Westnet was pleased to be named ‘Teleservices Centre of the Year’ at the 2010 Australian Teleservices Association (ATA) State Awards in Perth last week.

Held at the Burswood Entertainment Complex on Saturday 7^th July, more than 250 of the state’s leading contact centre representatives attended the awards ceremony to see Westnet recognised as having the leading customer service contact centre in Western Australia.

The ATA awards are open to all industries, with nominees judged by independent industry experts. Westnet’s customer service contact centre was sized up against a set of strict criteria, assessed in areas such as vision and planning; achievement of objectives; communications strategies; call quality; feedback management; employee satisfaction; and training.

The win means Westnet will now represent WA in the national final, to be held on the Gold Coast in September.

It’s a nice little pat on the back for the many Westnet employees in customer-facing roles, and reward for their hard work and dedication. We know awards like this aren’t everything, but they’re a nice little reminder that we’re ‘doing things right’ as a company and continuing our efforts to provide the very best customer service.

There are so many choices to make when buying a new TV: whether to go with plasma, LCD, LED, widescreen, flat screen or high definition – the list goes on. But now there’s another format on the horizon for those chasing the ultimate home entertainment experience.

The technology used to create 3D movies like the record-breaking Avatar is slowly making a progression to the small screen, with 3D TV touted as ‘the next big thing’ in home entertainment. Here’s a quick sneak peek at what all the fuss is about…

How 3D TV works

Think about how the human eye works and you’ll gain a better understanding of the technology behind 3D TV. Adult eyes are around 7cm apart, so each eye views the same image from a slightly different angle. These images are relayed to our brain which blends them into one to gauge distance and create a sense of depth.

3D TV technology takes the same approach; with two identical images projected on the television screen simultaneously – one for each eye (also known as Stereoscopy). When viewed through 3D glasses, the mind blends the images to fill the screen, creating the illusion of depth.

Keep in mind that to view 3D TV you’ll need to purchase a new, 3D-enabled television and – if you’re looking to enjoy recorded 3D blockbusters at home – a 3D Blu-ray player.

Are the glasses necessary?

Yes. To experience the full 3D effect, you’ll need those clunky-looking glasses to transform the image on your screen to one that will excite your senses. Without them, images appear distorted and pretty much unwatchable.

Health concerns

Since 3D TV has emerged as the ‘new frontier’ in home entertainment, some experts have raised concerns of the health risks associated with the format.

Some manufacturers (like Samsung) recommend 3D TV not be viewed by those under the influence of alcohol, pregnant women, the elderly and those who are sleep deprived. That said, some recent scientific whispers suggest watching 3D television under normal conditions is unlikely to damage your vision.

What can we watch?

Right now – not that much. With 3D TV still emerging as a serious player in the home entertainment industry, a range of content is currently being tested and trialled by broadcasters. It looks as though 3D broadcasting for wider TV audiences is at least a few years away, but in the mean time there will still be ways to get your three-dimensional fix at home.

Sport has the potential to become a big player in the 3D format; with viewers keen for the feeling they are ‘in’ the game. An initiative from FIFA will see some action from the 2010 FIFA World Cup broadcast in 3D, with those owning the sponsor’s brand of 3D television able to view the action as it happens. Others can relive all the football highlights in a 3D film to be released sometime after the tournament – a potential sign of things to come across other sporting codes.

There is also an increasing number of new movies being filmed or re-released in 3D, with a host of animated films also fostering the new technology, which should eventually be released in all their three-dimensional glory.

3D TV and the future

With digital television well and truly upon us, television manufacturers will happily announce 3D TV as the future of home entertainment. The success of the format will ultimately depend on just how many people embrace the new technology – which is clearly still in its early stages.

If you’re currently in the market for a new television, rest assured the present 3D models are top notch and will display standard 2D television while you wait for the world of 3D to take off. Alternatively, you could wait until the ‘3D boom’ hits, when it’s expected more TV models will become available and prices should decrease.

While the world of fully-fledged 3D TV may still be a little way off, for those looking for something extra in home entertainment it’s certainly something to look forward to.

In last month’s Westnet Newsletter we gave you the chance to win a website on us, simply by boosting your online profile with a Westnet Hosting plan.

Congratulations to the lucky winners who’ve each won a brand new website, or an upgrade to their existing one, to the value of $995:

• K. Jennings, WA
• S. McCagh, WA
• K. Smith, NSW

Westnet teaming up with the web developing experts at TypeShape means these winners will soon have their very own website that not only looks good, but (more importantly) works for them.

