In the news today Paul Miller a Tech writer is challenging himself to one year offline.

The challenge is not because he dislikes the internet, in fact he loves the internet, but he believes it is no longer being used as a tool, but as a distraction.

Here at OneStream our business is based around developments in technology; the smartphone, cloud computing… and so many businesses are based only online. In fact, we promote the benefits of this technology having everything you need, whenever, and wherever you need it!

Many other users simply use it as a platform to find out more ‘I’ll Google it’ a term often used when someone doesn’t know something. Then there are the many social media sites helping us all to keep in touch. It has become something we don’t want to live without; so why is Paul Miller so keen to try to live life offline.

Click here to read the full article online and watch the video (please excuse the pre video advert).

Now ask yourself, could you live without the internet? We would love to know your thoughts.

In addition to this, an email will be sent providing the opportunity to change the delivery date.  It will be a great way to give our customers greater flexibility when working with OneStream. Interlink Express will also be sending all packages through their network Carbon Neutrally from July 2012 onwards.   This will be achieved by “insetting” (monitoring and reducing CO2 generated within the Interlink Express network) and through investment in global projects to offset unavoidable carbon emissions produced in providing the distribution service.

Written by Matt Buck, Head of Customer Experience

In an article published by the BBC today it has been said that people in the UK are now more likely to text than make a phone call. It is suggested that this recent change in the way we communicate is partly down to technology.

The data from Ofcom research suggests the following change in communication trends:

• The average UK consumer now sends 50 texts per week while fewer calls are being made on both fixed and mobile phones.
• There is a fall in the volume of mobile calls – by just over 1% – in 2011, while landline calls were down by 10%. With the overall time spent on the phone fallen by 5% in 2011.

The research also shows the following change in ownership and use of technology:

• 39% of adults now own a smartphone, a 12% increase on 2010.
• 42% of these now say their smartphone is the most important device for accessing the internet, with 42% regularly using social networking sites and 51% using e-mail.
• The average consumer spends 90 minutes a week accessing social networking sites and email.
• Tablet ownership is also on the rise, with 11% owning such a device, up from 2% last year.

Access to this type of technology is changing the way we communicate, it is reducing talk time both face to face and on the phone.

For more interesting stats published by Ofcom and to read the full BBC article click here.