Finding the Best Calling Card Distributor

Okay so there are numerous ways to find calling cards these days. The most conventional and probably easiest way to find then is to go to your local grocery or drug store and simply ask for one. A lot of gas stations also carry them; they are not hard to find. However if you are really worried about getting the best rate and finding the right card, I have good news. There now appear to be actual calling card distributors available on the internet.

 Of course I found these calling card distributors in the internet. Isn’t that how you find everything nowadays; on the internet? Well so most of the pages I found act kind of as a search engines for the calling cards they stock; it is kind of like an eBay for calling cards. You can type in the country you are calling from and the country you are calling to and they will give you a huge list of all the possible calling cards out there and their rates-. The one search I did turned up with 20 results. Now some of these cards I am sure are hard to find in your grocery stores of drug stores; and most stores only sell one or two kinds of cards. However; you can actually order these cards online. These sites act like online calling card distributors for people who need them.

 I can’t say why I am surprised at this service. You can find most things on the internet now. It just seems like such a small industry and not one that people would develop entire internet sites and businesses around. However I guess you can now make a business out of anything if you want to, and now should you really need an international calling card, and are really worried about the rates; well here is your solution.

How to save on long distance calls to Canada?

Planning to go to Canada to finally go for an awesome and long-awaited vacation in Alberta with your granny? Well what are you waiting for? Book it!

 Extremes of climate heat and cold symbolize Canada, a country distinguished by its multi-racial citizens. Citizens include people of: European, Indian, Arabic, American, Italian, Hispanic and Caribbean descent. The aboriginal inhabitants of Canada also add to the distinct flavor of the country. Situated in the northern side of the North American continent, Canada captivates you with its pristine, scenic beauty. From snow-capped mountains to serene lakes and rivers and wooded forests, Canada beckons you with its natural environment.

 Though you are not at any rate short of funds, “No so fast!, your mind tells you. Too bad you have never placed an international call to Canada. Now you just have to forego the masterplan til somebody offers you to make that call for you. NOT! It just so happened that you are not led to this article just for any reason. Fortunately, information regarding how to make an international call to Canada abound and they were just so packed here for your convenience. And guess what? You are about to learn to save some precious dough too. So, just read on.

 Easy tips to save on your international calls.

 It is recommended to not make an operator assist you with your calls. This would cost you dollars when you can just spend some few cents in making that phone call. Another piece of advice is to avail of flexible prepaid long distance calling plans offered by various telecommunications sources.

 Know your calling patterns. According to your habits in making international calls, whether you are a night or day caller or non-business days caller or not, informing the company that you are eyeing on to give your business will be of great help.

 The real deal in placing international call to Canada:

 Take note that the country code for Canada is 1. This number is also known as the routing number, prefix, and country code.

 Any mistake on this number could lead you to other countries. Surely you would not want to be greeted by somebody speaking Hungarian or Japanese. That would be a waste of money too. If you do not want to suffer these consequences, better be really on your toes when dialing all the numbers you are supposed to dial.

 Here is a list of the area codes in Canada:

 Alberta 403

 British Columbia 250

 British Columbia (Lower Mainland) 604

 Manitoba 204

 New Brunswick 506

 Newfoundland 709

 Nova Scotia 902

 Ontario (London) 519

 Ontario (North Bay) 705

 Ontario (Ottawa) 613

 Ontario (Thunder Bay) 807

 Ontario (Toronto Metro) 416

 Ontario (Toronto Vicinity) 905

 Prince Edward Island 902

 Quebec (Montreal) 514

 Quebec (Quebec City) 418

 Quebec (Sherbrooke) 819

 Saskatchewan 306

 Simple Steps to Call Canada:

 Dial the international access code – 011 (no need to dial this code if you are calling from USA).
 Dial Canada’s country code – 1.
 Dial the city code of the place you want to connect with. (e.g.: Alberta city code is 403 and Manitoba city code is 204.)
 Dial the remaining digits.

 Avoid calling direct unless you are well-off enough to not mind spending a hefty amount on making that simple and effortless international call. A prepaid phone service is a lot more practical. Also, if you despise dialing too many numbers, most prepaid call services do not require you to dial any pin. Just shop around for the best rates.

 Despite the fact that English and French are the official languages of Canada, understanding the local parlance can be quite daunting. For instance, a ‘mickey’ is not a cartoon character, but a small bottle of booze; and the Royal Mountain police are referred to as the ‘Mounties’.

 Aside from this effort in learning the instructions in placing a call to Canada while saving money, you might want to go that extra mile to make your international calling experience a bit more rewarding than the usual. Go greet the person you’re calling with a homely "Bonjour" since French is also one of the major languages used in Canada. It won’t just surprise your call’s recipient. It might also just make his or her day.

Define call center business

The call center business has become one of the fastest booming industries today. In the era of customer-oriented services, the provision for accessible support is now a priority. With many companies trying to cope up with their customers’ needs and demands, the concept of the call center was born.

 A call center normally operates with all its agents (or customer service representatives) in one central location. It is equipped to handle a large amount of transactions between customers and the call center agents. Transactions may be carried out through a variety of media. The telephone is the foremost form of communication in call centers today. However, transactions are also carried out via email and the live chat through the Internet.

 Call centers offer a wide range of services. The first thought that comes to mind for many is support - product information, technical support, and all sorts of after sales services. However, call centers can offer more than that. They also deal with marketing and sales. Telemarketing is an aggressive form of selling your product and can yield very good results. Call centers cater to businesses which aim to increase their sales as well as provide customer services. One example would be credit card companies.

 While aiming to provide information and assistance to customers, they can also increase their revenue through sales spiels given by their agents. Another service that can be dealt with by a call center is debt collection. Credit bureaus also make use of call centers to provide information on a person’s credit rating. In effect, basically anything that has to do with your customers can be done through call centers.

 What is the typical set up in a call center? The term call center brings up images of wide open work spaces, with small workstations containing a computer, headset, and telephone dialer. The practice is increasingly turning to the linking of data and voice in one pathway. This integration makes for more efficient work practices and is called Computer Telephony Integration (CTI). Individual agents are normally managed by a floor supervisor who also takes calls when the need arises.

