Service Description
Compact mobile email service and mobile voice service to client agencies and other features.
CTS provides options for customer mobility device needs. Customers may choose to have CTS provide wireless support and optionally have CTS manage vendor transmission costs.
Support - Cell Phones, Broadband and Satellite
Support service can include any effort to acquire, administer, support or deactivate mobile devices. Examples of support services would be ordering, receiving, activating and configuring devices, resolving operational problems, ordering replacement devices, maintaining associated inventory, ordering additional features, or requesting call detail records. Some records requests may be considered above-base service. Wireless devices offered are available to end user clients after authorization from designated customer group approvers.
Support - Mobile Devices with Data Plans and Mobility Tablets
Support service can involve any effort to acquire, administer, support or deactivate mobile devices with data plans. Examples of support services would be ordering, receiving, activating and configuring devices, resolving operational problems, ordering replacement devices, applying operating system updates, maintaining associated inventory, ordering additional features, or requesting call detail records.
Transmission - Broadband and Mobility Tablets with Data Plans
This service covers wireless phone service vendors providing data connection solutions. Devices under this service provide data only and do not provide voice service. Connectivity is achieved using a broadband device that connects directly to the vendor’s network (and so are also distinct from wireless connections to the CTS local area network (LAN), which does not require an intermediary vendor). The broadband devices may be vendor-supplied separately or built in and simply require activation. The data plans are supplied and administered similarly to wireless smart phone plans which include researching, analyzing and paying transmission costs.
Transmission - Cell Phones
Cell phones are provided via wireless vendors and represent USDA contract agreements for these services. Cell phones offered under this CTS service option are available to customers after appropriate approvals from agency representatives and CTS supervisors. The agreements are maintained and oversight is provided by CTS for the client agency which includes researching, analyzing and paying transmission costs. All cell phones are included in this category. Also accounted for in this category are any other devices enabled for wireless communication, paid for via cell phone accounts and not covered in the other CTS wireless categories (example: some engineering equipment enabled with a SIM card for data communications).
Transmission for Mobile Devices with Data Plans
Smart phone devices are supplied and administered in a similar manner to cell phones. Voice service to these devices is supplied in the same manner as standalone cell phones which includes researching, analyzing and paying transmission costs. This provides compact, mobile e-mail service to client agencies, as well as voice and other features that the device may offer (Note: Additional services may be required; some features may be restricted based on security)
Transmission - Satellite Devices
Data and voice services for these devices are provided via wireless vendors and represent USDA agreements for these services. The agreements may or may not be contractual and may be provided on a usage basis depending on the technology. These services are available to customers after appropriate approvals from agency representatives and CTS supervisors. The agreements are maintained and oversight provided by CTS for the client agency which includes researching, analyzing and paying transmission costs. Accounted for in this category are devices enabled for wireless communication not covered in the other CTS wireless categories.
How We Charge
Labor is charged by the number of devices supported.
Transmission charges are based on vendor service plans used by the customer.
Mobility Services Measurement Description
| Product/Service Offering | UNIT of Measure Description |
|---|---|
| Support - Cell Phones, Broadband & Satellite | Measured by the number of cell phones, broadband & satellite devices. |
| Support - Mobile Devices with Data Plans and Mobility Tablets | Measured by the number of mobility tablets such as iPADs and mobility devices such as smartphones, Androids, etc. which have a data plan associated with the device. |
| Transmission - Broadband and Mobility Tablets with Data Plans | Measured by the number of broadband & mobility tablets with data plans. |
| Transmission - Cell Phones | Measured by the number of cell phone devices with voice plan only. |
| Transmission - Mobile Devices with Data Plans | Measured by the number of mobile phone devices with both voice and data plan. |
| Transmission - Satellite | Measured by the number of satellite devices with voice and/or data plan. |
Service Level Metrics
Mobility Devices Performance Measures
| Performance | Performance Measure | Performance Targets |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility Device Deployment-Base offering | Deployment Date within 5 business days from vendor activation date or as separately agreed to between the customer and CTS in writing. | 95% |
| Mobility Device Deployment-Premier Offering | Deployment of government purchased iPads is supported by an “on-hand” pool of wireless iPads. iPads can be activated within 1 business day | 80% |
| Cell Phone Deployment | Deployment Date within 5 business days from activation of the equipment by the service provide or as separately agreed to between the customer and CTS in writing. | 95% |
Measurement Tool - TSD Deployment Plan and CTS Remedy
Cost Savings Tips
- Bundle accounts to pool minutes.
- Use cell phones instead of smartphones when email is not needed.
- Use mobile devices that come free with vendor plans.
Additional Information
Wireless vendor-sourced devices are offered as an option to all CTS clients with appropriate approvals. CTS maintains the accounts and administration is provided for the customer. Some mobility tablets are wireless broadband enabled via a wireless service provider. These accounts are administered by CTS for the client agency.
Some customers may pay their own transmission charges.