Toronto Virtual Office Packages from $74.95

The Rostie Group is now offering comprehensive virtual office packages from $74.95 per month - the lowest price in the entire Greater Toronto Area!

Perfect for a home based businesses, or for companies expanding into a new markets. A virtual office is an easy, cost-effective way to make a strong impression on current and prospective clients. Enjoy all the benefits of having a fully functioning office without moving from your present location; including priority access to offices and meeting rooms. The Rostie Group offers virtual offices from its 20 Bay Street business centre, located in the heart of Downtown Toronto, and its 2810 Matheson Blvd East location - minutes from Pearson International Airport in Mississauga.

If you are looking for a Toronto virtual office at a convenient and high-profile address, The Rostie Group will offer you the best value and service you will find anywhere in the GTA.

The Rostie Group's full-service virtual office packages can be customized to include the following options:

• A Prestigious business address - for use on your business cards, letterhead and marketing materials (Choose either a 20 Bay Street or 2810 Matheson Blvd E. location)


• Mail collection and forwarding - Mail is collected, packages are signed for and sent to you according to your instructions


• Preferred rates on office supplies and couriers - Receive discounted rates on FedEx and more


• Access ready-to-use offices and meeting rooms at preferred rates


• On-demand administrative and technical support - Access to expert administrative and technical IT support teams


• Use of local fax number for both incoming and outgoing faxes


• A local phone number - Provide a local Toronto or Mississauga phone number to all your contacts


• Personalized call answering - A professional receptionist answers your calls in your company’s name according to your specifications


• Call redirecting - Specialized technology enables call redirection to your primary number.

To order a Toronto virtual office or Mississauga virtual office, or to learn more about available locations and package options, please visit The Rostie Group's website using the link below.

Virtual Offices in Toronto

Videoconferencing Applications are Growing!

Video conferencing has been around for quite awhile now, but advances in technology have made this a very attractive option for anyone looking to lower travel costs and expand their global reach. Recently, access gotten much more affordable and picture and sound quality has improved so much that many industries are taking advantage of the benefits of video conferencing. Video conferencing can allow you to have a real-time conversation with someone across the world, while still being able to see facial expressions and body language. This has been especially useful in mental health services, where patients can be put in touch with the best doctors and psychiatrists available without actually having to travel to hospitals and clinics. The benefits of videoconferencing in the telemental health industry can be read in a recent Time Magazine article found here.

The Rostie Group offers many videoconferencing solutions at both its Downtown and Airport locations. We have conducted interviews, board meetings, press conferences, and even birthday parties through videoconferencing. Videoconferencing is the best way to connect with multiple clients around the world in seconds, without having to step foot in an airport. To find out more about The Rostie Group’s videoconferencing abilities, please visit our website.

Apple's iPad - Will it Help Small Businesses?

With Apple’s brand new iPad scheduled to be released in the imminent future, the general public and media are fawning over this innovative new product. And why wouldn’t they? Apple has a long history of making cutting-edge products with tons of success. Who doesn’t love their iPod? The iPad seems like a really cool device with a flashy multi-touch screen and vibrant colours, making it a whole new way to experience email, the web, photos and videos.

As much as it will likely have huge consumer success, how will small businesses react to the iPad? Some small business owners are already concerned over the iPad being a huge pain when employees and clients start requesting to use it. The two biggest reasons for concern are Support Issues and Security Headaches.

Support Issues

Most companies’ IT departments are already stretched thin keeping up with the technology they already have – such as PCs, Macs, Blackberries, and iPhones – if they even have an internal IT department. Many small businesses do not, leaving non-tech savvy people to learn as they go or pay for expensive external support. Often, there just aren’t the resources to support new technology. So when an employee or client starts using their new iPad for work and have connection or printing issues, the small business owner is forced to step up and help so they remain productive. Which in turn means incurring more IT costs, either from their IT department or from an outsourced IT support network. And since this is such a new product, the turnaround time will likely be much longer (and thus more expensive) as the team learns how to support the iPad.

