December 2025
Newsletter Summary:
AB Universal reflects on a challenging 2025 for small businesses, marked by unpredictable ups and downs. They recommend marking calendar days throughout the year to keep open for unexpected work or downtime—a practice that worked well for them this year. The company continues its holiday tradition of managing Santa’s hotline at 1-866-409-1635, where children can leave messages while Santa focuses on his naughty and nice lists. They also remind everyone to track Santa’s Christmas Eve journey at www.noradsanta.org, a tradition NORAD has maintained since 1955.
To help businesses get their calls answered, AB Universal explains how to register your business name with the national Caller ID Name (CNAM) Database so your company name appears on outbound calls instead of just a number. They also announce improved technology through API (Application Programming Interface) integration, which allows their message-taking software to communicate directly with clients’ specialized software systems—enabling them to handle appointments, orders, and CRM entries seamlessly without operators needing to learn hundreds of different programs.
Key Highlights:
- Schedule open days throughout your calendar year for flexibility and downtime
- Call Santa’s hotline: 1-866-409-1635 to leave messages
- Track Santa on Christmas Eve at www.noradsanta.org
- Register your business name with CNAM Database (15 characters max, may take up to a month)
- API integration now available to connect AB Universal’s system with your specialized software
- Access client portal online to view messages and make updates at no charge
November 2025
Newsletter Summary:
AB Universal reflects on November as the month that previews how the business year will end, encouraging companies to think about what worked, what didn’t, and what small changes could make big differences in the year ahead. They warn about the dramatic increase in robocalls—Americans now receive over 420 million spam calls monthly, a 20% jump to a six-year high. With AI making these scams more sophisticated, they urge businesses to remind employees not to answer calls from unrecognized numbers, as average victims lose over $3,500 when they fall for these schemes.
The company highlights several underutilized service features that could streamline business operations. They offer automated calling systems for appointment confirmations, surveys, and emergency alerts; API technology that allows seamless data flow between their system and clients’ existing software; CSV data exports for tracking marketing effectiveness and call patterns; and web portal access for real-time message viewing, on-call updates, and call recording reviews. AB Universal emphasizes that many clients don’t realize these features already exist and are available at reasonable costs.
Key Highlights:
- Robocalls up 20% to 420 million monthly in the US—don’t answer unknown numbers
- Average robocall scam victim loses over $3,500
- Less than half of phone companies have installed FCC-required caller ID and filters
- Automated calling available for confirmations, surveys, and alerts (callers can press a key to connect live)
- API integration enables automatic data flow into your CRM or management software
- CSV data format allows tracking of marketing effectiveness and call patterns
- Web portal provides 24/7 access to messages, reports, on-call schedules, and call recordings
- Look for upcoming January Discovery Issue and February Money Issue for business improvement strategies
September 2025
Newsletter Summary:
AB Universal Messaging replaces traditional receptionists with 24/7 phone answering services. Their HVAC client case study demonstrates how businesses can achieve 100% phone coverage while paying less than 20% of previous receptionist costs. The service includes automated dispatching, employee tracking, and eliminates hiring/management frustrations.
The company offers advanced “decision tree” systems that customize call handling based on urgency and department needs. Emergency calls automatically trigger paging systems, while routine calls go to email/fax. Different message templates accommodate various specialists or departments, all managed through one phone number and account profile.
Key Highlights:
- 100% phone coverage with consistent agent teams
- Cost reduction: clients pay less than 20% of traditional receptionist costs
- Automated dispatching to cell phones and email based on custom protocols
- Decision tree systems for emergency vs. non-emergency call routing
- Multiple message forms for different departments or specialists
- Real-time tracking of employee locations and schedules
- Online client portal for viewing messages and updates at no charge
- $25 Facebook review credit incentive program
- Serving clients for years to decades with personalized service
August 2025
Newsletter Summary:
This August 2025 newsletter from AB Universal Messaging expresses concern for customers affected by recent natural disasters and offers to serve as a communication hub during emergencies when cell phones may not work. The company emphasizes their role in helping connect worried family and friends through their answering service during crisis situations.
The newsletter also discusses the growing presence of AI in their industry, noting that while vendors are developing AI capabilities and customers are becoming accustomed to chatbots through banking and insurance interactions, AB Universal remains committed to providing personalized human service. Additionally, they share a cautionary tale about last-minute account changes causing operational chaos and highlight the importance of cybersecurity vigilance, noting that global cybercrime costs are expected to exceed $10.5 trillion in 2025.
Key Highlights:
Emergency Communication Support
- Offers to serve as communication hub during disasters when cell phones fail
- Will relay messages between customers and worried family/friends
AI Integration Coming
- AI capabilities being developed for answering services industry
- Company commits to maintaining human-focused service as priority
- Notes consumer acceptance of AI through banking/insurance chatbots
Operational Warning
- Avoid late-day account changes – Friday 3:49 PM request for 22 phone number changes caused chaos until 7:00 PM
- Disrupted service for multiple clients
Cybersecurity Alert
- Employee prevented breach by verifying suspicious email from “known” contact
- Contact had been hacked day before
- 2025 cybercrime costs projected at $10.5 trillion globally
- Emphasizes constant vigilance needed for all emails
Services
- Online client portal for message access and on-call updates
- BBB Scam Prevention resources available
July 2025
Newsletter Summary:
This July newsletter from AB Universal, written by Debbie Bibber, opens with Independence Day reflections on freedom and peaceful dialogue, contrasting historical battles with modern conflicts while expressing gratitude for American liberties. The company celebrates their team’s quality performance and requests customer testimonials to acknowledge agents’ contributions, planning to display these comments for daily staff motivation.
The newsletter addresses summer operational challenges, noting that extreme heat will strain systems and customer service nationwide. AB Universal has strategically diversified their agent locations to minimize weather-related disruptions and asks clients to schedule non-urgent communications during off-peak times or via email. The company emphasizes their role as client representatives, highlighting that 32% of consumers abandon businesses after one bad experience, and commits to maintaining the same professionalism clients expect from their own employees.
Key Highlights:
- Independence Day Message: Reflection on freedom, peaceful dialogue, and gratitude for American democracy
- Team Recognition: Request for customer testimonials to boost agent morale through daily display
- Summer Preparedness: Strategic hiring across regions to avoid weather-related service disruptions
- Customer Experience: 32% of consumers leave after one bad experience – emphasizing excellence
- Communication Strategy: Encourages off-peak calling and email for non-urgent matters
- Representative Role: AB Universal positions itself as an extension of client businesses, not just a service provider
- Business Goal: Focus on helping clients compete and win customers over competitors
June 2025
Newsletter Summary:
AB Universal’s latest newsletter emphasizes maximizing value—not just minimizing cost—when using virtual receptionist services. They encourage clients to schedule account reviews to ensure they’re getting the most efficient and tailored support possible. The company also showcases their growing tech capabilities, such as seamless integration with platforms like Zapier, to enhance workflow automation. A real-world case study and industry insights round out the newsletter, reinforcing AB Universal’s role as a strategic partner in business communication.
Key Highlights:
- Reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement and personalized service for every client.
- Encourages clients to schedule service reviews to improve cost-effectiveness, not just lower cost.
- Highlights new technology integrations like Zapier for syncing call data directly to CRMs and ticketing systems.
- Features a case study of “Trees R Us” to show how customized call handling improved customer satisfaction.
- Clarifies a common myth about long-distance dialing—dialing “1” has no impact on cost or call function today.