 Setting up a call center requires certain technology to be applied. There is a wide range of available technologies for call centers today. More often than not, different types of technologies are combined in order to achieve the most effective and efficient set up. The Computer Telephony Integration has already been mentioned is one of the trends in the business today. In fact, CTI is used to combine most applications used in call centers - voice, email, fax, and web. CTI provides many functions such as caller ID, on screen dialing, on screen phone controls (conference calls, hang up, hold, etc.), and agent status control (whether agent is available for calls or not).

 With all these advances in technology and developments in consumer-oriented practices, the call center has emerged as an ideal solution for many companies. The call center provides standardized service to customers and helps cut the cost. In addition to that, the separate entity of the call center subtracts from the actual operational considerations of the company.

Understanding of USB

USB which stands for Universal Serial Bus is a standard for serial communications between computers and other devices. It was first introduced in 1996 and was jointly promoted by Intel, Phillips, US Robotics and Microsoft. USB was developed so that many different types of devices could be accommodated under a single common interface. Due to this capability, nowadays USB devices are the most popular form of plug and play devices. In short, a plug and play device is an external device which we connect to the computer either for data transfer or to provide additional capabilities to the computer. Normally plug and play devices are used along with additional software which acts as a link between the device and the CPU of the computer. This software is called the driver.

 Many other standards exist for such connections like PS2, but USB devices provide a distinct advantage over other standards mainly due to two significant reasons.

 First, the USB standard allows devices to be connected to the computer without needing to restart the computer. For many previous standards, the computer needed to be restarted before the device could be used. Secondly, the USB device takes its power supply directly from the CPU thus eliminating the need for an external power supply cord. This was only possible due to the fact that USB devices typically consume very little power.

 Nowadays USB devices are used for a number of purposes. The most popular adaptation of the USB devices is in the form of USB drives (also called pen-drives). These are basically devices which offer portable data storage facilities. Often these devices are as small as a keychain. With the advent of technology, USB drives can now store as much as 200GB of data and still appear very small.

 Another important use of USB is for webcams which allow us to transmit and store photos and videos directly on our computers. Apart from these uses, USB also allows us to connect audio devices like iPods, microphones and speakers, network between different computers with USB routers and also provides an interface to link our other gadgets like mobile phones and PDAs. With Windows becoming more common it is now simpler to synchronize our gadgets as windows can automatically recognize and install our USB devices. Another new technology which is making waves is USB 2.0, which provides data transfer speeds of up to 480mbps (Megabytes per second).

Benefits of Using Call Accounting System

Communication facilities are the lifeline of most successful businesses and often the most difficult to manage. The success of any organization is directly related to its ability to address the changing needs of its people and customers. Management of telephone charges, equipment fees, VoIP traffic, internet usage, and provider discounts is a difficult task. Most communication managers demand the necessary tools to allow administrators to monitor, evaluate, forecast and allocate communications management services and expenses.

 Communications facilities are continuing to evolve at a rapid rate. Call accounting is generally the centerpiece of a complete communication management solution (CMS) to allow customers to track, process and allocate communications transactions (analog, VoIP and data).

 Communications transactions are generally delivered to call accounting systems where this information is processed real-time, summarized or submitted to a central server for multi-site consolidation.

 For many years, long distance traffic was monopolized by the major telephone companies. Today, the complex and competitive sphere of alternate services, long distance carriers and countless discount strategies leaves most customers baffled about best available savings. A robust call accounting system will provide a concise unbiased picture of comparative rate structures using concrete historical data.

 Customer relationship management is fundamental to the success of many organizations. Shadow CMS utilizes calling line information delivered the telephone system for comprehensive inbound traffic analysis. These reports assist in designing regional campaigns, network planning and call center staffing.

 Network performance is critical in a call center, emergency dispatch service, hospitality, government or even a small business. Call accounting produces statistics for trunk usage, grade of service, all trunks busy and peak/busy hour analysis. Call accounting pinpoints over or under capacity environments. Many organizations struggle with workforce management and productivity. Good call accounting software provides exception management reports which highlight long duration, excessive cost and misdialed calls. Each call may be pinpointed to a particular password, account code, extension or authorization number. Call accounting provides detailed telephone charges reports, which highlight usage practices

 Professional services firms often face the tedious task of allocating communications expenses to customer account files. Call accounting delivers expense account code, password or authorization code reports. These results can be automatically directed to accounting systems, spreadsheets, HTML, email and a variety of other formats.

 In hospitality environments, information is processed in real time, assigned a cost and immediately delivered to property management room folios for true billing integration.

 A robust call accounting system provides a series of sophisticated traffic analysis reports (that utilize CCS, Erlang and Erlang B) to determine network efficiency and alternate cost modeling for facility planning. In retail and direct customer service environments, a call accounting system should extendsits communications analysis to custom call routing (CCR), voice mail and interactive voice recognition reporting (IVR).

How to make cheap international call to the Philippines?

Most Filipinos would love to hear from their relatives or friends from the US. Who won't? There's just so much to tell and burning the lines would be one helluvah understatement if you are to make an international call to the Philippines. This is because the Philippines is one of the most eventful places in the world right now. See the news to prove this.

 Placing an international call could be a very wallet-pinching endeavor. But this should not always be the case. There are numerous ways to make a long distance call, especially if the destination of your call is the Pearl of the Orient, the Philippines.

 Here is a rundown of suggestions on how to make that international call to the Philippines without shelling out much of your hard-earned dollars.

 1. Be careful when buying call cards.

 Several prepaid phone cards have hidden charges. There could be a connection fee that could be almost tantamount to getting ripped off especially when the card buyer makes a call and either the call is routed to a voice mailbox or to an answering machine. Connection fee deduction is automatically done even when the caller did not say anything yet.

 Other phone card hidden charges include service fee, maintenance fee, access number and long talking fee. The expiration date should also be checked.

 2. Know what type of phone will receive your call.

 It won't be advisable to make a long distance call to any mobile device. This is because most of overseas carriers implement the "calling party pays" system. The tariff rate of an international wireless phone could be a lot higher compared to a call made to a land-line in the same country.

