobile connectivity and devices they need.

Response equipment we use in the wake of an event:
⦁    Mobile cell sites and mobile command centers, like Cell on Wheels (COWs) and Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs)
⦁    Emergency Communications Vehicles (ECVs)
⦁    Flying Cell on Wings (Flying COWs)
⦁    Drones
⦁    A self-sufficient base camp: It’s complete with sleeping tents, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry facilities, an on-site nurse and meals ready to eat (MREs).
⦁    Hazmat equipment and supplies
⦁    Technology and support trailers to provide infrastructure support and mobile heating ventilation and air conditioning
⦁    Internal and external resources for initial assessment and recovery efforts.


Consumer Tips / We encourage our customers and residents in areas potentially affected by a storm to prepare as well.
     
⦁    Save your smartphone’s battery life. In case of a power outage, extend your device’s battery life by putting it in power-save mode, turning off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, deleting apps, or putting your phone in Airplane Mode. This may prevent you from using certain features, but will ultimately save battery power.
⦁    Keep your mobile devices charged. Be sure to have another way to charge your smartphone if the power goes out.  
⦁    Keep your mobile devices dry. Mobile phones can be a critical lifeline during a storm. To protect yours, store it in a water-resistant case, floating waterproof case or plastic bag. A car charger or back-up battery pack can come in handy. If you have multiple devices to keep charged, consider a multi-port back-up battery pack.
⦁    Back up important information and protect vital documents. Back up insurance papers, medical information and the like to the Cloud or your computer. With cloud storage, you can access your data from any connected device.
⦁    Have a family communications plan. Choose someone out of the area as a central contact in case your family is separated. Most importantly, practice your emergency plan in advance.
⦁    Store emergency contacts in your mobile phone. Numbers should include the police department, fire station, hospital, and family members.
⦁    Forward your home number to your mobile number in the event of an evacuation. Because call forwarding is based out of the telephone central office, you will get calls from your landline phone even if your local telephone service is down.
⦁    Track the storm on your mobile device. If you lose power at your home during a storm, you can use your mobile device to access local weather reports.


FirstNet: And when thinking about hurricane preparedness, we know how critical communications are to rescue/recovery efforts.  That’s why we partnered with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – an independent agency within the federal government – to deliver the FirstNet network to public safety. FirstNet gives first responders the unthrottled connectivity they need, no matter the emergency:

⦁    Priority & Preemption: In emergencies and disasters, commercial networks can quickly become congested. That’s why FirstNet is the only nationwide network that gives first responders always-on priority and preemption. It puts them at the front of the “communications line.”  

⦁    Greater Command & Control: Public safety agencies have access to a fleet of 76 dedicated mobile cell sites that link to FirstNet via satellite and do not rely on commercial power availability. Newly added  to the FirstNet disaster response arsenal in 2020: FirstNet One – an approximately 55-foot aerostat, more commonly known as a blimp. And, to give first responders greater command and control of their network, the FirstNet Response Operations Program aligns with the  ⦁    National Incident Management System  to better guide the deployment of these assets.

⦁    Enhanced Coverage and Capacity: We’ve also deployed FirstNet Band 14 spectrum across 700+ markets nationwide. Band 14 is nationwide, high-quality spectrum set aside by the U.S. government specifically for FirstNet. We refer to it as public safety’s VIP lane- during an emergency, this band can be cleared and locked just for FirstNet subscribers.

JR Luna is currently the Vice President & General Manager (VPGM) of the Florida market. He leads AT&T Communications and oversees network, distribution, and marketing across the state. JR has P&L responsibility for over $6B in revenue, serving 5 million customers.

Prior to his current role, JR led AT&T in San Diego & Las Vegas, where he and his team achieved record growth in Voice, TV, and Broadband products. JR also spearheaded Project Puente, a major cross-border initiative leveraging AT&T’s unique assets in the U.S. and Mexico.

Luna has held multiple leadership roles at AT&T, including Director of Sales in San Francisco, where he oversaw the successful opening of AT&T’s flagship store, 1 Powell. He also was a Director of Retail Execution overseeing all operational activities across a five-state territory.

