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dictation kit includes the hand-held DS-5000 Dictaphone, a desktop cradle, USB cable, and software. The transcrip- tion kit includes a headset, foot pedal controls, and transcription software. Olympus includes a perpetual firm- wide licence to the software in every kit. It even provides software updates and maintenance at no additional charge. "It's very bizarre for a technology compa- ny," says Anderson. Most charge annual maintenance fees and extra for major upgrades. It means that however many dictation and transcription kits a firm buys, the price per seat remains roughly the same, although resellers may offer volume discounts. Olympus' Canadian suggested reseller price is $529.99 for the dictation kit, $399.99 for the transcrip- tion kit. TDS paid $450 and $280, says Anderson. The firm has no doubt the system is paying dividends. The single biggest cost-benefit, which probably justifies the investment in the technology on its own, is that lawyers can keep doing billable work when they're away from the office. General workflow efficiencies and elimi- nation of workflow breakdowns contrib- ute additional savings. Dean Murfitt, a technical systems analyst at TDS, reckons the difference in capital cost between replacing an analog recorder and buying a new Olympus digital dictation kit is about $125. "But to keep a lawyer working [when they're away from the office], that's a small dif- ference to make up," says Murfitt. Digaulle Elhaje, a product manager with Olympus Imaging America Inc., which markets the product in North America, says in fact the DS-5000 kits cost roughly the same as analog replace- ments with comparable features — if you could find replacement tape players, which is increasingly doubtful. Elhaje claims the payback period in law firms is typically six months to a year. One firm found it benefited because lawyers started using a minor feature that allowed them to separately dictate their billable hours, which assistants could then input into the billing system. The resulting increase in billable hours alone paid for the system, says Elhaje. So if this is such a no-brainer, why isn't every firm rushing to replace rickety ana- log dictation equipment? Olympus, which used to sell tape recorders and tapes (but doesn't anymore), admits it has been surprised at how many law firms have "come out of the woodwork" as ana- log holdouts. "It all comes back to human nature," says Elhaje. "If people find a comfort zone, they don't want to change — they'll say they don't have time, or they'll 'think about it down road.' Well, now many know that analog won't be available down the road. So they're scrambling to figure out what to do in the next six months to a year." Gerry Blackwell is a freelance technology writer based in London, Ont. Read his blog at http://afterbyte.blogspot.com. WE MAKE FOREIGN BUSINESS FEEL LESS FOREIGN. As an expert in payment solutions for law firms, Travelex understands the complex demands of international patent law. That's why we allow you to lock in real-time exchange rates on your invoices and protect your pricing. So you'll reduce your risk of posting losses against currency movements. Streamline your global business payments process. Call our legal experts today at 1-800-223-9392 or visit www.info.travelexbusiness.com/legal © 2010 Travelex. In Canada, services will be provided by Travelex Canada Limited. This brochure has been prepared solely for informational purposes and does not in any way create any binding obligations on either party. Relations between you and Travelex shall be governed by the applicable terms & conditions. Travelex makes no representation, warranty or condition of any kind, expressed or implied, in this brochure. Untitled-3 1 www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com NO VEMBER / DECEMBER 2010 29 10/14/10 10:48:01 AM