KELCOM started in 1969 when Wilson Kell was transferred from Toronto to Windsor to start KELL Communications as a service branch of the Marconi Radio Company. Originally KELCOM focused on servicing tube-type marine radios and radar units installed on commercial shipping freighters within the Windsor area. The original work could cause employees to take unexpected trips to other ports as they would access freighters on the go. When a freighter needed service you got to go on the mail boat and while the freighter was still moving, scale the rope ladder to the top. When and where you got off depended on your troubleshooting skills. If you were slow to solve the problem you might be getting off in Sarnia or Port Colbourne and a very long cab ride would take you home.

In 1970, Kell hired his first employee, Vince Otcenasek. Shortly after, Kell decided to make changes and pass the company to Vince Otcenasek with the request that he change the name from KELL to something else. Vince changed its name multiple times until it finally became KELCOM.
KELCOM started offering ‘beepers’ in the 70s, which later became the pager division. They then expanded into business phones in the 80s. KELCOM soon started a security alarm division. That business was sold to Guardian Alarm in 1996 and KELCOM restarted the business as Security ONE.
KELCOM expanded to include a copier division, led by Len Colucci who started with the company in 1987 and has now implemented 3D Printing.

Over time KELCOM had expanded to include a Wireless division which was later sold to Smart Cell Wireless, an Answering Call Center division which has been purchased by Extend Communications.

KELCOM Voice & Data and KELCOM Internet Division have joined forces and will continue to operate under dual KELCOM and Revolution IP brands. The telecommunications industry is going through unprecedented changes. The lines between voice services, internet, video and networking are disappearing. Customers demand one point of contact as they go through these massive changes.

With this merger, the combined company will be well positioned to continue providing exceptional service and expertise to new and existing customers in Windsor-Essex and throughout southwestern Ontario. 

Dejan Todorovic, current manager of the KELCOM Internet Division for the past 25 years, will take over the operation of the business. Gerry Vandeheide, the head of the KELCOM Voice & Data Division for over 33 years, will focus on customer acquisition and large account management. The new company will merge the experience of long-serving employees, who have been with KELCOM for over 25 years, with the knowledge of the newer team members. 

About KELCOM - Revolution IP: Originally started in 1969, KELCOM has been a local fixture in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent. KELCOM Revolution IP continues this tradition by supporting numerous charitable organizations and offering job opportunities. KELCOM - Revolution IP provides business PBX, internet and telephone services and has recently added networking support and digital marketing to its roster. 

Read this article where our merger is discussed on Page 4 of The Windsor Business September Issue: https://issuu.com/testingwb/docs/windsor_business-sept_2022/4

By using strong passwords, avoiding risky links, backing up your data, and other measures, you can help keep yourself safe online. Here are our top eight suggestions for being secure online.
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​1. Avoid opening unsolicited Emails.
You don't even need to download files from a phishing email with malware attached for it to harm your home network. Malware can be installed on your hard drive without your knowledge or consent during drive-by downloads.

Even the most tech-savvy among us can fall victim to drive-by downloads, which can occasionally pass for routine system updates or other innocent "yes / no" questions. It's a good idea to avoid opening any emails from addresses you don't recognize because of this.

​WIFI coverage doesn't always live up to your expectations and could even be subpar. In a situation like this, people's first course of action would be to improve their current package with their ISPs. The location of your WIFI router is one of the additional elements that affect how well your WIFI works.

The most economical way to improve WIFI performance is to change its position in your home. Let's look at how to choose the ideal location for your router in your house for the best WIFI performance. 

Step 1: Place Your Router in the Center of Your Home.
Wireless radio waves can travel all the way around the router. The router is the center point of a globe filled with WIFI.  The fact that WIFI radio waves tend to go upward more frequently than downward is another point to bear in mind. As a result, WIFI strength will be significantly higher above the router than below.

One of Windsor's favourite Home Shows are here and we are offering a special raffle prize for anyone who signs up for Internet Service with us at the show. Not only is there a raffle, you will also have a free WIFI 6 router rental that lasts for a lifetime! No hidden fees and no contract, what is better than this?