JR holds a Bachelor’s Degree and an MBA. He is involved in his community as a volunteer with the American Heart Association and enjoys coaching at his local youth softball league.

Limpert Tech "SullyCast" on ALT 105.7 and iHeartRadio 5/15/21 - Mark Hart, COO and Vice President, Carolina Panthers

Rick is joined by Mark Hart of the Carolina Panthers this week on iHeartRadio. Hart is the Vice President and COO of the Panthers. He talks about the new Panthers development in Rock Hill, SC and he leads the development of the team's real estate and infrastructure projects and oversees the team's facility operations at Bank of America Stadium, including security, parking, and information technology.

Have a listen:

The Carolina Panthers are going all in on Rock Hill and looking to be a trendsetter in the NFL.

It will take years, but the Rock Hill project will include almost four million square feet of proposed development. An indoor practice facility will have 80-foot tall sliding glass doors to connect indoor and outdoor field areas. A small scaleable stadium will allow events from 5,000 to 20,000 fans, and not just for football.

“We want things to go on at The Rock 365 days a year,” Hart said, using the name his team uses internally for the headquarters site.

Rick and Mark discuss that and more.

The 500-seat indoor practice space largely will be used by the Panthers for football practice, but also could host events. Public, open spaces surrounding The Rock will allow access, and planners expect a variety of hotels, restaurants, corporate headquarters and other development to come at the roughly 240-acre site off I-77, between the Cherry Road and Dave Lyle Boulevard exits.

Limpert Tech "SullyCast" on ALT 105.7 and iHeartRadio 5/7/21 - Celeste Boyd-Spear, Vice President and General Manager of AT&T Southeast Retail, Cyberaware Tips

Important topic this weekm as Rick is joined by Celeste Boyd-Spear of AT&T.

Robocalls from the IRS, fake websites to help you get your stimulus check…it seems we’re constantly hearing a new scam that has surfaced.  

In a recent survey commissioned by AT&T, 55% of consumers said they’re spending more time online over the last year, which is no surprise considering the pandemic. But as more of our lives migrate online, legitimate concerns about security are also increasing.

Have a listen:

On a scale of 1-100, consumers rate their own digital security a 60/100. And more than a third of consumers recognize they need to do something to protect themselves from scams and cyberattacks.  AT&T has a strong history of helping people be more cyber-aware, and we have some tips to help you spot and avoid scams.

AT&T spokesperson Celeste Boyd-Spear: Scammers were busy in 2020, with the FTC receiving more than 2 million fraud reports. Now, with COVID stimulus checks out there and tax season, we need to be more vigilant than ever.

Tools and tips (among others) to discuss for protecting ourselves against fraud:

Red Flags: Scammers will always try to pressure you, they will demand answers and money right away and either dangle a threat or a reward. When you hear that kind of pressure, you know it is NOT legitimate.

Lots of tips from Celeste:

Use Call blocking tools
⦁    FTC says phone calls and texts are still the number one way that scammers reach people
⦁    AT&T estimates in 2020 alone, we blocked or labeled approximately 17 million spam calls a day.

Don’t click on suspicious links or visit unknown websites
⦁    Links to viruses and destructive software (called malware) can be transmitted through text messages and emails.

And more... give the segment a listen.

Limpert Tech "SullyCast" on ALT 105.7 and iHeartRadio 5/1/21 - 'Flavour With Benefits: France' and Champagne, Cathy Connally

A big welcome to food innovator Cathy Connally and her book, “Flavour With Benefits: France” — the first in a series. The eBook launches in March 2021, and the hardcover edition will be released in April.

Have a listen:

“Flavour With Benefits” is a new book series by Cathy Connally and coauthor Charley Best. Each book takes the reader on a journey to a different country or region and shares the stories of strong women, breathtaking sights, and food and flavours that reimagine “I’ll Have What She’s Having.”

“With this series of books,” says Cathy, “we are offering women an escape to visit exciting places, draw inspiration from women who changed the world, and enjoy food that doesn’t compromise on taste and health.”

They talk Cathy's passion for travel, the book and some of the history of Champagne.

