Tribute to Success. June by dustin bamberger

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Frederick O’Brien’
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1 Tribute to Success by dustin bamberger June 2016 As many of you know, we transitioned to new leadership in Product Development close to a year ago. Since that time, we have had successes and we have had failures. Due to the teamwork of the Executive, Network, Engineer, Logistics, Support, and Sales departments, we had success with the LG Spirit, LG 770, Moto E, Galaxy S5, and iphone. Coming out of the Moto E launch, we were on a roll. That s when we started developing the Tribute 2 for our lineup. The Tribute 2 turned out to be the single greatest learning experience of my career. We had a vendor come forward with the device available right away. The first step of sim unlocking the device turned out to be pretty simple. Once we had it unlocked, development flowed pretty smoothly. With each minor change, we inched closer to a final product. There were some issues with the startup screen locking and the very annoying Hands-Free Activation screen. Those were solved through some late night troubleshooting in Vegas. After getting all those changes built in, we had a solid, functional, LTE device that required no CT Lite tool and seemed to be one of the best builds we had put together yet. Next came the ATP. The ATP or Acceptance Test Plan is a series of approximately 800 tests that are performed on each and every device that we bring into the lineup. This test plan is designed to cover the everyday use of a device. When new issues arise, we add them to the ATP to prevent them slipping through again. We run through at least 2 ATPs during the complete device life cycle. The LG Tribute revealed itself as a trouble child during the 2nd round of testing. For each device, we also send them to each market for testing. While travelling between markets, the Tribute managed to disable LTE all on its own. This was a baffling issue that made no sense. Thankfully, we had developed two different versions of the software. Only the early version showed this issue, so we switched gears to only produce the later version. We then continued testing and retesting the Tribute. It made its way into the hands of network, sales, and engineering staff. All signs were looking good. We had performed at least 5 ATPs on the various builds and everything was solid. We worked with our vendor to finalize all configuration and get the devices into stores. Once devices hit logistics, we had a few snags, but nothing too serious. It wasn t until the Tribute landed in El Centro that we knew we had a major issue on our hands. From the network side, there are always reports of missing calls, this is the nature of our business. After the launch of the Tribute, that number spiked. All departments banded together to figure out what was causing this spike in complaints. After analyzing the reports, it was apparent the issue only existed on the LG Tribute and was noticeably worse in the Yuma and El Centro markets. That was when I hopped on a plane for El Centro. Once I had listened to reports from the reps in Calexico, I started testing the Tribute. After calling the device 30 times and receiving every one, I started to doubt the seriousness of the problem. We had tested the device so thoroughly, how could it be possible that it was missing so many calls? It was call 31 that finally didn t come through. There it was. My heart sank as I realized the gravity of the situation. We had a device in stores that was set to cause unprecedented levels of churn. I had already been discussing the issue with the engineer we worked with on development. I knew what the issue was, but all our attempts at a fix eventually failed. We rushed to test every possible solution. The next morning we halted sales of the Tribute while we worked to resolve the issue. Over the next two days, we bricked several devices in our efforts to find something, anything that would resolve this plague of missed calls. We were able to achieve slight improvement, eventually missing just 1 out of 50 calls, but this was still too unreliable and unpredictable to live with. By this time, we had brought in anybody we thought could help with the issue. We worked with the Vendor, Flashtotalk, Ericcsson, and Huawei. Each had suggestions, but none proved fruitful. That is when we pulled the device completely from the shelves. We continued to work in the background over the coming weeks, hoping for a solution we could implement and get the devices rolled back to the field. None came. The issue, it turns out, stemmed from the device s ability to use LTE and CDMA on a single radio. LTE and CDMA are completely different networks with different requirements. Unlike GSM, it is not possible for a CDMA device to connect to both at the same time. This is why originally, most CDMA manufacturers had two radios. One that controlled CDMA and one for LTE. Recently, OEMs have been moving away from this practice, in favor of a cheaper solution called SRLTE. For a SRLTE device to function at 100%, there are two methods that can be used. You can allow the device to manage the transition or put in place a network mechanism called Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) that Sprint uses. While Sprint has the equipment in their switch to handle CSFB, we do not. The Tribute was designed from the ground up for Sprint s CSFB network. No matter how many ways we attempted to pull and replace these parameters, it still defaulted to that when calls started rolling in. Not only did this mean we couldn t sell the Tribute, it also ruled out the other devices we had lined up, as all of them had the same radio and exhibited the same exact problem. This included the LG Stylo and LG Volt 2. We were forced to wipe the roadmap clean and start over. These are the some of the events that led up to our current problem with inventory levels. All of us have a stake in Cleartalk and we have to work together and show accountability to each other if we re going to succeed in such a competitive environment. Part of my responsibility as Product Development Engineer is to own my shortcomings and give reason for them. I told you the full story today because you have the right to know. There s no excuse for a device with those type of issues to make it into your stores or into the hands of your customers. You and your customers deserve better than that. I believe that these explanations aren t owed only to the corporate or management team, but to each and every one of you on the sales floor. To that end, we in Product Development have redoubled our efforts to ensure that this never happens again. Coming from sales, I know that in order for you to succeed you must have confidence in what you re selling. The Tribute will hang as a constant reminder of what s at stake if we fail. It is too easy to fall into complacency with the process when we believe the target is within reach. We remain committed to bringing you solid, functional devices that meet the wants and needs of your customers. That s why I say that we will absolutely learn the lessons of the Tribute on our way to success.

Team Member spotlight Kellison Karlin What is your current position at ClearTalk and where do you live? I am a store manager here in Amarillo. What is your favorite quote or saying? "NO worries!

