innoTel News, Tech and Reviews

November 17, 2025 / By innoTel / Hardware • Telephone/ 0 Comments

Yealink T7 and T8 Phones: Key Features and Benefits for Business Owners

In anticipation of the release of the Yealink T7 and T8 series, the release of their new flagship phones, we thought we’d give readers an early insight into these new phones, which will become available through innoTel mid- August 2025.

The first thing that strikes us about these phones is their new look. With each new series of IP Phones, Yealink has continued to update its look and feel and has generally been on point. The T4 and T5 series phones were phones that you didn’t mind having on your desk and looking at all day, and the T7 and T8 series phones take that to a new level, with very well-designed, sleek phones that sit well on any office desk.

In the current business landscape, selecting the right technology is crucial for enhancing productivity and streamlining operations. Yealink’s new phones, particularly the T7 and T8 series, have emerged as significant contenders in the market, offering advanced features tailored to modern business needs.

These Yealink IP Phones stand out with a user-friendly interface, making them excellent options for business owners seeking to upgrade their communication tools.

In this post, we will explore the unique attributes of the Yealink T73, T74, and T77 from the T7 series, alongside the Yealink T85, T87, and T88 from the T8 series, to help you make an informed choice. Stay tuned as we break down the key features and benefits that these devices bring to the table, ensuring you select the perfect fit for your business. For more details on Yealink’s offerings, visit here.

Introduction to Yealink’s New Phones

Yealink’s new phones are redefining business communication. The T7 and T8 series are equipped with advanced features and design elements that cater to the needs of modern businesses. These series are designed to enhance audio clarity, improve user interaction, and provide robust connectivity solutions. Understanding the specifics of each series can help businesses make informed decisions that align with their communication needs.

Spotlight on Yealink T7 Series

The Yealink T7 series, comprising the T73, T74, and T77 models, is crafted for businesses that value audio quality and an intuitive user interface. These phones offer high-definition voice capabilities and a streamlined design that ensures ease of use. The series targets businesses seeking to enhance their communication infrastructure with reliable and user-friendly devices.

The T73 model is known for its basic yet efficient features, suitable for small businesses. The T74 introduces more advanced functionalities, making it a perfect middle ground. On the other hand, the T77 is designed for larger enterprises needing more robust features, including enhanced security and connectivity options.

For an in-depth look at the T7 series capabilities, visit Yealink T7 Series Comparison.

Overview of Yealink T8 Series

The Yealink T8 series, including the T85, T87, and T88 models, focuses on cutting-edge technology and superior connectivity. Designed for businesses ready to embrace the latest communication innovations, these models offer advanced display technology and seamless connectivity, ensuring that users remain connected efficiently.

The T85 model provides a balance of features suited for mid-size businesses, while the T87 offers more advanced capabilities, making it ideal for larger operations. The T88 is the flagship model, featuring the latest in display and connectivity technology, perfect for tech-savvy enterprises.

For more detailed insights into the T8 series, explore Yealink T8 Series Features.

Advanced Features of Yealink T7

The Yealink T7 series stands out with its advanced features that cater to businesses looking for high-performance communication tools.

Enhanced Audio Capabilities

The T7 series is designed with superior audio technology, ensuring that calls are crystal clear. Each model in the series incorporates Yealink’s Acoustic Shield and AI Noise Cancellation Technologies, which minimises background noise and enhances voice clarity. This is particularly beneficial for businesses that operate in environments with high ambient noise levels.

High-definition voice quality ensures every call is clear and professional.
Noise reduction features enhance communication by minimising distractions.
Wideband codecs support ensures compatibility with modern VoIP systems.
3-watt speaker, an upgrade over the 2-watt speakers used on previous series of Yealink phones, leading to clearer and louder calls.

The focus on audio quality in the T7 series makes it an excellent choice for businesses prioritising clear and effective communication. For more details, check out Yealink’s audio innovations.

User-Friendly Interface and Design

The T7 series phones are noted for their user-friendly design, which includes an intuitive interface that simplifies operations.

Ultra-thin, sleek design that fits that feels at home in modern office spaces.
The screen navigation is straightforward, making it easy for users to access various functions.
Accessibility functions such as being able to switch between light and dark interface modes.
The ergonomic design ensures comfort during long hours of use.
Simple setup and configuration minimise deployment time and costs.

This design focus helps businesses improve user experience and productivity by reducing the learning curve associated with new devices. For a deeper dive into user experience features, visit Yealink’s product features.

Key Benefits of Yealink T8

The T8 series is tailored for businesses looking for the latest in communication technology.

Cutting-Edge Display Technology

The Yealink T8 series boasts advanced display technology that enhances user interaction.

High-resolution screens offer vibrant visuals, making it easier to read information.
Touchscreen capabilities provide a modern, smartphone-like experience.
Customizable layouts allow personalisation to suit individual user preferences.

These features are particularly useful for businesses that rely heavily on visual data in their communication processes.

Superior Connectivity Options

Connectivity is a significant advantage of the T8 series, providing various options that ensure seamless communication.

Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities support flexible installation and connectivity.
Gigabit Ethernet ports provide high-speed internet access for consistent performance.
Support for multiple VoIP accounts allows for versatile communication management.