Limpert Tech "SullyCast" on ALT 105.7 and iHeartRadio 4/24/21 - Rick and Axel's Picks for Mother's Day

Rick and Axel give some great picks for Mother's Day!

The always important Mother's Day holiday is approaching and Rick and Axel have some great tech ideas for Mom.

Picks:

1. Samsung's A- Series Smartphones

Samsung’s latest devices, the Galaxy A-Series, are hitting AT&T and Cricket Wireless April 9. AT&T is continuing to bring its best deals to everyone with additional savings for these already affordable smartphones – here’s a breakdown:


Samsung Galaxy A52 5G – AT&T Only

AT&T: For a limited time, new and existing AT&T customers can get the Galaxy A52 5G for as low as $5/mo. on a 30-month installment payment plan with an AT&T unlimited plan. That’s $150 total / 70% off the retail price!
Key Features:
Can access our nationwide AT&T 5G network. All of our consumer unlimited plans include 5G access at no additional charge.
First A-series device that is dust and water-resistant thanks to its IP67 rating.
Boasts the strongest camera in an A-Series smartphone.
Includes a super vivid 6.5” screen with FHD+ technology.
 
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G – Cricket Only

Cricket Wireless: The Galaxy A32 5G will be available for $279.99.
Key Features: This 5G smartphone features 6.5” Infinity-V display, multi-lens camera system, octa-core processing, 5,000 mAh fast charging battery and 64GB of storage.
 
Samsung Galaxy A12 – AT&T and Cricket

AT&T: For a limited time, new and existing AT&T customers can get the Galaxy A12 for as low as $1/mo. on a 30-month installment payment plan with an AT&T unlimited plan. That’s $30 total / more than 80% off the retail price!
Cricket Wireless: Cricket customers can grab the Galaxy A12 for $179.99.
Key Features: This LTE smartphone features an immersive 6.5” display, multi-lens camera system, quad-core processing and a powerful 5,000 mAh fast charging battery.
 


2. CYRx MD

https://cyrmdskincare.com/collections/anti-aging-plus-sun-damage
Protecting your skin from the sun is crucial, and CYRx MD is here to help protect and aid in reducing the look of sun and age spots.

CYRx MD skincare in medical-grade, scientifically derived products formulated for the wide spectrum of skin disorders. Their revolutionary Melasma/Sun Damage System includes products designed for rapid and significant improvement in skin’s appearance users have seen results in just a few weeks. These products help stimulate cellular regeneration resulting in brighter, firmer skin.
 


3. Fluidstance Lift

Laptop Riser with Integrated Whiteboard

Meet Lift™, our two-in-one personal whiteboard and laptop riser that improves the ergonomics of your workspace—and your comfort—by raising your laptop to the ideal height for viewing as a primary or secondary monitor.

With its integrated whiteboard, Lift helps increase your productivity by giving you a premium, billboard-like surface to jot down notes in real-time. The reusable whiteboard surface eliminates the need for paper notes, removing clutter and reducing your eco-footprint.
Perfect for any office, Lift also works great in non-traditional work environments like your kitchen, garage, or backyard. Reference your laptop for instructions, recipes, how-to videos, or even your favorite shows, all while taking notes.

4. eufy RoboVac 11S Max

A great deal if you think mom needs a robot vacuum.

For around $200

    All-New RoboVac: Re-engineered to boast our strongest ever suction power (2000Pa Max) while maintaining quiet operation and a super-slim design (2.85”).
    BoostIQ Technology: Automatically increases suction power within 1.5 seconds when extra vacuuming strength is needed to get the best clean.
    A Quiet Clean: Vacuums for up to 100 minutes** on hardwood floors with consistent, powerful suction at a volume no louder than a microwave.
    Premium Features: Anti-scratch tempered glass-top cover for protection, infrared-sensor for evading obstacles, and drop-sensing tech to avoid falls. Automatically recharges so it’s always ready to clean. Unibody filter makes for easier cleaning and less maintenance.
    What You Get: RoboVac 11S MAX, remote control (2 AAA batteries included), charging base, AC power adapter, cleaning tool, extra set of unibody filter, 4 side brushes, 5 cable ties, welcome guide, and our worry-free 12-month warranty.