All devices that connect to the internet are assigned a numeric address. These are called IP addresses. These numbered addresses would be a nightmare for humans to use if it wasn't for DNS, the Domain Name System.

The holiday season is already upon us, so we've taken a few moments to scour the local web to bring you as many good, family activities as we could find.

From downtown Windsor, to far our Chatham there are plenty of activities for your family to enjoy. Keep checking back. We'll keep updating this list as more present themselves.

Have another activity that we've missed? Contact us with your suggestion!

​​You only have one chance to make a good first impression. For customers who call your business, the first impression is your telephone system (PBX).

Start by calling your own business. Listen to what your customers hear and consider what impression you are making. Do you have an endless number of options? Or, worse yet, maybe your telephone system kicks in and asks the callers to hold without an alternative? Are you offering any self-serve options in your PBX menu tree? Could you save their time (and yours) by giving them some essential information immediately with your system's auto-attendant?

Spooky season is upon us and Halloween is fast approaching. Who doesn't like a scare in the brisk October air? Get your family costumes ready, then hit these great local Halloween activities!

Be sure to check back here for new listings!

You may have seen the WiFi router boxes that advertise speeds from 50 megabits to 9.6 gigabits per second. But, no average person got the WiFi router to produce those exact speeds, ever.

The sad truth is that those advertised speeds are only possible in perfect conditions. Router placement, environmental and building factors and even your neighbour’s routers – all affect your connectivity.
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Here are some steps you can take to maximize your WiFi connectivity speeds and quality in your home and office.

Thank you, Manchu Wok! The covid-19 pandemic impacted most businesses, but perhaps none more than the restaurant industry. Local takeout restaurant, Manchu Wok, located in Devonshire Mall in Windsor, refused to give up and instead decided to help others cope. From the start of the pandemic, I have decided to support local restaurants by ordering takeout and delivery as often as I could. Most Tuesdays, I would place the lunch order from Manchu Wok. 

How one business impacted by the Covid pandemic refused to give up and even went the other way

- helping others cope.

NOTE: Only applicants living in Essex County, Ontario will be considered. You must have a valid Ontario drivers license and a clean driving record.

We are looking for a full-time permanent service technician / CSR to join our team. Our service technicians provide excellent on-site and telephone support to our business and residential customers. If hired, you will install and repair Internet and telephone devices (cable modems, VoIP gateways, WiFi routers) and support our customers with issues ranging from internet connectivity, feature changes, email account issues, service upgrades and more.

With the increased number of cellular phones and tablets, home phone lines are slowly becoming obsolete. These days even alarm systems use cellular networks to connect to the monitoring service making home phones less and less necessary.

However, you may need a home phone number if you don’t want to receive calls to your cellular phone because it is used for business or provided to you by your company.

Others need a home phone to handle calls for the kids or from the extended family. Lastly, you may be asked to provide a phone number when ordering services or products or as a way to be reached by the businesses and the organizations. In all those instances, keeping your home phone line is a necessity.
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For these situations, we have created new home phone plans for our customers:
Mobile Unlimited US & Canada Home Line – $17.95

What is Phishing?
 
​Cybercriminals aren't your ordinary thugs. They are smart, sophisticated and clever. They are after your personal and financial information, and Phishing is the primary tool in their toolbox. Whether by email (Phishing, Spearphishing and Whaling), phone (social engineering), SMS (Smishing), they present themselves as a legitimate enterprise to gain your trust and your information. These can range from widespread, generic mass emailing to individualized, highly specific and direct email.

Our business has had someone working from home at all times for years. Last week we purchased a few cheap laptops from Best Buy and had the majority of our employees move to work from home within 24 hours.
Here are some of the things we learned over the years:

USE CHAT
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We use Slack, but there are many other options you can consider. Slack offers direct messaging (for private conversations), purpose rooms and much more. When using chat, keep it light and allow for some levity to keep everyone cheerful and involved.