These options make the T8 series suitable for businesses of all sizes, ensuring reliable and fast connections.

Visual Comparisons and Decision-Making

Visual comparisons can be instrumental when deciding between different models within the Yealink T7 and T8 series.

Comparing T73, T74, and T77 Models

Model	Key Features	Best For
T73	Basic features, affordable	Small businesses
T74	Mid-range features, advanced audio	Mid-size businesses
T77	Enhanced security, robust connectivity	Large enterprises

Yealink T7

This table outlines the main features of each model, aiding in identifying the right fit based on business needs.

Evaluating T85, T87, and T88 Models

Model	Key Features	Best For
T85	Balanced features, advanced display	Mid-size businesses
T87	Enhanced connectivity, superior audio	Large businesses
T88	Flagship model, cutting-edge technology	Tech-savvy enterprises

Using these visual aids can significantly simplify the decision-making process, ensuring that businesses choose a model that aligns with their specific needs.

Improved Networking Features

These new IP Phones from Yealink also include updated networking features such as Wi-Fi 6 for improved internet connectivity, leading to clearer and more stable calling and Bluetooth 5.0 for the connectivity of devices such as headsets, smartphones and computers.

The team at ALSO Group have put together an awesome overview video on the Yealink T7 and T8 series phones that we think is worth a look.

Final Thoughts for Business Owners

Choosing the right Yealink phone model depends on understanding the unique needs of your business and how each model’s features can meet those needs.

Making the Right Choice

Assess business communication needs and match them with the features available in the T7 and T8 series.
Consider budget constraints to ensure that the selected model offers the best value.
Evaluate network infrastructure to ensure compatibility with the chosen model.

These steps can guide business owners in making a decision that supports their operational goals effectively.

Long-Term Benefits for Businesses

Investing in Yealink’s T7 or T8 series offers long-term benefits:

Enhanced communication capabilities lead to improved business efficiency.
User-friendly designs reduce training time and increase productivity.
Advanced features future-proof business communication infrastructure.

These benefits make Yealink an appealing choice for businesses looking to enhance their communication systems.

For more information or pricing on these new Yealink IP phone handsets, get in touch with innoTel.

November 10, 2025 / By Jane Webb / Cloud/ 0 Comments

Essential Business Data Protection Strategies

Safeguarding Your Business: Essential Data Protection Strategies for Small Enterprises

In today’s digital-first world, data protection in your business is not just a technical concern—it’s a strategic imperative. For small businesses, the consequences of data loss can be catastrophic.

Imagine losing all your customer records, financial data, or operational documents due to a server crash or a cyberattack. The fallout could range from operational disruption to reputational damage, or even permanent closure.

Fortunately, there are practical and effective data protection strategies that small businesses can implement to mitigate these risks. From encryption and backups to recovery planning and employee training, here’s how to build a resilient data protection framework.

1. Start with Data Encryption

Data encryption is a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity. It ensures that sensitive information—such as customer details, financial records, and proprietary documents—remains confidential, even if intercepted. Encryption scrambles data into unreadable formats that can only be accessed with the correct decryption key.

Whether you’re storing data locally or in the cloud, encryption should be applied both in transit and at rest. Many cloud providers offer built-in encryption features, making it easier for small businesses to adopt without needing extensive technical expertise.

2. Leverage Secure Cloud Storage

Cloud storage solutions offer more than just convenience—they provide robust security features that can enhance your data protection efforts. Reputable providers conduct regular security audits, maintain redundant systems, and offer scalable storage options.

For example, a small business using cloud storage for its customer database benefits from secure access controls, automated backups, and geographic redundancy. This means that even if one server fails, your data remains accessible and intact elsewhere.

3. Implement a Comprehensive Backup Strategy

Regular data backups are essential to ensure business continuity. A good rule of thumb is the 3-2-1 backup strategy: keep three copies of your data, store two on different media (e.g., local and cloud), and one offsite.

Automated backup tools can help ensure that critical data is saved consistently without manual intervention. It’s also important to test your backups regularly to confirm they’re working and can be restored quickly in an emergency.

Local backups using external hard drives or NAS devices offer quick recovery, while cloud backups protect against physical disasters like fire or flood.

4. Establish Clear Data Recovery Policies

Having backups is only half the battle—knowing how to restore them efficiently is equally important. A well-defined data recovery policy outlines the steps to take in the event of data loss, including who is responsible, what systems are affected, and how long recovery should take.

Disaster recovery planning should also include scenarios like ransomware attacks, accidental deletions, and hardware failures. The goal is to minimise downtime and restore operations with minimal disruption.

5. Enforce Strong Password Policies

Weak passwords are one of the most common entry points for cybercriminals. Enforce policies that require complex passwords, regular updates, and the use of password managers to store credentials securely.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to verify their identity through a second method, such as a mobile app or SMS code.

6. Conduct Regular Security Audits

Security audits help identify vulnerabilities in your systems and processes. These audits can be internal or conducted by third-party experts and should cover areas like access controls, software updates, and network configurations.

Addressing weaknesses proactively can prevent breaches before they occur. Make audits a regular part of your IT maintenance schedule.