2 Team Member spotlight Kellison Karlin What is your current position at ClearTalk and where do you live? I am a store manager here in Amarillo. What is your favorite quote or saying? "NO worries!" It's short and sweet and to the point. What is your go-to meal when you are celebrating? Most definitely a home-cooked hamburger steak, brown gravy, REAL homemade mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and rolls! :D What kind of phone do you currently have? I have a Galaxy S6 Active. What is something you absolutely cannot live without? My FAMILY! Oh, and technology...hahaha. What is the best concert you have ever attended? Alice Cooper...twice! He puts on an amazing show! What is your dream vacation? To see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland! What s on your playlist that would surprise us? Kevin Gates - "Two Phones," and Fitz and the Tantrums - "Hand Clap" (my daughter's favorite)

3 SWAG club Congratulations to our april inductees Jackie Ramirez Wireless Consultant SWAG Member - 4 mo. surpassing what achieves greatness The SWAG Club is an exclusive club reserved for those in sales positions who consistently meet or exceed 46 activations and $400 in accessory sales per month. Check out all the cool SWAG you ll receive for going above and beyond! First Month $25 Gift Card and Certificate 3 Months SWAG Club Shirt and $25 Gift Card 6 Months SWAG Club Back Pack and $25 Gift Card 9 Months SWAG Club Jacket, Business Cards, $25 Gift Card 12 Months SWAG Android and Custom Case

4 Tips & Tricks Ultimate the fo u rt h of july menu 4 Appetizers SHRIMP SKEWERS WITH DILL AND FETA SAUCE While you ve got the grill going for burgers and hot dogs, make some room for these tasty shrimp skewers. The best thing is it doesn t call for many ingredients just feta and dill (plus a dash of salt, pepper, and a coating of olive oil). MINI RANCH BURGERS Serve up a crowd-pleasing favorite as an appetizer to get the party started. Kids and adults alike will love these sliders dressed up with ranch dressing (and who doesn t love ranch?) The small bites aren t that messy to eat while mingling and won t leave guests feeling too full to enjoy the main course. GAZPACHO SALSA A refreshing and low-fat alternative to the usual creamy dips always at summer barbecues, this brightly colored salsa is great with crostini or endives (or by the spoonful). Entrees GRILLED SALMON WITH CUCUMBER AND CELERY SALAD Don t feel confined to burgers and hot dogs at your barbecue. If your guests prefer a lighter main course, dish up this deliciously flaky salmon. The cucumber side salad is the perfect cool accompaniment to the freshly grilled fish. GRILLED PIZZAS WITH RICOTTA, SUMMER SQUASH, AND SCALLIONS Pizza tastes even better when grilled. This vegetarian-friendly dish takes advantage of fresh summer produce you can even include tomatoes, too. And because it s easy to assemble and doesn t take long to cook, you won t have too much trouble making a couple of batches to feed the crowd. GRILLED BUTTERMILK CHICKEN As fun as it is to experiment with new dishes, sometimes it s best to stick with a foolproof classic recipe like this easy chicken recipe for the centerpiece. For maximum flavor and to keep the meat from drying out, marinate the chicken pieces in buttermilk mixture overnight. Sides MARINATED WATERMELON AND TOMATO SALAD Two in-season favorites are combined to make one genius salad. The watermelon adds a sweetness, while the onion and basil gives the dish an herbal tang. This refreshing side dish works with a variety of mains, like grilled sausages, chicken, and even burgers. PARSLEYED CORN ON THE COB No barbecue or 4th of July dinner is complete without corn on the cob. This recipe calls for boiling the corn, but if the grill is fired up, you can also try throwing it on there instead. The chopped parsley gives the simple side even more flavor. CREAMY POTATO SALAD WITH BACON Bacon adds a delicious crunch to this classic potato salad recipe. The mayonnaise, sour cream, and vinegar dressing lends the salad some tartness and keeps it from becoming too creamy and heavy. Sweets BLUEBERRY TART It doesn t get easier than this. By using frozen puff pastry, you can bake and assemble this delicious tart in under an hour. Guests will like that this tart isn t too decadent with the cream cheese-and-lemon filling and fresh blueberries on top. ICE CREAM CAKE Yes, it s possible to make your own ice cream cake without too much fuss. All you need is whipped cream, 10 ice cream sandwiches, and 2 pints of ice cream. You can even personalize the dessert with your favorite flavors. BERRY SHORTCAKES Set up a dessert station where guests can have fun assembling their own shortcakes. All you ll need to do is put the berries and cream in serving dishes and make the biscuits ahead of time. It s also an effortless way to get people socializing, too.

Hot item FRU LG VS880 LTE CSIM Droid Vista key features Talk Time: Up to 15.1 Hours Standby: 514 Hours 3200 mah Lilon Removable Battery 8GB internal storage 1.

5 Hot item FRU LG VS880 LTE CSIM Droid Vista key features Talk Time: Up to 15.1 Hours Standby: 514 Hours 3200 mah Lilon Removable Battery 8GB internal storage 1.5 GB Ram Memory Card Slot up to 64GB Micro SD card 720x1280 HD 5.7" Diagonal Display Android Marketplace/ Browser Bluetooth, WiFi, USB 1.3 MP camera, front facing 1080p HD video, still capture 1.2GHz Quad-Core Processor supports POP, IMAP, Exchange

6 Fun in the field

FBA STRATEGIES: HOW TO START A HIGHLY PROFITABLE FBA BUSINESS WITHOUT BIG INVESTMENTS

FBA STRATEGIES: HOW TO START A HIGHLY PROFITABLE FBA BUSINESS WITHOUT BIG INVESTMENTS Hi, guys. Welcome back to the Sells Like Hot Cakes video series. In this amazing short video, we re going to talk about