 3. Say no to a telephone operator.

 When you choose to be assisted by a telephone operator when placing an international call, you choose to pay considerably more. Whenever possible opt to use a dial-around service or dial direct.

 4. Sign up to a prepaid long distance plan.

 Various carriers offer this kind of service to those who frequently place long distance calls. Opt for those with flexible programs. These plans work like phone cards but do not have fees and charges associated with prepaid phone cards. They usually have very low domestic and international rates 24/7 and call quality is usually excellent. One more thing about these prepaid plans is the convenience of being able to use them when placing calls from any telephones be it cell phones or public phones.

 5. Calling during non-business days or off-peak time will help you save.

 Make the most out of these privileges by checking on what your carrier offers. Just make sure that it won't be too much of an inconvenience to the recipient of your call.

 6. Bad connections should be noted.

 Bad connections happen and the Philippines is not an exception to this nuisance. When this happens, take note of the time and the number you called. Prepaid calling cards rarely gives you credit for bad connections. But if you made an international call using a standard long distance carrier, or prepaid long distance plans, better check if you could be given credit for that call. They always do.

 It would help if you print this info to be always reminded of the Do's and Don't's when it comes to making an international call.

 With these simple tips, you don't have to worry when your phone bill arrives.

 Finally, here's the step-by-step process in calling the Philippines.

 a. Dial 011, which is the international code

 b. Then, key in the Philippines' country code, which is 63.

 c. Now, dial the city area code where your your wife and kids are.

 Here are the major cities in the Philippines with their respective city area codes:

 Angeles Luzon - 455

 Bacolod - 34

 Baguio - 74

 Cebu - 32

 Clarkfield, Pampanga - 45

 Dagupan, Pangasinan - 75

 Davao - 82

 Iloilo - 33

 Laguna Province - 49562

 Lucena, Luzon - 42

 Makati, Luzon - 2

 Manila - 2

 Ozamiz City - 88

 San Fernando, Pampanga - 45

 San Fernando, La Union - 72

 San Pablo - 49

 Subic, Zambales - 47

 Tarlac - 452

 Tarlac Province - 45

 Zamboanga - 62

 d. Finally, dial the remaining digits.

 Also, don't forget to greet your Filipino friend using her native lingo. "Kumusta", pronounced as "cooh-moose-TAH" surely will never fail to make her smile.

Which is the best, Callcentric or Skype?

In the world of internet phone service, Callcentric and Skype could be very well considered the toughest competitors. Both have a relatively big customer base and an equally big reputation in the industry. Both offer lots of value added services to their customers and are considered very cheap when compared to traditional international phone calls. Despite these similarities, there are a few things that can be compared between Callcentric and Skype to highlight certain features that separate one from the other.

 Callcentric offers four plans that could be considered the cheapest in the market. They are Callcentric IP Freedom Plan, Callcentric Pay per Call, Callcentric North America Unlimited, and Callcentric World Select. All of them offer unlimited PC to PC calls to other Callcentric members for free, wherever in the world they are. IP Freedom Plan is considered the cheapest of them all, as it provides free calls to other members, wherever they are. At no monthly charge, no surcharge, no hidden fees, no per-call rate, and no other commitment, this is considered the best bargain. All you need is an adapter or software and you are good to go with the Callcentric IP Freedom plan.

 Skype also has a similar structure, as calls made to any Skype customer are free all over the world. In fact, Skype became extremely popular due to this feature, as free PC to PC calls were something really rare at the time when Skype brought in this feature. So, basically this plan works the same way for Skype and Callcentric. Free PC to phone international call and phone calls from the PC are something everyone looks forward to while using Skype and Callcentric, and this is the area where Callcentric scores over Skype.

 Callcentric has plans such as Pay per Call, North America Unlimited, and World Select which offer tremendous value for the money you pay. At a miserly monthly rate around $19.95 per month, you will be able to make unlimited phone calls to the USA and Canada. With this plan, you will be able to make hundreds of calls in a month and still pay an incredibly low $19.95.

 In the World Select plan, Callcentric goes a step ahead of its competitors and offer unlimited calls to people all over the world for a monthly rate of $29.95. Thanks to the wide network of Callcentric with over 35 countries across the globe, you can call any of your near and dear ones any number of times for just around $30 a month.

 Skype has an offer called Skype Credit which asks you to pay some amount and you also need to pay a connection fee. Once you log in, the credit you have will appear next to your name. Then you can start calling any part of the world. But the catch here is the rate per call. The rates range around 1.7 Euro cents per minute, which is considered costlier than Callcentric, as you can make unlimited calls to any part of the world in case of Callcentric for just under $30 per month. This is where Callcentric scores over Skype and is considered the better option when it comes to PC to phone calling.

Ways to save on calls to Germany

Feel drawn to Germany’s sylvan valleys and pristine alpine peaks? Does Beethoven’s music beckon you? Do you swoon over by Germany’s grandiose architecture and enchanting art and culture? Or do you just yearn for a taste of the country that brews the best beer in the world.

 Now, connecting with Germany, and making calls to friends and family is quick and extremely cheap. Amongst a population of an estimated 81,338,000 people, German is the standard language of communication and has several slight variations in regional dialects. With education being compulsory till the age of 18, Germany has an astounding literacy rate of 99%.

 Simple Steps to Call Germany:

 * Dial the international access code – 011.

 * Dial Germany’s country code – 49.

 * The ‘0’ at the start of the city code does not need to be dialed.

 * Dial the remaining digits.

 Guten Tag (pronounced goo ten tahk) is the phrase normally used for greeting for ‘hello’ or ‘good day’ in general German parlance. However, when you call Germany, it is the norm for Germans to answer the phone with their last names first.

 Over the years, rates to Germany has declined steadily. Offers between 2 cents per minute to 4 cents per minute to call Germany are now very common among long distance providers and phone card companies. What is the catch? Again, have you heard of connection fees, monthly charges and maintenance fees? These can add up big time and can easily double the rates as promised by these phone companies. And one more thing, while Germany’s phone system is one of the most advanced in the world, be aware that there are cheap long distance carriers that can actually make the connections frustrating to consumers.

