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Meet Joel Saltzman of Dr Wireless

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Saltzman.

In 1990, Joel Saltzman was recruited to manage, Alfa Car Radio, a high-end audio/vehicle security chain that had just become an Los Angeles Cellular Master Agent. Joel was initially hired to manage their Hollywood location. Within a year, he was also managing their West Hollywood, and Newport Beach locations as well. In 1996, Joel eventually took over ownership and incorporated as Corporate Wireless Services, Inc., dba. “Dr Wireless”.

Joel has worked with every major carrier and managed wireless programs for major Universities, Hospitals, the Entertainment Industry, and businesses of all size.

Today, Dr Wireless also specializes in Unified Cloud as A Service Solutions. We build cloud based PBX business phone systems, and provide total support. Whether your needs are Smartphone Service, Business Internet, VoIP PBX Phones Services, Hosted e-mail, Satellite Phones, or Consulting, you don’t have to be a rock star to get the Red Carpet treatment.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There was nothing smooth about being an independent dealer for all of the wireless carriers. We incorporated in 1997 as Corporate Wireless Services, Inc, dba Dr Wireless. Back then, unless you were a mass merchandiser (Target, Circuit City, Walmart or Costco), the carriers did not allow “normal” dealers to represent multiple carriers. Dr Wireless was able to pull this off because we were the first dealer to create a corporate account program catering to businesses instead of the typical retail store scenario.

Caltech, Capitol Records, Virgin Records, Price Waterhouse were just a few of our major accounts that were extremely loyal to Dr Wireless. Once the major carriers realized that we already had relationships with these entities that they could not breach, they realized we were their only way in.

If you think it is tough dealing with your wireless carrier, try dealing with four of them daily. The struggle has always been doing what was best for our wireless clients. The challenge however was doing this without angering the wireless carriers who paid us. This has always been a double-edged sword. After all, when was the last time your wireless carrier notified you that they have new, less expensive rates offering more data? If you are content with paying more than needed, they are content in collecting your payment without informing you there is a better deal.

It’s pretty tough to paint a positive picture when a carrier decides to drop the resolution on their new plans from 1080p to 480p.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Dr Wireless story. Tell us more about the business.
We are unique in the wireless industry because we do what is best for our clients, often at our expense, as well as the expense of the carriers. For a dozen years, we managed the global wireless tour for the highest grossing rock band in the world. Our Wi-Fi dialing solutions allowed them to call their family, friends, and business associates back home for FREE, saving them thousands of dollars per year. We still support this band today!

Recently, we created a special consulting program where we guarantee that we can save our clients big money each month on their wireless plan. We call it the “Robin Hood” program. For the first time, we can be candid as we are paid by our clients for this service, not the carriers.

Our current specialty is Unified Communications As A Service (UCAAS). Today, having a business phone system no longer requires on premise servers, maintenance contracts and having an onsite IT expert. There is no need to purchase equipment or maintain it. It’s all about Cloud Based Servers that are maintained by the provider and controlled by our clients via web portal.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Not very much! Everything we have done has taken hard work. The only luck was there were only two wireless carriers when we started, PacTel (today Verizon), and LA Cellular (Today AT&T). Both had retail stores but did not offer any type of corporate or enterprise account programs. My company created a mobile service tech team that went to our corporate clients place of business. The technicians would bring a Marconi diagnostic machine to do FREE tune-ups, and car phone installations. I was actually brought in by LA Cellular to support and train their new corporate division which we would end up competing against several years later.

The problem with the wireless business is it’s like an iceberg. You only see the 10% the carriers want you to see. It’s the submerged 90% (4pt font) that you need to worry about.

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Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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