7. Promote a Culture of Security Awareness

Technology alone isn’t enough—your employees play a critical role in data protection. Regular training sessions can help staff recognise phishing attempts, avoid risky behaviours, and understand their responsibilities in safeguarding company data.

Encourage a culture where security is everyone’s responsibility. Simple practices like locking screens, reporting suspicious emails, and following data handling protocols can make a big difference.

8. Plan for the Worst: Cyberattack Response

Despite best efforts, cyberattacks can still happen. That’s why it’s vital to have a response plan in place. This should include:

Immediate containment steps (e.g., disconnecting affected systems)
Notification procedures for stakeholders and customers
Legal and regulatory reporting requirements
Post-incident analysis to prevent future breaches

Having a clear plan reduces panic and ensures a coordinated response that protects your business and its reputation.

Final Thoughts

Data protection isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing commitment. By implementing these strategies, small businesses can build resilience against threats and ensure operational continuity even in the face of adversity.

If you’re unsure where to start, the team at innoTel can help. We offer tailored solutions and expert advice to strengthen your data protection framework. Call us on 1300 736 048 for a no-obligation discussion and take the first step toward securing your business.

November 3, 2025 / By Jane Webb / Cloud/ 0 Comments

Top Hospitality Technology Tools

Transform Your Business Management: How Hospitality Technology Can Boost Your Success

In today’s fast-paced hospitality industry, embracing the right technology is key to staying ahead of the competition.

But, how do hospitality owners keep up when they’re busy working in their business, rather than on their business?

As small business owners and entrepreneurs strive to deliver exceptional guest experiences, innovative tools for hospitality management like Tanda and Deputy offer efficient solutions for scheduling and workforce management, while restaurant management software such as Cook the Books and SevenRooms is revolutionising how businesses handle everything from financial records to customer reservations.

The integration of hospitality technology into everyday business operations is increasingly essential. By exploring the possibilities of restaurant management software and essential tools, businesses can gain a competitive edge. Then, by integrating one or more of these cutting-edge platforms, hospitality professionals can streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and ultimately boost their success.

Tanda is a powerful workforce management tool that enables businesses to optimise employee scheduling and labour costs by offering features like time tracking and award interpretation, ensuring compliance and efficiency, and overall better payroll management.

The platform allows managers to easily create and adjust schedules in real-time, catering to fluctuating business needs. This adaptability not only reduces overstaffing but also mitigates unforeseen labour shortages.

Additionally, Tanda can be integrated into Point of Sales systems to retrieve key information to help plan future rostering, manage leave requests and look at metrics in real time, such as live wage tracking and wage percentage vs revenue, to name a few.

Deputy focuses on simplifying the scheduling process while ensuring compliance with Australian labour laws. What sets Deputy apart is its user-friendly interface, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. Managers can communicate directly with their teams, ensuring everyone is updated with the latest schedules and changes, whilst providing detailed analytics on workplace performance. This transparency boosts morale and fosters a collaborative environment.

AI forecasting allows Deputy to help you craft your rosters to suit your business.

Both Tanda and Deputy integrate into accounting platforms like Xero and MYOB, making the transition from timesheets to payroll as simple as a few clicks!

SevenRooms is a robust platform designed to elevate the guest experience through personalised service. By creating detailed guest profiles, businesses can tailor their interactions and offerings to meet individual preferences. With capabilities for managing reservations, table assignments, guest feedback and personalising experiences, SevenRooms ensures a seamless dining experience.

Integration with Google, Facebook, and Instagram to extend your reservation reach, while integration with Point of Sale systems makes managing table reservations easy.

Cook the Books offers a comprehensive solution for managing a restaurant’s finances. This software provides tools for tracking expenses, revenue and overall financial health, giving owners a clear picture of their business’s economic standing. The platform automates many accounting tasks, reducing the risk of manual errors and offers real-time financial reporting, helping to simplify tax time. By integrating with other systems, it streamlines the financial management process, saving time and resources.

Maybe you’re using some of these tools already, or are considering switching platforms? Making sure your hospitality tools integrate to give you much-needed insights, but also to simply process across your business.

innoTel has experience with not only implementing these technologies but also integrations and automation within the hospitality industry, and we’d be happy to help you learn more. Give the team a call on 1300 736 048 to discuss how we might be able to help your hospitality business get ahead.

October 27, 2025 / By innoTel / Broadband • National Broadband Network/ 0 Comments

What nbn’s new FTTP NTD and 2000Mbps (2Gbps) plans mean for small businesses

What nbn’s new FTTP NTD and 2,000 Mbps (2Gbps) plans mean for small businesses

nbn has announced two big changes are coming to Australia’s fixed-line broadband:

The first is the introduction of a new “Hyperfast” NBN 2000 speed tier (2,000 Mbps), and the second is nbn’s next-generation Network Termination Devices (NTDs) for its Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) footprint to support this new “Hyperfast” speed tier (2,000 Mbps).

For small businesses — many of which are increasingly digital-first — these changes can deliver huge benefits, but they also bring a few practical considerations. Here’s a plain-English breakdown of what to expect and how to prepare.