 No matter your reason for calling, personal, business, or leisure call to Germany. Find a long distance telecom service provider that offers a flexible prepaid calling plan that is hassle-free and requires no switching over phone companies, cumbersome PIN dialing or paying unnecessary, hidden costs generally associated with most phone cards. With these in mind, you should be able to call Germany – and don’t bother about how you call, when you call or how much you talk

 Situated in the centre of Europe, at the border of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, Germany may seem quite a distance away, but a cheaper and reliable long distance calls should bridge the gap in a matter of seconds.

What Is Port Forwarding?

Port forwarding, often referred to as .tunnelling. is the forwarding of network ports from one network device to another. This is commonly done using a NAT (network address translation) enabled router or server and another computer within the local network. The main purpose of using port forwarding is to allow hosts outside your local network who doesn.t have their own public IP address access to some services running on machines within your LAN.

 Port forwarding is easy to set up on a router since the management interface allows for easy configuration. In some cases this easy configuration feature might be a problem since most routers cannot provide complex customization for port forwarding and other services. In such case a Linux box can do the job. With Linux, port forwarding is configured by adding iptable rules with a DNAT target to the PREROUTING chain and a SNAT target to the POSTROUTING chain. After doing so iptables will use the existent masquerade table to rewrite packages so they will reach the desired host in concordance with the port forwarding rules you provided. This is similar to OSX and BSD, however ipfw is used. In most cases ipfw is already compiled with kernel.

 With port forwarding you can use a router to connect to the Internet and also run a web-server or a FTP server on a computer with your LAN. By using port forwarding you can instruct the router to forward all information that comes on a specific net port (such as 80 for the web-server or 21 for the FTP server) to a host within the local network. This means that if an outside host try to make a HTTP request towards the public IP the router has, it will be sent to the machine known to handle such request within the LAN. This is done in a transparent manner, meaning that the network client is not aware of the fact that he is accessing a machine found somewhere in the LAN. Applications of such methods are widely used both in business environments and in small home networks.

 With more and more devices in the home needing to be connected to the internet or to each other, the router has become a very popular device worldwide. In such situations port forwarding is used to allow access within the network for applications that require access on a specific port, such as games or multimedia streaming software.eaming softwaR.th port forwarding you can use a router to connect to the Internet and also run a web-server or a FTP server on a computer with your LAN. By using port forwarding you can instruct the router to forward all information that comes on a specific net port (such as 80 for the web-server or 21 for the FTP server) to a host within the local network. This means that if an outside host try to make a HTTP request towards the public IP the router has, it will be sent to the machine known to handle such request within the LAN. This is done in a transparent manner, meaning that the network client is not aware of the fact that he is accessing a machine found somewhere in the LAN. Applications of such methods are widely used both in business environments and in small home networks. With more and more devices in the home needing to be connected to the internet or to each other, the router has become a very popular device worldwide. In such situations port forwarding is used to allow access within the network for applications that require access on a specific port, such as games or multimedia streaming software.

 Forwards are possible with larger networks. This is done when one router or server forward packets to another router or server that delivers it to the host that should handle it. Such methods are rarely used in small home networks, but can become useful in larger networks whether or not they are connected to the Internet.

 Port forwarding can be more secure than using other methods such as a DMZ (demilitarized zone). When using a DMZ all the ports of your machine are forwarded, thus you are no longer truly behind the firewall. Port forwarding provides you security by only allowing access to ports you specifically select.

Why you should make the switch to wireless?

Before you decide to go wireless or not, there are many points to consider. You may be asking yourself if wireless is for you. Well, today, many people are asking themselves the same question. If you watch the headline news, you are bound to see stories involving mergers, federal regulations, and new tax rules. This all points to the fact that VoIP has made a definite impression on American citizens and is here to stay. It may be difficult for some people to remove the telephone cords from their homes; we have depended on them for over 100 years. But once many people take the time to weigh the pros and the cons, most choose to go wireless. Here are some reasons, why you should make the switch to wireless.

 1. Wireless Creates a Faster Network

 Wireless networks are fast. With VoIP, you can create a network that incorporates data, audio, video, and computer web features. You can easily monitor your network for problems and troubleshooting is much simpler with web based applications rather than hardware applications. VoIP uses less bandwidth than other applications and this in the long run saves money. This is of special value to businesses. Businesses can also provide better customer service with integrated programs. Not only does this increase productivity, but also it saves time and money in the long run.

 2. VoIP Saves You Money

 Overall, VoIP is much more inexpensive then PSTN. You simply pay for your Internet service, and then whichever VoIP provider you choose. For a one time monthly fee, you can have unlimited local and long distance phone calls. You will need to check with the VoIP service provider that you choose for exact details on their rates. Sometimes, your VoIP service provider will allow free calls within the world to another computer, yet there may be a fee for calls worldwide to a landline phone. Always check with your chosen service provider for exact details regarding your chosen plan. Included in many VoIP service plans are free features. These features include Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Do Not Disturb, and more. Again, check with your chosen service provider for an overview of all the features bundled with your plan. The biggest benefit is the unlimited long distance calling. This has proven to be the number one reason why most businesses are switching to VoIP. For businesses such as sales or jobs that have mobile employees, these benefits go without saying. But overall, the average cost of VoIP is considerably less when compared to the cost of PSTN.

 3. VoIP Enables you to Talk with More than One Person at a Time

 With VoIP, you can talk with more than one person without paying extra for services such as three way calling. With VoIP you can have more than three people on the phone at once. VoIP is the perfect solution for those who want to explore the features of conference calls. This is very important for businesses that have employees overseas. By using the video conferencing features, employers will increase their productivity.

 4. Enjoy Greater Flexibility

 By using VoIP, you can take your VoIP equipment with you whenever you travel. Your VoIP service provider will send you a converter that will allow you to use your converter with any standard telephone. The converter comes programmed with your telephone number, allowing you to take your phone and phone number with you worldwide. All you will need is a high speed Internet connection and you can use your VoIP phone service. This is of extreme benefit to mobile employees. No longer are outdated telecommunications systems necessary, or are employees trying to run businesses on prepaid cell phone plans. By using VoIP, an employee will have access to his/her phone number, wherever they are located. Whether out of state, in a hotel, or traveling on a business trip, customers will be able to call the same number as well as leave voice mail on the employee’s computer.

