Out of the Blue

Well, we are again on that slippery slope to the end of the year where the closer it gets the faster time seems to fly. A time when our best intentions to be well prepared often end in a mad panic to get everything ready! Of course it is always worth it when Christmas arrives and we are finally able to relax and spend some quality time with family and friends.

2009 has not been an easy year with the GFC impacting quite heavily on both Blueprint and many of our clients. It has been a challenge but a rewarding experience working with you all through this period and knowing that many of us were experiencing the same difficulties. Thankfully we are all still hanging in there and things do seem to be looking up again. We can only look forward to a better year in 2010 when we can continue to recover and move ahead again. Of course we would not still be here without the continued support of you – our loyal customers. Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to you for staying with us – Thank You!

News on Soren: We reported in our November newsletter that Soren had experienced some setbacks in his health. We are pleased to let you know that he is now back out of hospital and once again on the road to recovery. It is still uncertain when he may be able to return to work but we'll continue to keep you updated.

We are going to take a short break over Xmas & New Year so we can come back refreshed and do our best for you all over again in 2010. Our times for office closure will be:

Staff numbers may be down slightly over this period but we will do our best to respond to your calls promptly. The support mailbox (support@bta.com.au) and phone messages will be monitored and responded to as soon as possible. Should you have a dire emergency at any time over the break, simply call our Freecall number, leave a message if the office is unattended and we will respond.

There are some things you may need to consider if your office is closing down over this time. Take a minute to review the list below, and if you need assistance don’t hesitate to give us a call.

We sincerely hope that you get a well-deserved break and that you enjoy a safe and happy Xmas and New Year. Thank you once again for all your support this year and we look forward to catching up early in 2010.

Have you taken advantage of the Government’s small business tax break yet? If not, time is running out. Small business entities (businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million per annum) are entitled to a 50% tax deduction for the purchase of assets over $1000. The following are the key dates to be aware of to qualify for the deduction:

The interpretation of “commitment to investing in the asset” is the point in time when you:

A further condition is that the asset must be a tangible depreciating asset so unfortunately software is not included in the tax break. Full details of the initiative can be found on the ATO website. We would also suggest seeking advice from your accountant.

As we have already begun to experience, Queensland’s notorious storm season is upon us. This is a time when we should all be checking that we have adequate power protection in place to help keep our valuable computer and electrical equipment safe. Severe weather events such as thunderstorms, high winds, flooding, bush fires and extreme heat can cause various electrical problems which in turn can damage computer equipment and destroy data. When talking about storms most people think blackouts however other electrical problems such as surges/spikes, line noise and brownouts can also occur.

Blackout – is a total loss of power caused by damage to utility lines and other power distribution equipment. Without adequate power protection, blackouts can cause systems to crash and loss of data and also contribute to loss of productivity and ability to produce revenue.

Surge/spike – these are short term voltage increases which can cause data loss and severe damage to computer equipment. Surges and spikes occur during thunderstorm and lightning strike activity and with the sudden restoration of power after an outage.

Line noise – is electromagnetic or radio frequency interference which occurs during the summer season due to increased use of air conditioning, refrigeration and fans. It can cause incremental damage to electronic circuit boards, data corruption and audio/video quality problems.

Brownout – is a voltage deficiency that occurs when power demand exceeds power availability. Brownouts can cause problems such as equipment failure, data loss, decreased stability and incremental damage.

Devices such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), surge protectors and power filter boards help limit the damage caused by these incidents. If you are concerned about whether your power protection is sufficient to handle Mother Nature’s gifts this Christmas season give us a call and we will be only too happy to check for you.

Phone	(07) 3852 1250
Freecall (QLD Callers)	1800 064 906
Fax	(07) 3852 1194
email IT Support Sales Accounts	support@bta.com.au sales@bta.com.au accounts@bta.com.au
Online Shop	http://shop.bta.com.au
Website	http://www.bta.com.au/

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