New 1-port and 4-port nbn NTDs (nbn boxes)

What’s changing: the NTD and the 2Gbps tier

An NTD (also called the ‘nbn box’) is the piece of kit on the wall that terminates the fibre coming into your premise and hands off an Ethernet connection to your router — essentially the modem for FTTP premises. nbn is introducing a next-generation FTTP NTD designed to handle multi-gigabit speeds and simpler device setup. There are two new FTTP NTD or nbn box models with a smaller, higher-capacity single-port unit, which is expected to be the default option and a multi-port model, similar to the nbn boxes installed in premises as of August 2025; however, these new NTDs are capable of supporting 2.5 Gbps and higher Ethernet port speeds.

The accompanying wholesale product is the nbn “Hyperfast” / NBN 2000 tier — retail plans that can deliver up to 2,000 Mbps download (with upload variants dependent on technology). The announced commercial rollouts and wider speed upgrades are scheduled to take effect from mid-September 2025. Retail ISPs, like innoTel, will package and price these for business and consumer customers.

Why this matters to small businesses

Capacity for growth and cloud services. 2 Gbps gives a small office the headroom to run multiple cloud backups, large file transfers, simultaneous video conferences, VoIP systems, and customer-facing services without contention. If your business uses cloud-first apps (file servers, backup, CRMs, hosted phones), the extra throughput reduces delays and improves reliability during peak times.
Better upload performance (important for backups and server hosting). While download headlines grab attention, many businesses will see improvements to upload performance as the product variants include higher upload profiles on FTTP — vital for offsite backups, video uploads and running any outgoing services. nbnco.com.au
Future-proofing and multi-site needs. If you run branches or heavy-use office spaces (POS systems, guest Wi-Fi, CCTV cloud upload), moving to a multi-gigabit capable kit today reduces the need for costly upgrades later.
Improved device compatibility and management. The new NTDs are being positioned to simplify device setup and support modern router features — this can make IT management easier for small businesses without dedicated networking teams.

Practical considerations before you switch

Check your connection type. NBN 2000 and the new NTDs are available for FTTP (and some HFC) premises. If you’re on FTTN/FTTC/Fixed Wireless, you may not be eligible unless you move to FTTP. Confirm your technology with your ISP or nbn.
You’ll probably need new hardware. A standard Gigabit-Ethernet router or older single-gig ports will bottleneck a 2Gbps service. To make the most of the speed you’ll need:
- a router and switch with multi-gigabit ports (2.5G/5G/10G where required), and
- Wi-Fi 6 (or newer) access points if you want high wireless throughput for laptops and devices. Many businesses will also need a capable firewall appliance to manage security at higher throughput.
Cabling and internal network checks. Internal Cat5e cabling may limit gigabit performance; upgrading to Cat6 (or Cat6A for 10G), where possible may be necessary for multi-gig speeds.
Cost vs benefit. While the Hyperfast plans haven’t been released by providers yet, we expect them to be exceptionally good value for a 2Gbps service — good value for certain businesses, but it may be overkill for operations that don’t move large volumes of data. Many businesses will find that NBN 500–750 plans provide excellent value for everyday needs.

Security and backup — don’t neglect them

Higher bandwidth is not the same as higher resilience. Make sure you:

Implement firewall and endpoint protections (multi-layer security scales with your speed), and
Consider a secondary internet link for failover if uptime is critical (4G/5G or a second ISP).

How to decide if you should upgrade

Upgrade if your business regularly transfers large media files, hosts services, runs heavy cloud backups during business hours, or supports many simultaneous users on resource-heavy apps.
Hold off if your needs are mainly email, light web browsing, and cloud apps with modest sync periods — a cheaper mid-tier upgrade may be more cost-effective.

Next steps (quick checklist)

Check your nbn technology (FTTP/HFC?) with nbn.
Check to make sure your router can handle the new speed tier (hint: most basic routers only have 1G Ethernet ports!).
Get quotes for any required hardware upgrades.
Order an upgrade or new service with innoTel.

Don’t have the time? innoTel can run a short, no-obligation network audit to check whether your premises are eligible for NBN 2000, highlight hardware bottlenecks, and cost out a staged upgrade plan that balances speed and budget. Contact us to book a free consultation and make sure your business is ready for multi-gigabit internet.

Image credit: NBN Co Ltd

‘nbn’ is a registered trade marks of NBN Co Ltd

October 20, 2025 / By innoTel / AI • ChatGPT/ 0 Comments

GPT-4 vs GPT-5: what’s changed and what it means for your business

So GPT-5 was released a few days ago – what does that mean for the way I use ChatGPT? Most people who use ChatGPT use the default model, but with different models, come differences in GPT’s ability. Hold on to your hats while we deep dive into the evolution from GPT-4 to GPT-5, what changed, what improved, where GPT-4 still has the upper hand, and what GPT-5 does better in practical use.

We’ll break it into sections so it’s easier to follow:

The Big Picture: GPT-4 vs GPT-5

The GPT-4 → GPT-5 jump isn’t just about “more parameters” or “bigger data” (though that’s part of it). It’s about capabilities, reliability, and adaptability. GPT-5 is designed to be:

More accurate in following complex instructions.
More contextual with longer memory and better at holding a consistent thread.
More versatile in handling multi-step reasoning, planning, and decision-making.
Better at “thinking ahead” — predicting what you’ll need next in a conversation.
More natural in tone, adapting writing style to your audience without losing clarity.