Security Headaches

New iPad users are bound to be so swept-away with the media ability of their new toys that they will likely forget about the new security issues that will come along with it. With a new way to access data on their networks, it opens up new channels for security breaches. When things start to go terribly wrong – disappearing databases, stolen information – there will be downtime while the problem gets sorted out. Downtime equals lost productivity which equals more incurred costs.

Now, this is not to say these problems will not be handled. They will. Apple is probably working around the clock to get support members trained and security up to snuff. The iPad will be a consumer hit, and justly so. But for a business owner, it all comes down to Return on Investment. And as it stands, it doesn’t look like the iPad will be on the profitable side of the fence.

If you want to read more about this subject, please read the complete Business Week article here.

The Many Benefits of Telepresence

As we prepare for the arrival of The Rostie Group's state-of-the-art Telepresence videoconferencing system, a common question from our clients is "What exactly is Telepresence?". Telepresence technology is one of those things that is much easier to show than explain. Once experience it first-hand, you will immediately understand why Telepresence has the almost limitless potential to change the way the world conducts business. Usually when a client asks us about Telepresence, we refer them to one of the many very engaging demonstration videos available online, however, Entrepreneur magazine has just published an article which also does a nice job of summarizing the many benefits this unique technology.

Below is a great excerpt from the Entrepreneur Magazine article...

"Have you ever tried to shake hands with a business partner sitting directly across from you, even though you know he's in his own office 2,000 miles away? Telepresence makes you want to do just that. It's no hallucinatory drug, though the sensory experience it provides via ultra-realistic, life-size videoconferencing does make it seem as if someone spiked your java. it's like interacting with a hologram from "Minority Report."

Telepresence is souped-up videoconferencing , complete with giant high-def screens, powerful codecs, multi-aspect cameras and enriched audio speakers. The gear is offered by companies such as Polycom, Cisco Systems, Tandberg, Lifesize Communications and others. Service packages are available from the likes of AT&T and other business providers that provide videoconferencing.

While basic videoconferencing has been around for decades, it never really took off due to clunky equipment, glitchy performance, poorly synchronized video and audio. It was nothing like meeting someone in person. Telepresence is as close as it gets.
The recession makes a pretty good case for telepresence: Companies need to cut travel costs but also need to keep globalizing to reach new partners and customers."

Click here to read the complete article

Also, check out this promotional video from Polycom. The Rostie Group will soon be installing a full-sized system similar to what you see at the 1:37 mark during the video.

Learn How to Better Protect Your Computer

HP is offering a great series free online courses for small businesses. These classes cover a wide range of topics, including everything from securing your computer against online threats, to learning how to use such applications as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access.

If you worried about falling victim to computer viruses, spyware, malware, unauthorized network access, or online identity theft, you might want to take advantage of the free Internet Security course.

The class covers four topics:

1. Establishing a security policy

2. Identifying and mitigating reconnaissance and access attacks

3. Identifying and mitigating DoS (Denial-of-service) attacks

4. Identifying and mitigating malware threats


For more information about this comprehensive education program, visit HP's website

Low-Tech Fixes for High-Tech Problems.

The Globe and Mail just posted a great article featuring some very simple solutions for common tech problems. Before giving Rostie Tech Rescue a call, you may want to give some of these handy tips a try.

Low-Tech Fixes for High-Tech Problems

Free Rostie Tech Hour

Rostie Tech Rescue will be hosting its first ever Lunchtime Tech Support Hour on February 5th at 12:00pm. The Tech Support Hour will be held in the 11th floor kitchen of our 20 Bay Street location (WaterPark Place). This event is completely free, and open to all Rostie Group and WaterPark Place tenants. Our team of skilled techs will be available for the whole hour to help answer all of your computer or electronics-related questions.