Well, it’s official: iiNet Sucks.

I’m sick of being on hold to these guys. It’s like being with bloody Hellstra or Opt-Arse for frig’s sake! What IS it with companies.

No amount of “Your call is important to us” and “Our staff are experiencing higher than average call volume.” cuts it anymore in this world.

Neither do constantly being told “it’s time to go naked with iiNet…” and “…are you experiencing slow download rates with your dial-up connection..?”

I don’t care. I don’t want to be advertised at. I don’t want to be constantly told how hard it is for you to receive calls because the three people that are left in your call-center after your last hatchet-job on staff that actually do the freaking work can’t handle the volume of calls!

It reminds me of an ex-employer who, during one of the regular 6-monthly retrenchment cycles, fired the guy responsible for building the one application that the CEO of the company had declared was the best thing since sliced bread and would make the company bigger than Ben whatsisname.

Stupid!

So is being on hold for 15 minutes!

iiNet used to be a good company, easy to deal with, quick turnaround on service calls, connections and anything you needed really. Now they’re just like every other damn company out there: happy to take your money, happy to provide a bit of contractually obligated service (ie. phone/net connection) and CRAP at everything else that’s actually necessary for running a business.

Bottom line: if your staff can’t handle the number of calls coming in, then HIRE SOME MORE!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ-lJpL2oVg]

Slightly old, but still relevant; Free WiFI spots around the country.

I’ll only add to this that there’s one right in front of The Guru and The Teacher’s place in Reservoir, where on Christmas eve last year, I was able to make a Skype call because my phone was out of credit. Nice one!

The Guru has told me that Apple will be making iPod Touch APIs available in 2008 for developers to get into the code. And what that means is that those already working on a VoIP solution will be able to refine things so ultimately, the iPhone won’t actually be needed.

As long as you can find a WiFi point of course! But how far – honestly – is it away from being open slather? With Meraki and Community Wireless at work, we’ll finally be able to stop being gouged by Hellstra and Opt-arse for WiFi.