At its core, GPT-5 feels less like a “Q&A machine” and more like a proactive collaborator.

Key Differences

Here’s the high-level view of what’s changed:

Area	GPT-4	GPT-5
Context Length	Good, but limited in long sessions — sometimes forgets earlier details.	Much longer context window, remembers more and keeps it coherent across extended chats.
Instruction Following	Solid, but sometimes misses nuance or over-simplifies.	More precise, catches subtle requirements in complex, layered instructions.
Reasoning	Strong, but struggles with highly multi-step logical chains.	Better at step-by-step reasoning, planning, and working with dependencies.
Creativity	Strong at short-form creative tasks.	Better at long-form creative projects that need consistency over many pages.
Tone Adaptation	Can adapt, but sometimes too generic or overly formal.	Much finer tone control — from casual banter to academic writing without breaking flow.
Error Handling	Tends to “confidently guess” when uncertain.	More likely to acknowledge uncertainty and suggest verification steps.
Tool Use	Basic API and plugin interaction.	More seamless multi-tool reasoning — can plan, reason, and integrate multiple tools in one coherent output.

Where GPT-4 Still Wins

Surprisingly, GPT-4 still has some edges in certain situations:

Simplicity in short tasks
GPT-4 is sometimes quicker for small, one-shot questions — it doesn’t “overthink” when you just need a quick, basic answer.

Example:

- GPT-4: “What’s 37 × 42?” → immediate, short answer.
- GPT-5: Will still answer instantly but might also give context (“That’s 1,554; for reference, that’s roughly the number of minutes in 25 hours”). Helpful, but more verbose if you didn’t ask for it.
Lower verbosity by default
GPT-4 tends to be concise unless prompted otherwise. GPT-5 can be more elaborate by default, which is great for depth but sometimes overkill for quick queries.
Predictability for old prompts
If you have prompts optimised for GPT-4’s quirks, they might not behave identically in GPT-5 — GPT-5 interprets instructions more literally, which can subtly change outputs.

Where GPT-5 Shines

Here’s where GPT-5 is a clear upgrade, with examples.

a) Complex, Multi-Step Reasoning

GPT-5 handles long logical chains much better than GPT-4.

Example Task:
“Create a three-month content calendar for a small cybersecurity business in Australia, targeting small business owners, incorporating seasonal events, major news cycles, and SEO-optimised blog topics. Then write the first two blog posts in Australian English, making sure the tone is approachable but authoritative.”

GPT-4’s Result:
Might produce a decent calendar but miss subtle seasonality (e.g., tax-time cyber scams in June for Australia). The blogs may be slightly generic without deep keyword alignment.
GPT-5’s Result:
Will integrate Australian financial year timing, recent cyber trends, SEO research logic, and match tone exactly — producing not just a calendar, but content that reads like they came from a niche expert.

b) Long-Form Memory and Consistency

GPT-5 keeps track of more context across a conversation or document.

Example:
In a 10,000-word policy draft, GPT-4 might accidentally contradict an earlier section or change terminology halfway through. GPT-5 will keep definitions, tone, and terminology aligned throughout — especially important for legal, technical, or creative projects.

c) Nuanced Tone Control

GPT-5 is better at fine-grained adjustments to voice and style.

Example:
“Rewrite this technical security policy so it sounds like a friendly, plain-English guide for small business owners, but without removing legal accuracy.”

GPT-4: Might oversimplify and drop important compliance language.
GPT-5: Keeps the legal precision intact but frames it with analogies and approachable phrasing.

d) Proactive Assistance

GPT-5 often anticipates what you might need next.

Example:
If you ask GPT-5 to outline a cybersecurity awareness workshop, it might also suggest a slide deck structure, a handout template, and potential quiz questions — without you asking. GPT-4 would stick more strictly to the outline request.

e) Handling Ambiguity

GPT-5 is better at clarifying unclear requests before answering.

Example:
If you say:
“Write a security plan for an office.”

GPT-4: Will pick one interpretation and run with it — maybe physical security or maybe IT security — without asking.
GPT-5: Will ask: “Do you mean physical premises security, IT/cybersecurity, or a combined plan?” and proceed accordingly.

f) Better at Cross-Domain Integration

GPT-5 is much stronger when you ask it to combine knowledge from different fields.

Example:
“Design a marketing campaign for a cybersecurity company that uses behavioural psychology principles to encourage password hygiene.”

GPT-4: Knows both marketing and psychology basics, but the integration may feel surface-level.
GPT-5: Will integrate psychology frameworks (e.g., habit formation, loss aversion) into specific marketing tactics with measurable outcomes.

Technical Under-the-Hood Improvements

While OpenAI hasn’t disclosed every technical detail, here’s what we can reasonably infer:

Larger and more diverse training corpus — covering newer events, cultural references, and updated technical standards.
Improved fine-tuning — GPT-5’s responses are more aligned with real-world business and professional workflows.
Better multi-modal reasoning — GPT-5 integrates text, image, and other data types more seamlessly (where supported).
More robust factual checking — it’s still not perfect, but GPT-5 reduces “hallucinations” in specialised domains.
Extended context window — allowing it to keep track of more information at once, making it useful for book-length or project-length work.