If you’re thinking of getting a new website, our Hosting Team are here to guide you through the process and tailor a Hosting and domains solution to suit you.

We make the whole process simple and we’re happy to do all the hard work for you – simply call us on 1300 137 480 or visit www.westnethosting.com.au.

Westnet and Roadshow Films are pleased to present Killers – marriage… give it your best shot.

Trying to recover from a sudden break-up, Jen Kornfeldt believes she’ll never fall in love again. When she reluctantly joins her parents on a trip to the French Riviera, Jen happens to meet the man of her dreams, the dashing, handsome Spencer Aimes. Three years later, her seemingly impossible wish has come true: she and Spencer are newlyweds living the ideal suburban life – that is, until the morning after Spencer’s 30th birthday when bullets start flying. Literally.

Faced with the fact that her husband is a hit man, Jen is determined to discover what other secrets Spencer might be keeping – all the while trying to dodge bullets, keep up neighbourly appearances, manage the in-laws and work out some major trust issues.

And you thought suburban life was easy.

For your chance to win one of 16 in-season double passes to Killers, classified M and in cinemas July 29th, simply click the ‘Enter’ button in the Westnet Newsletter in your inbox. Entries are limited to one per Westnet username. The competition closes at 12.01am (WST) on Monday, July 26th, 2010.

Westnet and Columbia Pictures are pleased to present Salt.

As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honour and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy.

Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: “Who is Salt?”

For your chance to win one of 25 in-season double passes to Salt, yet to be classified and in cinemas August 19th, simply click the ‘Enter’ button in the Westnet Newsletter in your inbox. Entries are limited to one per Westnet username. The competition closes at 12.01am (WST) on Monday, August 9th, 2010.

Well here we are – midway through the year with winter officially upon us. During the height of summer this year I was willing on the winter weather, but now it’s here I have to admit I’m starting to long for the return of shorts-and-singlet heat. I guess I’m a little hard to please!

Anyway, on to the Westnet Newsletter for June…

Fresh off our look at computer viruses and other online nasties a couple of months ago, this weekend marks the beginning of National Cyber Security Week 2010. The Federal Government is again encouraging internet users to show due diligence while online, so this month we take a closer look at the steps you can take to protect yourself on the web.
If you run a business or are thinking about boosting your online presence, you’re in luck! Westnet Hosting has just kicked off an exciting competition that could see you win a spiffy new website valued at nearly $1000. Take a closer look for more details on how you can be in the running.

While we’re on the subject of competitions, we’ve also got a stack of tickets to two upcoming movie releases to give away, so make sure you get yourself into the draw to win an in-season double pass.

Enjoy the read and see you next month!

Our look at computer viruses and other online nasties in the April Westnet Newsletter sparked an encouraging response from Members keen to know more about internet safety and the steps they can take to protect themselves online.

As luck would have it, this weekend marks the beginning of National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2010 – a Federal Government initiative encouraging all internet users to show the necessary care while online.

The Week brings together government agencies, industry, and community and consumer organizations in an effort to increase online safety.  Events and information sessions in metropolitan, regional and rural communities across Australia emphasize online risks to personal and financial information and provide details on the steps we can take to stay out of harm’s way.

National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2010 promotes six easy steps you can take for better online security:

1. Install security software and update it regularly.

Helps prevent infections from a range of nasty sources, often spread through bogus downloads or emails.

2. Turn on automatic updates so all your software receives the latest fixes.

This will prevent your software becoming outdated and help detect the latest threats.

3. Get a stronger password and change it at least twice a year.

Strong passwords are usually more that eight characters in length, a mixture of upper and lower case, with at least one number.

4. Stop and think before you click on links or attachments.

Make sure links and attachments are to/from trusted sources; or err on the side of caution.

5. Stop and think before you share any personal or financial information about yourself or your friends and family.

Is it the kind of information you’d want in the hands of scammers?

6. Know what your children are doing online.

Make sure they know to stay safe and encourage them to report anything suspicious.

Following these simple steps – and showing a reasonable amount of common sense – will help guard your computer against nasty viruses and keep your personal information out of reach from online scammers.

Heaps more information on National Cyber Security Awareness Week 2010 (and online security in general) is available at www.staysmartonline.gov.au. You can even sign on to the Stay Smart Online Alert Service for up to date advice in plain speaking language, and details of the very latest e-security threats.