MLS News

MLS Election

Ballots and voting information for election of new MLS Committee members will be sent in early December. Deadline (based on mail date) will be included in the mailing. Results will be posted on the web site and included in the January magazine.

CBR Tempo^TMTimeout

Along with the new login procedures implemented last July, CBR Tempo^TM now has a 240 minute idle counter. The Session Timeout counter, located in the lower left corner of your MS Internet Explorer window, will close the session if you don't touch it for 240 minutes -- or 4 hours. However, most movement within the CBR Tempo^TM program will trigger it to reset for another 4 hours.

So, be careful not to run a search, leave it up all night and expect to continue browsing in the morning.

The Timeout Session was added for both security and system performance. One example would be if an agent forgets to close CBR Tempo^TM on a public computer, the session will close itself thereby limiting the possibility of a non-agent gaining access.

Licking County MLS Areas Modified

The Licking County townships of Jersey and St. Albans, currently in area LSW, will be changed to LNW. Due to the numerous list of other modifications approved within the last few months, this change may not occur until mid 2007. However, we thought you might want to know the decision to change has been made.

Permission to negotiate directly with the seller

The new Minimum Service Law, HB 150, makes an exception to the prohibition of negotiating directly with another broker's client if that broker has given written authorization to negotiate directly with his client. The broker's written authorization could be provided in an email, letter, print advertising or through the MLS.

After researching options, the following process will be added to the MLS Tempo^TM when adding a listing.

Members will be allowed to select up to two of the four listing agreement types (as there could be a degree of blending in the agreements). The four listing agreement types are:

1) Exclusive Right to Sell (ERS).
2) Exclusive Agency (EA),
3) Limited Representation (LR) and
4) MLS Only (MLO).

REALTORS® could select any one or two combinations of listing agreement types EXCEPT ERS/EA.

Further, if LR, EA or MLO is selected (individually or in combination with another agreement type) a required entry box then will appear that asks the question "Negotiation w/Seller Permission: Yes or No". If `Yes' is selected, then two more boxes will appear to allow the agent the option of providing seller name and phone number.

Due to the importance of this modification, it will be included in the next set of CBR Tempo? changes expected in January 2007.

IDX Policy Changes

CBR has modified its MLS policies governing Internet Data Exchange (Broker Reciprocity) to allow additional third party developers to provide solutions to members provided that they can meet or exceed the same security levels as WolfNet Technologies, CBR's preferred IDX developer.

Third party developers must join the CBR as Affiliates, adhere to the guidelines, use the established RETS interface and agree to pay a reasonable fee (TBD) for periodic random testing.

Participants with questions about hosting listing data on their web site may contact Bryan Dean, Manager of Technical Services at bdean@columbusrealtors.com or (614) 475-4000 x222.

Wireless is on its way

By Bryan Dean and David Foster

With the Holiday Season just around the corner, many new and exciting features are being added to the CBR Tempo^TMsystem and the conversion to all Supra iBoxes in January. CBR tech support thought you'd like to know about some neat gadgets for all the good REALTORS® on your shopping list. These electronic do-dads will provide greater enjoyment, and productivity.

Our first big enhancement will be the ability to access the CBR Tempo^TM system using an Internet connection with your PDA, Smartphone or some web enabled cell phones. Below is a list of traditional cell phones that will be compatible with the new Tempo Wireless service.

So, if you or that special REALTOR® you know is thinking about changing the cell phone they use, please keep this list available while doing your seasonal shopping. In addition to the phones below, you will be able to use any Treo or wireless connection enabled Palm running either the Palm OS or the Microsoft Mobile OS. You will also be able to use any Blackberry with the service as well.

Please remember that you need to have the internet connection as well. Simply having the phone with no Internet will not allow you to access CBR Tempo^TM.

The other big enhancement coming next year is the CBR conversion to using all Supra iboxes. This will allow you to simply beam (using the infrared connection) the keybox with your PDA to open it. However, only the following smart phones will work.

If you wish to have a device that will work with both Tempo^TM Wireless and the new iBox, you will need to look strictly at the Treo/Palm PDA devices.

We hope this helps with some of those Christmas or upgrade purchases this year. We'll have more info on both Tempo^TM Wireless and the KeyBox exchange in the January issue of this magazine.

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