 5. You can Save Money for Family and Friends by Choosing Your Area Code

 Many VoIP service providers will give you the option of selecting your own area code number. This is a tremendous benefit to family and friend members who can call you locally, if you select the same area code number.
  Before you decide to go wireless or not, there are many points to consider. You may be asking yourself if wireless is for you. Well, today, many people are asking themselves the same question. If you watch the headline news, you are bound to see stories involving mergers, federal regulations, and new tax rules. This all points to the fact that VoIP has made a definite impression on American citizens and is here to stay. It may be difficult for some people to remove the telephone cords from their homes; we have depended on them for over 100 years. But once many people take the time to weigh the pros and the cons, most choose to go wireless. Here are some reasons, why you should make the switch to wireless.

 1. Wireless Creates a Faster Network

 Wireless networks are fast. With VoIP, you can create a network that incorporates data, audio, video, and computer web features. You can easily monitor your network for problems and troubleshooting is much simpler with web based applications rather than hardware applications. VoIP uses less bandwidth than other applications and this in the long run saves money. This is of special value to businesses. Businesses can also provide better customer service with integrated programs. Not only does this increase productivity, but also it saves time and money in the long run.

 2. VoIP Saves You Money

 Overall, VoIP is much more inexpensive then PSTN. You simply pay for your Internet service, and then whichever VoIP provider you choose. For a one time monthly fee, you can have unlimited local and long distance phone calls. You will need to check with the VoIP service provider that you choose for exact details on their rates. Sometimes, your VoIP service provider will allow free calls within the world to another computer, yet there may be a fee for calls worldwide to a landline phone. Always check with your chosen service provider for exact details regarding your chosen plan. Included in many VoIP service plans are free features. These features include Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Do Not Disturb, and more. Again, check with your chosen service provider for an overview of all the features bundled with your plan. The biggest benefit is the unlimited long distance calling. This has proven to be the number one reason why most businesses are switching to VoIP. For businesses such as sales or jobs that have mobile employees, these benefits go without saying. But overall, the average cost of VoIP is considerably less when compared to the cost of PSTN.

 3. VoIP Enables you to Talk with More than One Person at a Time

 With VoIP, you can talk with more than one person without paying extra for services such as three way calling. With VoIP you can have more than three people on the phone at once. VoIP is the perfect solution for those who want to explore the features of conference calls. This is very important for businesses that have employees overseas. By using the video conferencing features, employers will increase their productivity.

 4. Enjoy Greater Flexibility

 By using VoIP, you can take your VoIP equipment with you whenever you travel. Your VoIP service provider will send you a converter that will allow you to use your converter with any standard telephone. The converter comes programmed with your telephone number, allowing you to take your phone and phone number with you worldwide. All you will need is a high speed Internet connection and you can use your VoIP phone service. This is of extreme benefit to mobile employees. No longer are outdated telecommunications systems necessary, or are employees trying to run businesses on prepaid cell phone plans. By using VoIP, an employee will have access to his/her phone number, wherever they are located. Whether out of state, in a hotel, or traveling on a business trip, customers will be able to call the same number as well as leave voice mail on the employee’s computer.

 5. You can Save Money for Family and Friends by Choosing Your Area Code

 Many VoIP service providers will give you the option of selecting your own area code number. This is a tremendous benefit to family and friend members who can call you locally, if you select the same area code number.

Things you need to consider before buying a PDA?

Buying a PDA is not an easy decision. There are so many things to consider and so much research to do to get your dollars worth. You have to ask the questions. How much do I want to spend? What do I want my PDA to do?

 Before deciding on a PDA you should know exactly what feature it has and if it meets your particular needs. PDA stands for personal digital assistant and it should perform exactly that task. It should help in making your life more organized and easier.

 A new PDA does not need to be upgraded annually, so it is a worthwhile investment. It can perform several functions, some of which include address book, notes taker, GPS navigator, calculator and much more.

 Given that you are ready to go forward with the purchase, your choice of a PDA model will depend on your requirements—what you want it to do. A few things to take into consideration would be the amount of memory the PDA has. If you want to store large documents or multimedia on it then you will need something with a large/expandable memory. The second is the size of the PDA. If you don’t like lugging around heavy things then get something lighter that will better suit you. The third is the battery life of the PDA. If you want to use it heavily and still be able to turn it on then you’ll need something with an extended memory life.

 A PDA can be bought almost anywhere. You can buy one online from just about anywhere or, you could buy one from a physical store. I would recommend buying one from a physical store as this will allow you to evaluate both size and weight to determine whether the PDA will suit your needs.

How a toll-number can help your business grow?

Toll-free numbers allow customers to contact your business without them having to pay for their call. Studies have shown that consumers are more likely to call a business with a toll-free number than those who only have a long-distance number, and 90% of Americans say that they use toll-free numbers. By following these five easy steps, you can discover for yourself how a toll-number can help your business grow.

 1. Expand your market. Toll-free numbers allow you to use the same number for receiving local toll and state-to-state calls. This gives you the opportunity to market your business nationwide. Even if you don't provide service in certain areas, toll-free numbers have the flexibility to block calls from those areas.

 2. Advertise your number. Toll-free numbers lend an air of legitimacy and professionalism to your business. By using a toll-free number, your business may appear larger and more established to the consumer which will make him/her trust you more.

 3. Initiate a direct response mechanism for impulse buyers. By allowing your customers an avenue to immediately react to your company's efforts calling for their action, this prompts significant increases in phone orders. It has been found that these buyers generally order more merchandise and higher ticket items nearly every time they call.

 4. Qualify your buyers. Toll-free numbers enable your business to use time more efficiently and effectively. With a toll-free number, you know that someone who has called your business is already interested in what you have to offer. You spend less time trying to find interested prospects and let the number find them for you.

 5. Analyze your call detail. Toll-free numbers allow you to track calls and access all of a call's details such as the number, time, date and duration of every call. This information cannot be blocked and is an excellent tool for generating leads which can lead to more sales.

How to use technology to stay close to loved ones?