Practical Use-Case Examples

Here are some real-world scenarios where GPT-5 would save more time and effort than GPT-4.

Scenario 1: Legal & Policy Drafting

You need an IT usage policy that complies with Australian law, aligns with ISO 27001, and is readable by staff.

GPT-4: Will create a good draft but might need manual fixes to compliance details and tone.
GPT-5: Produces a compliant draft in the correct jurisdiction, cross-references ISO standards, and formats it for distribution.

Scenario 2: Strategic Business Planning

You’re building a 12-month digital marketing plan for a new Software as a Service (SaaS )product.

GPT-4: Will give you ideas for each quarter but may not balance budget, seasonal demand, and resource constraints effectively.
GPT-5: Produces a month-by-month plan factoring in resource allocation, competitor activity, seasonal demand, and your internal milestones.

Scenario 3: Education & Training

You want a full training package for “Security Awareness” tailored for a remote Australian workforce.

GPT-4: Creates a good outline and some training slides.
GPT-5: Delivers a detailed program with slides, handouts, interactive quiz scripts, and even guidance on delivering it via Zoom — plus follow-up reinforcement activities.

Scenario 4: Customer Communication

You run a tech support service and want a chatbot that handles complex customer issues while maintaining brand voice.

GPT-4: Will handle FAQs well but sometimes slip into generic language.
GPT-5: Maintains your brand tone consistently, even in tricky situations, and can handle escalation protocols without breaking tone.

Summary Table: Use which GPT model for what?

If you need…	GPT-4	GPT-5
Quick, simple Q&A	✅	✅
Short, concise answers	✅	⚠ (Can be verbose)
Long, complex projects	⚠	✅
Multi-step reasoning	⚠	✅
Highly nuanced tone matching	⚠	✅
Anticipatory, proactive help	⚠	✅
Lower cost for simple tasks	✅	⚠

Final Takeaway

GPT-4 is like a reliable, experienced assistant — great for straightforward tasks and quick answers, with a predictable style.
GPT-5 is more like a senior strategist — it can manage bigger projects, juggle more complexity, adapt tone precisely, and think a few steps ahead.

In a nutshell:
If your work involves short, one-off queries or you’ve already optimised prompts for GPT-4, it’s still an excellent tool. When given a complex, multi-part request GPT-4 delivered a solid, concise plan — but it was generic, and used basic measurement methods.

However, if you require in-depth reasoning, multi-stage planning, tone-perfect communication, or seamless project continuity, GPT-5 is a clear upgrade. It produces richer, more localised, and more engaging results, references (where required), gamified learning, and multi-layered progress tracking, all while maintaining a friendly yet professional tone.

We at innoTel look forward to getting to use GPT-5 as we help customers automate parts of their business. Want to find out how GPT models can help your business? Get in touch and have a chat with the team at innoTel.

October 13, 2025 / By Jane Webb / Cyber Security/ 0 Comments

Common Cyber Threats Faced by Small Businesses

In today’s digital age, the importance of small business cybersecurity cannot be overstated. Small businesses often encounter a range of cyber threats and find the world of cybersecurity boring, but by recognising common threats and understanding their impact, business owners and their teams can better prepare and respond.

Phishing is one of the most common attacks, where attackers deceive employees into sharing sensitive information via fake emails.

Another common threat is ransomware, where malicious software encrypts business data, demanding payment for its release. Viruses and malware also pose a significant risk, potentially corrupting files and disrupting operations.

Additionally, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks can overwhelm a business’s online services, leading to costly downtime.

Understanding these threats enables small business owners to implement effective strategies to mitigate risk. For instance:

· Educating employees about phishing tactics can reduce the likelihood of data breaches.

Programs such as innoTel’s Security Awareness Training is a great way to bring employees up to speed on what to look out for and how to be cyber security-aware, but also keeps this information top of mind with regular training on the different kinds of tactics used and how to prevent them from occurring within your business.

· By keeping software updated, businesses can protect themselves against known vulnerabilities.

Our Managed Service Provider offering includes regular automated software patching to ensure devices within your business are kept up to date, reducing the possibility for out-of-date software to be exploited.

· Implementing strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regularly backing up data are additional measures to improve security.

Often, business owners and employees use the same basic, easy-to-remember password across all services and websites. This puts their business at risk; if one website or password is compromised, they could potentially log in to many websites or services. Using unique passwords means the exposure is limited to one service, not all those who use the same password.

A password manager is a great way of using unique, complex passwords without needing to remember them all. Think of your password manager as a replacement for that little black password book you keep in your drawer, only more secure! You can create unique and difficult passwords for each service you access, and they can also pre-fill login forms on websites, making your logins super-quick!

Recognising and understanding these cyber threats is the first step towards robust protection. By understanding best practices and utilising available tools, small business owners can create a secure digital environment.

We would always recommend that these strategies should be part of an overall security program within your business.

If you would like to learn more or understand how innoTel can assist your small business with an affordable security solution, reach out to the Australian-based team on 1300 736 048.

March 31, 2018 / By innoTel / Business Continuity • Security/ 0 Comments

World Backup Day 2018 – Business Backup Reminder

World Backup Day 2018 is being held on the 31^st of March and is designed to promote awareness around the importance of keeping backups of your business data in the event that something happens and you lose information. Business Backup is simple and affordable, yet so few businesses backup their data!

