Working With Your People By Long Distance

--> Working With Your People By Long Distance

As you build a team for your network marketing opportunity, you will learn how big this world really is. Soon you will find out that working with people from far off lands can get expensive. At normal international long distance rates, a one hour telephone call can cost as much as $200 US. Today you will learn how to save up to 93% of your normal long distance phone bill.

You can get better rates from your long distance provider when you enroll in an international calling plan of some sort. But the potential savings are nothing compared to the most efficient way to communicate personally over long distances.

Please let me introduce you to the future of long distance communications, 'VoIP'. Voice over IP allows your voice to reach other countries using the internet. The result is clear, reliable connections with people in other countries around the world at a rate that is literally pennies per minute. Using VoIP can help you to keep costs down when you are just starting out. You will be able to work with your people by long distance often, without going broke.

To illustrate the real savings you can expect by using VoIP services for your international business phone calls, here are the details of a call I recently made to Germany from the US:

From: West Palm Beach, Florida USA
To : near Berlin, Germany
Call Length: 90 minutes
Quality : Excellent
Cost : $7US

Using the international calling plan on my long distance service, this prime time (1pm local time) would have cost $120US. Using a VoIP service, the same call actually cost only $7US, a savings of 93%! This savings would be reflected on all long distance charges for every month of the year. This is a substantial savings for someone just starting out.

There are many options for VoIP service and you will see more as time goes on. The popular instant messaging service ICQ has an option built in to make VoIP phone calls using a third party company, Net2Phone. Without using ICQ, the website Skype.com allows you to use VoIP at very low rates. As a Skype.com user, you can talk to other skype users at no charge using a PC to PC connection. This is a great tool for keeping in contact with your people, that will fit into a tight budget.

For VoIP to work with high quality and reliability, it is best used with a broadband internet connection. With a DSL or cable/satellite connection you can expect phone company quality at only 7% of the cost.

Frequent phone contact with your people will help keep turnover down and production up. Work with your people and teach them how to work with their people. It sure helps when you don't have to worry about how much the next international call will cost you, right? You bet.

What is broadband?

--> What is broadband? Defining broadband can get complicated

There are many different takes on how to actually define the word: broadband. The first and most obvious way to define it is a transmission medium that allows for multiple pathways and types of data, far exceeding simple voice communication devices. Simply, put it is the ability to access a variety of data through one connection at a reasonable speed.

Where a phone line severely limits the amount of information it can transmit, a broadband line, which has bandwidth greater than 2 mbps, unlike a standard dial-up connection which will only have 56kbps, can allow for a variety of different frequencies and channels to travel down its wide pathway. This makes it optimal for those who play video games on the Internet or are involved in heavy graphics work that they need to import, send and receive along the information superhighway.

The minimum width of a broadband line has become a matter of debate. While initially, the broadband definition was a line that was greater than 2 mbps in width, other experts began asserting that it should be at least 3 mbps wide. Still others complain that at least 20 would be appropriate. But now, broadband services start as low as 1 mbps, for those who are trying out broadband for the first time. So who really knows what the minimum level of bandwidth is needed in order for it to be called broadband? One thing is certain though. DSL service which an range from 256 kbps capacity on the downstream and upstream side up to 1.5mbps, or even higher, is considered a broadband service as well. So are cable television modems, which have similar speeds. So, in reality anything with greater capacity than a narrow line, like a telephone line, which can only hold up to 64 kbps, is technically considered a broadband service.

Broadband services have become all the craze in the past few years. When the Internet started to become more mainstream in the 1990s people were content with simple dial-up Internet services, which used only narrow lines. But as the need for speed became important, especially as files and Web pages became more elaborate, requiring more computer storage space and memory, the need for larger bulks of information being able to be sent and received at a quicker pace became essential. Hence, we have the broadband revolution. Today, hardly anyone uses narrow band service, or dial-up. Broadband Internet access is the name of the game. And if you work in an office it is absolutely essential, as larger chunks of information are frequently sent to and from businesses on a regular basis. Simply put, if you don't have broadband today, you are probably a person who does not need the Internet for a living. With the number of telecommuting jobs available today, the need for broadband services is only likely to expand greatly.

What is Broadband Phone?

--> What is Broadband Phone?