Staying in touch with family and friends has never been easier with the speed and efficiency of today's technology. We live in a world of e-mail, text and instant messages and mobile conversations.

 While such options make it easy to stay in touch, these technologies have also lessened the emotional aspect of our communications.

 Here are a few suggestions on how to use technology to stay close to loved ones and, at the same time, bring back the personal element in your communications. 

Send a personal DVD message

Now you can give the gift of vivid, colorful memories by creating personalized DVD messages for your friends and family. It's a fast, easy and fun way to stay in touch.

 Can't make it to your high school reunion? Use a Sony DVD Handycam camcorder to record a special message to old classmates. You can even get special Sony DVD mail envelopes to share your discs.

 Encourage friends and family to reciprocate. When you receive their DVDs, just pop them into your player as you would a movie.

Make a Webcam chat date

A picture tells a thousand words, but real-time video speaks volumes. While nothing can replace an in-person conversation, you can get awfully close to the real thing with a Webcam chat.

 Gather your loved ones in front of the Webcam to talk, view photos or share advice.

 First time carving the turkey? Get Dad on the Webcam - he can probably walk you through it. Schedule your chat on a special occasion - perhaps on a birthday or holiday - and don't forget to plan your next one. You can even make it an annual event.
 

Create a video file on your digital still camera

Forgot your mom's birthday or couldn't attend your child's school play? Send your loved ones a video clip so that they'll know how much you care.

 Be creative, shake things up and share your ideas. It's never been so easy to "be there when you're not." - NU

How to use cordless phones?

Cordless phones, also known as portable telephones, use a wireless handset in order to communicate with the phone’s base, which is connected to a telephone landline. In order for cordless phones to function properly, they must be used within a specified proximity to the base. Most individuals find that they can use their cordless phones throughout the house or in the yard without interruption.

 In their earliest days, rotary telephones were common and required nothing more than a connection to a landline. Cordless phones require the same, along with an electrical outlet in order to charge the internal battery. This function is what allows the telephone to operate when away from the base and these batteries are automatically recharged when the phone is not in use. After years of use, the battery may need to be replaced. This can often be difficult on older models, but a compatible battery can sometimes be purchased directly from the manufacturer. In some cases, it may be less expensive to purchase a whole new phone than to replace a battery in the old model.

 Years ago, there was growing concern about the privacy related to using cordless phones. The potential for conversations to be picked up by nearby baby monitors, radios and other devices was troubling to many. However, the manufacturers of cordless phones have stepped up to increase their security. In order to receive the best privacy, a 900mhz or better cordless phones are recommended.

 The convenience of cordless phones is undeniable. With their invention, it is now possible to have the telephone with you literally wherever you go. This is especially valuable to elderly people who live alone and need to have a telephone nearby. Anyone who needs to have quick access to a phone will find great comfort in the presence of cordless phones. In addition, the clarity is much greater than the previous rotary models. With a clear conversation and the ultimate convenience, cordless phones have quickly become a staple in every household.

 Many individuals are selecting the double handset models, which only require one telephone line but allow for two different bases to be located throughout the house. This is especially desirable for the household with only one landline connection, but has the desire for more than one telephone. A dual handset is like having two telephones, but only requires one hookup. With prices starting at $10.00 for basic cordless phones or $50.00 for a dual handset, there is an option for every budget.

How to turn a cell phone into a sophisticated spy device within a minute?

Spyphone is a 100% software based solution which users can download and convert any latest Nokia phone into a sophisticated spy device within a minute. Such device may have several spy features.

 If you call a spy phone from a predefined number, it makes no visible or audible indication that it is in operation, and you can listen to any conversations or discussions in progress around the spy phone. Conversations within 5 to 10 metres of the spy phone are completely audible. The software can be activated or deactivated by sending a silent sms to the converted phone and works on GSM networks only.

 Yet another interesting spy feature is called sms forwarding. Upon installation of the spy software on the target phone, it enables to receive duplicate copies of all incoming and outgoing text messages that will be forwarded directly to the predefined number.

 The spyphone software controls the basic functions of the cell phone such as incoming call handling, backlight, log engine and installation logs. No hardware tweaking of any kind has to be made and that there are no special steps for customising the cell phone. The software is also invisible to the end user. Moreover, no parts of the software can be traced to be installed on the phone or logs of incoming calls.

 What could you use the spy phone for? In truth, the list is endless. You might want to check up on someone periodically, listening out for out-of-place sounds, and even intercepting real time calls between 2 parties. It can be used for listening to conversations in the office whilst away on travel. You might also use it monitor your children, wife or husband.

 You may come up with a question, how to protect myself from such spy? Here is the answer. At present such spy software can be installed on Symbian based smartphones only. Never leave your smartphone unattended. Do not give the phone to someone you do not know. If you suspect that spy software is installed on your phone, bring the phone immediately to the nearest service centre. The most popular spy phone models are: 3250, 5500, E50, E60, E61, E61i, E62, E65, E70, N73, N76, N77, N80, N91, N95, 7610, 6600, 6670, 6110, 6120, 6121.
 

New phone system

I recently replaced the business phone systems in the company I own to accommodate the needs of my staff. I wish I could say that it was to accommodate the needs of our customers, but sadly, that isn't the case. You see, our old phone system had many more extensions than we had lines for. It was built with the assumption that inter-office communications would be utilized more than incoming and outgoing calls. Since my company deals primarily with internet business and doesn't do much in the way of transactions over the phone, the system I put in place in the late 90's had served us well until very recently. As of late, I have had vendors who had traditionally reached me by phone sending me e-mails. They were complaining that it's often impossible to get through to me. I looked into the matter and this is what I found… Most of my employees were spending a great deal of time talking on the phone. They weren't talking to vendors, customers, service providers or other business entities. Instead, they were utilizing the phone for personal reasons.

 Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type of boss who thinks it's never acceptable to talk on the phone. I understand that during the workday, things are inevitably bound to come up which require an employees' attention. We've all been there. Perhaps a child is sick or the car is in the shop needing repairs. I understand that these things often require time spent on the phone. Judging from the traffic on my lines and the astronomical phone bills I was receiving, however, this was way beyond what I think any employer would consider acceptable.

