Eight ways to work flexibly

Flexible working has many benefits: companies can gain a competitive edge through a more efficient workforce while employees can have a healthier work/life balance. One in three even view it as more attractive than a pay rise. Isn't it time your business started thinking flexibly?

1. Do business almost anywhere without spending a fortune with BT Datazone. From £15 a month, you can access the internet and your corporate network when you're out of the office, enabling you to check emails and download files. Datazone uses Wi-Fi when you're near a BT Openzone hotspot - at home or abroad - and when you're not, it switches to GPRS or 3G. You'll receive at least 500 inclusive BT Openzone minutes and a minimum 36Mb 3G/GPRS data transfer.

2. Take your inbox with you with BT Business Email. The service gives you your messages, calendars and crucial business contacts wherever you are - all you need is an internet connection and a PC, PDA or BlackBerry. Automatic real-time synchronisation ensures you always have the latest information, plus you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your data is completely safe and backed up daily. BT Business Email costs just £7.50 a month (ex VAT). If the standard 200MB capacity isn't enough, you can increase it to a massive 1GB.

3. Communicate, collaborate and access resources from anywhere with BT Teleworker. Many businesses have employees working at different sites, as well as working from home. BT Teleworker allows staff access to corporate resources and to work together wherever they are, helping to save time and money, and giving your business greater efficiency and flexibility. You can be online with Teleworker in an average of 28 days, subject to a site survey, and it is compatible with high-speed broadband, ISDN and dial-up connections.

4. Get connected with BT Business Broadband LITE. At the heart of many of BT's flexible working solutions lies BT Business Broadband Lite. With up to 8Mbps download speeds (subject to limited availability), you can support all the applications your business needs, while the option to connect up to 10 PCs wirelessly lets employees work wherever they want, and collaborate effectively, within range of your BT Business Hub. Subscribe before 11 December 2006 and you'll pay from just £19.99 a month for three months via bill credit, with free connection and business-grade security. If you are switching to BT from another provider there are also benefits to be had. For details go to btbroadbandoffice.com/broadband/switch

5. Get a cost-effective second line with BT Business Broadband Voice. You can make and receive phone calls over your BT business broadband connection. Simply plug a traditional telephone into your Broadband router and for £14.99 for the first three months (£19.99 thereafter) you can benefit from a virtual cost-effective second line, unlimited local and national UK calls, capped international rates, plus you'll pay no more than 25p for up to an hour to call UK mobiles. For details see bt.com/business/broadbandvoice

6. Staff who are constantly on the move can remain productive with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server hand-held from BT. The wireless device - with all the functionality of a PC and mobile phone - 'pushes' emails to you as they arrive, helping you to respond to office and customer demands. It also synchronises with your office mail server so that your calendar, contacts and messages are up to date. Moreover, you can surf the web and view attachments such as Excel documents and PowerPoint slides. BT provides a support team in the event of a problem.

7. Enjoy all the convenience and flexibility of a mobile phone handset - and address cost concerns - with BT Fusion for Business. From one handset you can call UK landlines and all mobile networks, for no more than 25p and for up to an hour when you're in the office. You'll also enjoy fixed-line voice quality as well. You just have to be within range of a BT Business Hub. When BT Fusion isn't busy routing your mobile calls over BT Business Broadband connection, you'll benefit from competitive mobile rates. You will also pay capped landline rates on mobile calls from your office. All for just £12.50 a month.

8. Hold a meeting without leaving home with BT Conferencing. It can be difficult to make crucial decisions quickly when colleagues, customers or business partners are scattered across the country, or even around the world. With BT Conferencing you can bring key decision-makers together in a secure audio, video or web forum. BT's web-based conference solution, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, lets you exchange, add and view documents in real-time with your audio conference.

Terms and conditions apply.