A broadband phone is one that makes phone calls over the Internet using the IP protocol. Several large broadband phone companies have come to the forefront in recent months offering the ability to make phone calls with a regular phone, that are routed over Internet Protocol using broadband Internet access. The most popular method of using voice over IP among the household users of this technology is connection to IP telephony via a digital adapter. This is the device that is connected between a broadband modem and a normal house phone to gain access to the broadband phone line. The digital adapter unscrambles the digital voice data that is received via the Internet and converts it to an analogue signal that can be heard and understood with regular non-digital phones.

Without a doubt, voice over IP is the future in telecommunications and long distance communication. Making phone calls over IP is much cheaper than either conventional phones or cellular communication. The technology is extremely efficient and it is very easy to implement due to the fact that it uses the infrastructure of the Internet, a communications structure that already exists.

As internet telephony and its surrounding technology become more and more refined over the coming years, so will the technology that gives us access to it. Even over the coming twelve months, we will see a change from the use of a digital adapter to convert digital data from the web into analogue. Instead, we will see an increase in the availability of digital telephones and USB phones that plug directly into a USB port and that can make and receive phone calls digitally. You will also notice other mediums produce products that will attempt to bridge the gap between old technology and new. While other companies will keep their eye on the digital future and come up with more advanced variations of voice over IP to take us into the future.

The above article is copyright 2005 by Aki Majima.

What Is VoIP

--> What Is VoIP VoIP stands for; Voice Over Internet Protocol.

What VoIP does is it converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the Internet.

This means NO phone charges! And this is why VoIP is such a buzz word today.

VoIP presents businesses and consumers a like with an option to save on their phone bills.

It is very simple to set up and use, and requires very little equipment.

For instance...If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is then converted back at the other end. Internet Voice can allow you to
make a call directly from a computer.

If you make a call using a phone with an adaptor, you'll be able to dial just as you always have,and the service provider may also provide a dial tone.

If your service assigns you a regular phone number, then a person can call you
from his or her regular phone without using special equipment.

What Do You Need To Get Started?

A broadband Internet connection is required to make VoIP calls. Some services
allow you to use a regular telephone, as long as you connect it to an adaptor.

Some companies allow you to make calls from a computer or a VoIP phone that doesn't require an additional adapter.

If you are calling a regular telephone number, the person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone.

More and more companies are entering the VoIP arena everyday. The two most popular are Vontage and SKYPE.

For a low monthly fee you can make unrestricted calls anywhere without incurring any long distant charges. As you can see VoIP can be a real money saving opportunity for smart consumers and businesses.

It is important to compare plans when considering a VoIP provider. Depending on the plan you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call any phone number, anywhere in the world. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, a long distance, or an international number.

What Are Some Advantages of VoIP?

Because VoIP is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broad band Internet connection, you need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls.

What Do They Search For?

--> What Do They Search For? Do you know what and how people search when online? If you're operating an online business, this is important information. Understanding search habits and online behaviors helps you strategize your marketing campaigns.

Pew Internet Project has released a new study (summer 2002) describing what people do online. (http://www.pewinternet.org/)

The researchers found that searching for information is big -- second only to using email. Fully eighty percent of Americans who are on the Internet have used a search engine to find information. Twenty-five percent (that's thirty-three million) use a search engine on a daily basis.

Men are more likely than women to use a search engine on a given day. 33% of men and 25% of women reported using a search engine on a specified day.

College grads are more likely to use a search engine than high school grads. 39% of Internet users with three or more years under their belts use a search engine on a given day, while only 14% of those online for less than six months use the searches on a given day.

Google is the most used search engine in terms of minutes searched. It's currently at 25.9 minutes and gaining. However, MSN has the most number of users. It recorded 43 million unique users in May of 2002, compared to Google's 36 million. Yahoo had 38 million unique visitors during that month.

Information searches fell into four main categories: information about people, health, government and religion.

People searches leaned towards the personal (66.6%), more than the professional (33.3%). College grads were more likely to do people searches than high school grads, and younger people (18-29) were more likely to do people searches than older people (50-64).

Seventy-three million Americans looked for health information... up from 52 million in fall of 2000. Women are more likely than men to look for heath information, but are likely to be turned off by sites that are selling something, or by sites that do not provide the date and source of their information. 81% started their search at a search engine or at a web portal like Yahoo, AOL or MSN. The others started at a health information site.

45% started at the top of the search list and worked their way down. The rest clicked through according to recognized names or relevant content descriptions.

82% reported satisfaction with the health information they found.
One in three say they know someone who has been helped by Internet health information. Two out of 100 know someone who has been harmed.