So we’re doing our bit to promote World Backup Day this year and encourage more businesses to backup!.

What is a backup?

A backup is simply a copy of your important files; backups are (usually) stored in a separate location to your computer (best practise!) so you have a copy in case something happens to your computer.

In short, to anyone who stores data, especially businesses, they ensure they’re backing up all their data.

What happens if we don’t backup?

A lot of people say why? We’ve never lost it before. Is it worth the risk? What’s the cost to your business? Financially? The heartache? How long has it taken you to build your business? How long would it take to rebuild your business if you lost EVERYTHING?!

Consider it like insurance…. Insurance with a car…. You don’t have an accident before taking insurance do you? It isn’t always our fault and we don’t intend on having an accident. We insure the car on the basis that we hope that we will never be in an accident, but should it happen, we are covered.

Think of business backup the same way. Back it up on the basis that you may never lose your data, but if you do, lose any data, if you are hacked, if your hardware fails or a fire destroys your business premise, be confident that you won’t lose your entire business – it is worth the peace of mind.

What do you stand to lose if you don’t backup your data?

Tax information, business documents, financial records, customer orders, spreadsheets, forms, customer information that you have spent years compiling and creating. What happens if you lost all of those in seconds?

It will never happen to me!

Losing all your data, therefore losing all of your business information and starting again happens more commonly than you think!

Source: worldbackupday.com

What’s the benefit of a backup?

If you have a backup, should the unfortunate happen and all your data is lost, you will be able to simply, quickly and easily restore all your data. Back to business as usual in very little time!

The benefits that data backup can have on your company!

Higher Reliability – One of the greatest benefits of regular remote data backup is the reliability it provides. Remote backup can be automated and updated daily basis, or you can set a time. Because the backup is done via the Internet, should you need to, you can recover files quickly.

Easy Set-Up – Set-up isn’t as difficult as you may think. You can set it up and automate it; while resting assured that all your data is protected, backed up and up-to-date.

Increased Security – Having a remote backup means your data is stored in a secure location. You can often encrypt your data so only the person with the ‘key’ can unencrypt your backups giving you confidence knowing that your data cannot be compromised.

Peace of mind – Leave the office at night knowing your data is backed up and in safe hands.

So you’re convinced?

So you’ve made the decision that Business Backups are a great idea. Great! Not only has World Backup Day done its job, but you’ve taken the first step to protecting your business.

So now you need to get started – that’s where innoTel can help.

Business backup is simple

innoTel offers an affordable online business backup service which allows you to store your backups offsite allowing for quick recovery of data for when you need it.

For as little as $7.95 per month, you can start backing up your important data.

It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind – cheaper than an insurance policy (that won’t recover the data you lost if you weren’t already backing up your business data!).

Backup any type of Windows, Mac, Linux computer, laptop and server or a Synology NAS quickly and easily. Set-up only takes a few minutes.

If you currently store your business data in Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive, you can also ensure you have a backup of those documents with the innoTel backup service.

Need to backup Office 365 Mailboxes, Exchange databases, SQL databases? We’ve got that covered too (additional fees apply).

innoTel Online Business Backup is your flexible backup solution for your critical data.

January 16, 2018 / By innoTel / National Broadband Network • NBN Rollout Updates/ 0 Comments

NBN HFC rollout is put on hold

NBN CEO, Bill Morrow, recently announced that it was putting the rollout of its Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) connections on hold while it reviews and fixes issues around the per performance experienced by end users.
This move has come about after NBN’s admitted to making a mistake with the HFC mistake rollout; prioritising activations/connections over ensuring the network was up to the task.

Issues related to speeds, dropouts and migrating customers to the HFC network have been noted as the specific issues to fix.

NBN warned that there could be a delay of up to 9 months while it reviews and remediates the network.
A spokesperson from NBN said, “In order to meet a higher level of service quality, NBN Co will be performing advanced network testing and remediation where needed, including connector replacements, signal amplification calibration, and lead-in work as required”.

This rollout largely impacts the inner city suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney but also affects many premises in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, including small businesses that are in the HFC footprint.

NBN noted that connection requests placed before the middle of December 2017 would progress as per usual, however, will not take new orders after this date until NBN is satisfied the issues are resolved. NBN also noted that an update could be expected around February 2018 and during the process, existing connections will be reviewed and fixed where required.

On a technical note, one of the issues NBN experienced was with the connectors (sometimes called joints or taps) often found located up on the utility poles, which connect customer premises to the network. A majority of the HFC networks in Australia were rolled out in the 90’s and early 2000’s, so some of these connectors could be over 20 years old.

Another issue was with the spectrum band NBN was using to deliver its super-fast broadband service. Some experts and critics suggest that the spectrum being used (15-40MHz) for the NBN network is not designed for super-fast broadband and is more prone to interference versus other spectrum ranges used on the cable network (Telstra Cable and Foxtel Pay TV).

Other technical issues cited were focused around those in the customer premise, particularly the wall plates, which can be moved about and loosened as people connect and disconnect cables a the wall plate, making them unstable.