 So, I decided to replace the old phone system. The new system has a line for every extension, including mine, so that vendors or anyone else will be able to reach me at any time. Since the new phone system also offers increased functionality, I had an additional feature programmed in.

 Now, whenever someone makes an outgoing call, they must dial in their own code so that both the number they call and the times spent are recorded. These records are matched to the phone bill and all employees are required to mark the non-business related calls they make each month. Since the calls bear their code, they cannot say it wasn't them who made the call. Of course, they must pay for these calls. I have noticed that phone times (and my phone bills) have decreased substantially.

What are proxy sites and the advantages for using these sites

The proxy server connects the computer you use and the Internet. The Internet is used for accessing information, as we all know, and the proxy server helps with checking the information. With a proxy server, the information you try to access, will first get transmitted to that and only then reach your computer.

 With proxies, one will talk about the security one needs while using the Internet as well as increasing the speed if you are downloading files. There are anonymous proxy servers, which could help you hide the IP address. With this, anyone trying to gain access to your computer through the Internet may not be able to do so.

 Anonymous proxies can be used for any web pages, including free email sites. Proxies will help you transfer files at a faster speed, and also connect you to the Internet at a faster pace. Any kind of information you need will be instantly given to you. The most important advantage of proxies, is your privacy. It protects you from malicious Internet users.

 Proxy sites will also allow you to surf the web without anyone’s knowledge. This is especially useful for secret agencies and government organizations. It will help you redirect the request for information that you have asked for, thereby making you anonymous. There are even three types of proxy servers, and they are transparent, anonymous and high anonymity.

 The first one is applicable only for high transfer, the second may quote that you are using a proxy, but the third allows you to be completely anonymous. Using proxies is claimed to be legal, as there are people even offering these services to the public. These servers are very similar to web servers. There is no such rule that the Internet has to be used only in a certain way, as it is for public use.

 Thus anyone can use proxies, if they think they feel vulnerable with the use of the Internet. This is a great way to maintain privacy with the other users. But we also need to be careful of certain proxies. They may be associated with hackers.

 It is not at all difficult to get a proxy list. It is easily available on search engines, and anyone needing that can obviously gain access to them as soon as they need. While one may not be immediately familiar with the use of the proxies, a little time and research will help the user become familiar very easily.

Easy Free PC To Phone International Call

What is VoIP? Is it useful, or inexpensive? The answer is that VoIP is Voice over Internet Protocol. Voice over the Internet allows connections all over the world. It is one way to have a free pc to phone international call. In other words it is a phone call from pc. Yes, it is useful, and it is inexpensive, especially if you like the word free. Some Voice over Internet service may allow you to only call anyone who has the same service, but some will allow a phone call to anyone with a telephone number including international numbers.

 Voice over Internet Protocol allows the converting of your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, using a broadband service, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination. In layman’s terms you are using your Personal Computer via a modem or phone adapter to connect to the Internet, and the receiving person will answer via PC or telephone. This allows the free pc to phone international call. This all happens with this broadband Internet connection instead of a regular or analog phone line.

 The equipment needed to make this happen are a broadband high speed Internet connection. A computer, adapter or other specialized phone is required. Some Voice over Internet Protocol services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, while there are other services that allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter. If you are going to use your computer as a phone call from pc then you will need to have some software and an inexpensive microphone. Some special VoIP phones plug directly into your broadband connection and operate largely like a traditional telephone. If you use a telephone with an adapter, then you will use the phone like you always have.

 In order to make the VoIP free pc to phone international call you must make certain that your Internet provider will allow you to make those calls. It comes down to what your subscription service will allow on their services. Check into that before you decide if VoIP is right for you. One of the advantages of VoIP is that you may be able to avoid paying for both a broadband connection and a traditional telephone line, which will save you money. More so if you are able to make a phone call from pc. If you are traveling overseas or to another country you may take your phone and adapter with you, and connect to another computer. This makes you able to use your same provider to make phone calls back home.

 The disadvantages are that the VoIP will not work during power outages and the service provider may not offer backup power. Not all VoIP service connects directly with emergency services such as 9-1-1. Nor will some providers offer directory assistance or white page listings. These seem to be the downfall of having VoIP service. The computer does not have to be turned on for the VoIP to work, but the broadband connection must be active or live. The other piece of news is that you can use both the computer and the VoIP phone service at the same time. Yes, this is one good way of making your free pc to phone international call.

 The option is for you to check with your Internet service provider. Make certain you have all software and possible adapters, as well as the broadband connection. With the right equipment you will be able to make a free pc to phone international call. If you are attending school, working overseas, or checking on the family back home, then VoIP is a wonderful tool to connect with loved ones, and special people. This is a way to have your free pc to phone international call. The tools are available. Your next step is to set up your computer and Internet service provider for a Voice over Internet Protocol.

How did combining operations go without sacrificing customer service?

Too many techies get a bad rap for lacking teamwork and communications skills. The stereotype is that while techies are great at what they are trained to do, they cannot parlay their knowledge onto others. Because of the stereotype that techies cannot communicate, they also can be stigmatized that they lack adequate teamwork skills. So, what are the chances of two Helpdesk teams communicating with each other to successfully form one team while not compromising customer service?

 Does this plan initially sound like an enormous task? Does it sound impossible? Not if you were lucky enough to have been on such a dynamite team like mine.

 In 1997, I started working at the Ameritech Advertising Helpdesk, which was supporting Yellow Pages Salespeople, Artists and Data Entry from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. When Southwestern Bell Corporation acquired Ameritech in 1998, procedures started to change. Ultimately, The Ameritech Advertising Helpdesk became the SBC Yellow Pages Helpdesk and we were to support clients not only in the five-state Great Lakes region, but clients in other regions in which SBC resided. SBC had Yellow Pages clients in the east in Connecticut, in the middle of the country in Missouri and Kansas, in the southwest in Oklahoma and Texas and in the west in Arizona, Nevada and California.