Most searched for health information pertains to specific diseases, weight control, and prescription drug information. Inquiries are increasing for mental health information and for sensitive medical topics.

Sixty-eight million Americans reported using government agency web sites -- a dramatic increase from 40 million in the March of 2000. 40% started their search at a major search engine or web site such as AOL or MSN. Most scanned the search link for names that seemed to fit. Only 21% visited sites according to rank.

28 million Americans (up from 19 million in late 2000) use the search engines to find religious or spiritual information or contacts. Only 4% started their search at religious portals.

Other statistics of interest to marketers:
95% of Internet-using Americans go online to use email.
80% do searches
80% look for hobby-related information
37% play games online
75% go online to research a product or service before making a purchase
63% look for information about movies, books and entertainment
44% look for financial information
20% participate in auctions
9% visit dating web sites
5% go online to gamble

Only 21% of Americans (twenty-four million people) have broadband Internet access in their homes. However, this number is four times greater than in 2000. The broadband users are more likely to be wealthy, educated males. Not surprisingly, persons with high speed access make fuller use of the Internet's resources than those with dial up connections.

There you have it. Lots of numbers to help you develop your marketing plans or to incorporate in your business plan.

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Webcams: Science-Fiction Becomes Reality

--> Webcams: Science-Fiction Becomes Reality

One of the most incredible inventions I've ever come across is the web cam and its process of video conferencing. This is just so futuristic I can't believe they really exist and are readily available to anyone with the Internet, speakers, and the right software. I'm not absolutely sure but doesn't this spell the end of telephones? Now we can have conversations with people on the other side of the world, and see their face moving as we hear them speaking live.

Picture this: You're an Antarctic explorer on a solo journey in the middle of the ice and snow on your way to the South Pole. The only living creatures around are the slippery penguins sliding around having fun. You're in your special tent keeping safe from the intense wind from the blizzard outside. As you boil up water on your portable stove you flip open your laptop (with battery recharger, broadband Internet, and in-built speakers) and connect with your family back in Russia. You can see their smiles as you hear them speak. What a magical connection!

Another great aspect of video conferencing is the fact that you can communicate with whole groups of people at once either through networking a group of computers or by form of broadcast. This is a huge step forward for both companies and for schools. I've heard corporations have saved a lot of money and time, and students are enjoying learning this way much more than from a textbook. Informed people can talk to classes and help them learn, where otherwise they wouldn't be able to because of time and distance restrictions. This is also a bonus for children who have different learning styles. E.G. The more visual types who understand better when they can see what they're working with.

Feasibly, a surgeon in Japan could watch an operation in Australia and even ask the doctor in progress questions about procedures. It's obvious that video conferencing will both help humans evolve further through the sharing of knowledge as well as keep loved ones more connected when they are far from home.

A lot of people who are either fascinated or obsessed with sex will also tell you about the benefits of this technology for their voyeuristic purposes, but I'm not going to go there. Science Fiction has once again turned to reality, and I hope we can truly make the most of this invention created by humans who wish to make society a better place.

Jesse S. Somer

M6.Net

http://www.m6.net

Jesse Somer is a simple human being sharing his newfound knowledge about the changing world we live, which is being achieved through the power of the Internet.

VoIP Telephony Basics

--> VoIP Telephony Basics

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Telephony is the process of routing voice conversations over an Internet Protocol network, rather than through traditional circuit-switched telephone lines. The voice information is converted into digital data packets and then transmitted over an IP network, such as the internet, or a local area network.

The main advantage of VoIP is the fact that it is highly efficient, and thus very affordable. The cost of transferring digital information over an IP telephony network is significantly less than that of transferring analog information over a traditional telephone line. Because of this, VoIP users can make long distance and international calls to anywhere in the world, at any time of day, for a fraction of what an ordinary phone company would charge.

Although call quality was originally a problem for VoIP customers, this issue has improved greatly with today's progressing technology. Because of the fact that VoIP traffic goes over a broadband line, there is enough bandwidth available to allow for very good sound quality.

As anyone familiar with telecommunications would probably tell you, VoIP Telephony is revolutionizing the way that people around the world make phone calls. More and more people are seeing the benefits of VoIP, and the number of users worldwide is growing at an astounding pace.

If you have a broadband internet connection, and a touch tone telephone, you are fully equipped to set up your very own broadband phone system, and start making use of VoIP Telephony to save money on all your long distance phone calls.

