Business Info - issue 137

Following the recent launch of the DS-9500, Olympus has added the DS-9000 and DS-2600 models to its professional mobile dictation range, catering for varying needs and price points. Olympus designed the DS series as a rugged, easy-to-use mobile dictation device to simplify document workflows and improve dictation management in legal, healthcare and other business contexts. Two-microphone system The top of the range DS-9500 has integratedWiFi, enabling wireless sharing of files. This feature enables you to email dictation files when you are on-the-go or as you walk around your office without having to dock the device for file transfer. Both the DS-9500 and new DS-9000, which doesn’t have integratedWiFi, feature intelligent dual microphones, with three different dictation modes. In quiet environments, the omni- directional microphones can pick up your voice accurately no matter what angle you speak into the device; in noisy environments, the two microphones work together to focus in on the person dictating whilst suppressing ambient noise; and in conference mode, British online retailers will have to carry on effectively subsidising Chinese competitors for another two years, warns ParcelHero, after the Universal Postal Union (UPU) failed to address 'outdated' cross border delivery charges at September's Extraordinary Congress in Addis Ababa. The courier comparison site points out that under UPU rules the postal costs of Chinese traders exporting to the UK and US are subsidised by the UK and US postal services. As a result, it currently costs less to send a book from Beijing to Birmingham by post than it does to send the same item from Bromsgrove to Birmingham. David Jinks, ParcelHero Head of Customer Research, says this is because they record in high quality stereo, automatically adjusting to how loudly each person speaks. Another important aspect of the DS- 9500 and DS-9000, especially for users in the healthcare and legal sectors, are their extensive security features. These include AES 256-bit encryption; data loss prevention (DLP), which stops confidential data from moving outside an organisation by making the device operate in read-only mode when connected to a PC; and security PIN entry, to protect devices from unauthorised use. Both the DS-9500 and DS-9000 come with ODMS R7, the latest version the rating system used by the UPU to apportion revenues and cost from international mail up to 2kg is outdated. He said: “While the UK is classed as having a fully developed postal system and is in Group 1 under the UPU’s arcane ratings systems, China is described as a Group 3 ‘Transitional’ country, along with the likes of Botswana, Kazakhstan and Gabon. So China gets away with paying far less than the Target price most countries pay. But China is now the world’s second largest economy; so clearly this classification needs urgent revision.” Jinks added: “In the US, where it’s estimated the United States Postal Service is losing $1 on every China Post shipment into the country, President of Olympus Dictation Management System software. This powerful software allows for the importing of dictation files and central management of devices and workflows. An interface to Dragon from Nuance supports speech recognition (Dragon speech recognition software must be bought separately). Easy introduction The entry-level DS-2600 completes the professional line-up, offering simple and efficient personal dictation. Two omni-directional microphones ensure high-quality results, while the included DSS Player Standard software gives an overview of all dictations and allows for easy import of files to Mac or PC. A slide switch on all models provides intuitive operation so that users can start, stop and edit dictation without even looking at the device. A range of accessories are available for the DS series to make transcription tasks even easier, such as docking stations, stereo headsets and USB foot pedals. www.olympus- europa.com Trump is saying ‘enough is enough’. He is threatening to impose unilateral postal rates on countries such as China if the UPU doesn’t agree new dues at this week’s Congress.While ParcelHero strongly opposes any protectionist extra costs at borders, it is certainly true that UK traders and couriers are at a significant postal price disadvantage. Small wonder China has now gobbled 42% of all global e-commerce.” Jinks points out that it is not just China that is benefiting from ‘Transitional’ status. The Russian Federation, too, is classed as a Group Three country, which means it is far more expensive for a British seller to ship there than it is for a Russian trader to mail to the UK. www.parcelhero.com DICTATION & MAILING 26 | P2P Magazine 01732 759725 Accelerate your workflow Who knew? Olympus has expanded its line-up of DS series mobile dictation devices Chinese e-traders continue to enjoy unfair advantage