 There were two Helpdesks: the Helpdesk who supported clients in the Great Lake region and the Helpdesk that supported clients in the eastern, middle, southwestern and western regions. The Helpdesk supported clients 24/7 during the weekdays, a part of Saturday and was on call for Sunday. The Great Lakes Helpdesk had about seven to eight dayshift personnel, two afternoon people and one mid-nighter. The eastern, middle, southwestern and western region Helpdesk had about eight to ten personnel that worked different hours from 7 a.m. until 10p.m. eastern time.

 The grand plan was to combine both Helpdesks and have all of the analysts versatile in all of the applications in order to support clients from all of the 13 states. For example, most of the analysts who supported clients in the Great Lakes region had never worked with VMS systems, but were very familiar with systems like the Remedy Helpdesk software. Conversely, most of the analysts who supported clients in the eastern, middle, southwester and western U.S. had been trained on the VMS systems, but had never worked with Remedy.

 Being in Information Technology, one may get used to systems and applications going wrong. It seems that in too many instances, techies are troubleshooting and fixing systems.

 So, how did combining operations go without sacrificing customer service?

 1. It was about a six-month plan, which started around February 2002 to gradually adjust analysts from both Helpdesks. One analyst from each Helpdesk was trained for several months before supporting clients in all 13 states.

 2. Both Helpdesks were in different parts of the Call Center. A couple of analysts from both Helpdesks switched desks in order to familiarize each other with systems.

 3. Management was very supportive of the transition and realized that there was a learning curve during the transition.

 4. There were two analysts from both Helpdesks called Helpdesk Advocates, who were the liaison between the analysts and management. Both Advocates communicated the analysts’ concerns to management.

 5. Clients were informed that both Helpdesks were in the process of being combined and to please be as understanding as possible during the transition.

 6. Every analyst was receptive to any question from other analysts. Every analyst was in the same boat – so to speak. Every analyst knew that he or she would have questions about systems in which he or she was not as familiar. How every analyst handled any question from a coworker would reflect the way in which he or she would be treated when he or she had a question. It was the human nature aspect.

 7. Every analyst had a desire to learn.

 8. Every analyst had a willingness to train

 9. If an analyst could learn one system, he or she could learn other systems.

 10. Every analyst was a team player. Although there were folks who had years and even decades of experience on some systems, no one was too good to help out any analyst who had never worked with a particular system. The fact that every analyst was cooperative during the transition made it an enormous success.

 This is what I personally learned from the experience:

 1. Teamwork is not about individuals. When a client’s problem was solved, it was the whole Helpdesk that triumphed.

 2. When superstars play as a team, the team will ultimately win. Every member of the team was a superstar who played as a team and we ultimately won in transitioning both Helpdesks.

 3. Every analyst proved that they could parlay their knowledge and translate that language to other analysts and clients.

 4. Perception and reality may be two completely different things. I knew very little about the folks at the other Helpdesk. When I got to know them, they were as wonderful as the folks whom I already knew at my own Helpdesk.

 5. Teamwork is all about dealing with people. What you make of your relationships is up to you.

 6. It is amazing what a team can do when it is up to the challenge. My team only had a certain amount of time to transition its operations and we did it!

 7. Sometimes just a desire to learn can make the difference between success and failure.

 8. Investment in relationships with people is invaluable with a rewarding rate of return.

 9. Random acts of kindness

 10. You can actually appeal to people’s better nature and not just their self-interest.

 Everyone involved displayed so much cooperation and willingness to train no matter how many times they were asked a question. Everyone involved during the transition should be very proud that they were part of that awesome period and it is something that they can take with them anywhere else they go. All of us were a part of a group that needed to implement the greatest effort of teamwork or we were not going to make the transition.

 Considering that three shifts were involved makes the event even more a source of pride for all of those who were involved. Any person on the team could be approached and they were more than willing to help with any question. We were an example to follow and we certainly set a great standard for teamwork!!

 Teamwork is all about people. Those in technical professions are people too. No matter what your profession, people in technology have great skills like everyone else. My team broke the stereotype that techies cannot communicate well and are not team players. It’s not your profession that determines what makes you a great team player, it’s who you are. It’s not how much people skills that you possess, it’s what you do with those people skills that matter.

 This article is dedicated to the one of those great team members, Monica Mitchell, who died of pulmonary embolism on Wednesday, November 5th, 2003. May God’s grace be with you always, Monica. For those of us who had the pleasure to have worked with her, we will greatly miss you.

Choosing calling card design

All sorts of businesses, profession or hobbies can benefit from calling cards. Whether you use them as a businessman, real state agent, doctor or any other means you can always be one step ahead of your colleagues or competitors when you have calling cards. Having a calling card is like packing all your business identity, contact information and logo into a wallet sized billboard.

 Calling cards can be for corporate or personal use. When they are used for work purposes they are commonly referred to as business cards. Business cards are used for contact information and keeping in touch with your customers. Adding a business card to your marketing strategy is one way of assuring that you maintain communication with your customers. Whenever or wherever they need to contact you, reaching you won’t be too difficult because they know which number to call.

 For personal use, traveler’s calling cards can come in handy when you are on the road and need to book hotels, call home or call your office. Having traveler’s calling cards can allow you to make that important call no matter where you are. Home phone cards can also be useful when you are traveling through a countryside where cell phones don’t work. Say for instance your car broke down and you need to call a mechanic, you can’t be always sure to make that call when you do not even know who to call. Your personal card can be very helpful in this occasion. Hence, having a calling card is like an added insurance to you so the next time you hit the road make sure that you never go without your phone card.

 You can always design and customize your own calling card. Your choice of design can come in different forms. Among the most common design are raised ink and full color. But you can also choose among foil stamping, embossing and die cut, whichever you think suits your business. Die cut calling cards are always effective in captivating attention because of their unique shapes but they can also be expensive. Nonetheless, they can really make a difference in projecting your overall company image and making a memorable impression.

 Full color printing, particularly CMKY color printing, is also a good choice in designing your calling cards because it gives you the option of using full color images and photos in your design. You need not worry anymore about color printing being expensive because with the technology that are available today, color printing can now be offered at affordable prices. Hence, they are a cost effective way to display your information.

 The bottom line is: your choice of calling card design should be based on how you would like to project your business image, your advertising scheme and budget. Remember also that a simple design can always be as effective as a costly design.