The traditional desktop appliance for agents in a call centre is a PC. However there is an alternative which costs around £80 to buy and reduces complexity and administration. Thin client terminals are perfect for using with predictive diallers and inbound call centres and they give disaster recovery.

Thin client terminals allows businesses and users to run software applications from anywhere in the world using any internet-connected terminal. A terminal is similar to a PC but it doesnt need the same expensive processors and RAM that a PC does. Terminals typically come without a hard drive and sell for around £80. What you get is real-time access to run your applications as fast, if not quicker as if you are in the office. Whether you are using a dialup modem, ADSL, ISDN, or Leased Lines to access the thin client server remotely, you will be able to work remotely like never before.

Once installed, the thin client server, which is hosted in a data centre allows multiple users to run multiple applications at the same time. When you run applications on a thin client server, only screen shots are sent to your computer and, in return, your keyboard input and mouse movements are sent to the server. This low bandwidth usage is what makes products developed by Citrix and Microsoft Terminal services ideal for predictive diallers and inbound contact centres and this is what allows you to work using slow internet connections.

How much bandwidth do you need?

As the average connection uses 10K to 20K of bandwidth, you can even get away with only using a 56K dial-up modem to access a Citrix Server or a Terminal Services server.

What operating systems work with Citrix?

DOS
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows CE
Windows NT 4.0
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows Media
Windows Vista
Unix
Macintosh

How fast does my computer need to be, to access a thin client server?

Almost any computer can access a thin client server as you only use minimal system resources. It does not matter how fast your computer is, or how much memory is installed as you are only sending mouse and keyboard movements to the remote server.

Terminal Services is Microsoft’s answer to the more expensive Citrix thin client server and has similar benefits for your business IT System. For multi-site companies and global businesses, Terminal Services solutions provide a secure remote access solution for your company IT network. Staff and managers alike have the ability to login to their predictive dialer or inbound call centre interface anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds. Combine this and thin client technology and what you have is a virus free, secure system that will transport your business IT & network infrastructure into the future of business computing.

One of the major benefits of thin client and Terminal Services is remote access and disaster recovery, that is essential in todays business world.