While it’s frustrating our customers have to wait to be connected to the NBN, we would much rather the network be in tip-top condition and customers receive the service they’re promised, rather than a sub-par service.
We wait for further updates from NBN on the progress of this remediation effort.

Update (March 2018):
In March 2018 nbnCo released details on the resumption of HFC rollout. Several changes were made to timelines, however, some areas existing HFC equipment was deemed inappropriate for use and is now slated to receive Fibre-to-he-Curb (FTTC) technology.

September 19, 2017 / By innoTel / Uncategorised/ 0 Comments

NBN moving to Self Install for HFC connections

From the 1^st of July 2017, nbnCo^tm have made changes to their installation policy for nbn^tm Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) cable connections, notably introducing Self Install for HFC connections.

These changes affect customers who have previously had a Telstra® or Foxtel® cable service installed at their premises, the cable from the utility pole to the wall plate is to known to be in good working condition and is connected to a wall-plate with the customer’s premises (otherwise known as Service Class 23).

If this best describes your premise, then it’s likely this change affects you. But it’s not all bad!

Essentially, if you are one of these customers, nbn^tm’s policy is to now send the nbn^tm equipment, known as a Network Termination Unit (NTU) directly to the customer for Self-Installation, rather than sending out an nbn^tm installer to connect the NTU to the wall plate. These NTU’s are essentially cable modems (pictured right), which are relatively easy to install.

Why did nbnco^tm make the change?

There are plenty of reasons why nbn^tm might have made the change, but we don’t see it as a bad thing for customers; in fact quite the opposite.

While the downside is that you’ll have to install the NTU yourself, which isn’t that difficult, the change should result in customers getting connected to the nbn^tm in a quicker time frame as they don’t need to schedule a site visit from an nbn^tm installer, which can cause delays in areas where there is a limited installer work-force, or there is a back log of installations.

Can I request an nbn^tm installer to come out an install the NTU for me?

Yes, you can. However, there is a fee attached to this. As at July 2017, the fee was $300 which is billed to you through your broadband provider. Needless to say, the Self Install for HFC connections option is a far cheaper than a professional installation

Needless to say, the Self Install for HFC connections option is a far cheaper than a professional installation.

What alternatives do I have?

If you’re located in Melbourne, innoTel can perform the installation for you at no cost, which includes setting up your modem/router and connecting it to your network. If you’re not located in Melbourne, we can arrange for one of our contractors to visit you on-site and install the nbn^tm hardware, which does incur a charge.

If you have an I.T. person that looks after your network, they may be able to assist.

However, it’s really not that difficult to do and it’s as easy as plugging in a broadband modem, which you may have done a few times before. If you’re keen to give it a go, check out our nbn^tm HFC Self Install Guide which walks you through the Self Install for HFC connections process.

Looking for a small business NBN provider? Speak to us today!

nbn^tm, Telstra® or Foxtel® are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

September 5, 2017 / By innoTel / National Broadband Network/ 0 Comments

The NBN installation Part 2: On installation day

Many of our customers ask us what they should expect with the nbn^tm installation process and while it differs for a lot of customers, we’ve come up with a series of posts to give you some insight on the process and what to expect. Check out part 1, or read on for part 2

In our previous post, The NBN installation Part 1: Prior to installation day, we gave you an overview of what will happen leading up to the day of installation. The installation day has arrived, and the following is what you can expect:

The technician will arrive during the timeframe you were provided after submitting your order. As we mentioned in part 1, technicians may not call prior to their arrival or to let you know roughly what time they’ll arrive so expect them to arrive within the time-frame window.

When the technician arrives

As with any contractor that arrives to perform work at your premise, you should request to see their identification. They should also walk you through what may be required for the installation.

At this point, you can discuss with the technician the preferred location of any equipment related to the nbn^tm installation. Keep in mind, if your chosen location results in what is called a ‘Complex Installation’, the technician will provide a quote to you for the additional costs incurred outside of a standard installation.

What will the technician will do on the day?

What the work the technician performs on the day depends on the technology type that nbn^tm have rolled out in your area and ‘Service Class’ of you premises (the current ‘nbn^tm’ status of your premises).

Depending on the ‘Service Class’ of your premises, they may;

install a ‘lead-in’ cable from the communications pit or utility pole outside your premise;
install a Fixed Wireless Antenna to the outside of your premise; or
install a Network Termination Unit (NTU) inside your premises.

During this process, the installer may need to make modifications to your premise, including fixing the required hardware to the interior and exterior.

Most nbn^tm technicians will install your modem/router for you; however some may leave this for you to do yourself. We provide instructions on how to install our modems with all nbn^tm technology types making it simple for you.

In addition, the technician should clean up after installation and they may show you the work that has been completed.

Can I specify the location of my NBN equipment?

When the nbn^tm technician arrives, you should discuss with them the most appropriate location for any nbn^tm equipment, which may include a Network Termination Unit (NTU), Wall Plate or both.

What happens if there is an issue on the day?

If the technician comes across an issue when attempting to connect the nbn^tm to your premise, they may need to request to reschedule a connection date & time. They won’t do this with you directly instead, they’ll notify nbnco^tm of the issue so they can reschedule with us. We will then communicate the new date and time to you.