For more information on the benefits of VoIP, and how you can start using it to save money on your phone bill, please visit http://voip-telephony.teleclick.ca/connect/ ...

VoIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

--> VoIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send to info@globalvalueconnect.com

Title: VOIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Author: Raymond Klesc
Email: info@globalvalueconnect.com
Copyright 2004 Raymond Klesc
Preformatted for 60-characters

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, has grown in popularity recently and with that rise in popularity has come a number of common misconceptions and confusion. Global Value Connect (http://globalvalueconnect.com) has complied this simple guide to address some of these most common questions and concerns.

1. What is VoIP and what does it stand for?
2. How do I make a VoIP phone call?
3. What equipment do I need for VoIP phone calls?
4. Are there any differences between making a local call or a long distance call?
5. Who can I call if I am using a VoIP service?
6. Are there any advantages in using VoIP phone service?
7. Will I be able to dial 911 emergency services?
8. Will I be able to use my computer while making a VoIP phone call?
9. Will I be able to take my phone adapter with me while traveling?
10. Does my computer need to be running in order to use VoIP service?
11. How will I know when I receive a phone call over my VoIP service?
12. Who regulates VoIP services?
13. What are the computer system requirements for VoIP?
14. Are free trials normally available?
15. How can I improve the sound quality?

1. What is VoIP and what does it stand for?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and it allows you to place telephone calls over a data network like the Internet. It operates by converting your voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that can then be transmitted over the Internet. The digital signal is then converted at the other end back to a voice signal that the other party can hear. When you use a phone with an adapter the calls are placed just like a regular telephone. You first hear a dial tone then the call is made. You are also able to place a call directly from your computer using a conventional telephone or microphone.

2. How do I make a VoIP phone call?

Making a VoIP phone call is no different from using a regular land line telephone. You pickup the receiver and listen for the dial tone. You can then dial your number as you always have in the past. The call connects to your high-speed Internet connection and travels to your local telephone company's equipment to a VoIP provider which transport the signal through the Internet to the local provider of the party you are calling. They relay the signal to your parties telephone. As an alternative, you may also place the call using your computer's hardware and software, entering the number through your keyboard. The signal is then sent through your cable modem to your local telephone carrier.

3. What equipment do I need for VoIP phone calls?

Your existing incoming high-speed Internet connection should be sufficient but the higher the connectivity the better the signal.
In terms of hardware, you can hook up an inexpensive microphone to your computer or connect a phone directly to a VoIP telephone adaptor (ATA). Or you can use a phone specially made to work with Internet Voice. This is called an SIP phone. Each SIP phone is a network endpoint, and voice is routed via its IP address. It allows a DID (direct inward dialing) number to move with a user. You can move, add or remove stations and never have to call your interconnect/PBX service company. SIP phones also allow full use of advanced features like voice mail to e-mail and auto attendant.

4. Are there any differences between making a local call or a long distance call?

There are many different calling available for VoIP. The calling rates and fixed plans will vary from one vendor to another depending on the service you select. Please make sure to read all of the fine print associated with any plan that you choose.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that VoIP can blur the difference between local and long distance by issuing a local number for your Internet phone. This allows you to make LOCAL calls to your home area code from that phone, regardless of where you are geographically. All you need is an Internet connection to plug in your phone, it doesn't matter what Internet provider you use, and you can call your local area code from anywhere in the world without paying long distance rates.

5. Who can I call if I am using a VoIP service?

Your calls can be made to any local telephone number, mobile phone, long distance number, or any international number. You may even use the service to speak with more than one person at a time. More importantly, the person you are calling does not need any special equipment; just a regular telephone.

6. Are there any advantages in using VoIP phone service?

If you are using a broadband internet connection, you don't need to maintain and pay the additional cost for a regular land line just to make telephone calls.
With VoIP you're able to talk to many people at the same time. You can set up conference calls with your colleagues, staff, family and friends.
VoIP allows you to reduce interconnect/PBX fees by enabling you to add, move and remove stations from your network without calling your service provider. In addition, you don't have to buy an expensive phone switch to set up your network. VoIP also offers many advanced calling features from caller ID and call forward to voicemail and distinctive ringing to call tracing and reminder calls, among many others. You can also manage your features through the Internet; log-in and customize services that normally you would have to rely on your provider to change - for a fee of course.
Voice over Internet can lower long-distance fees by assigning a local telephone number to your VoIP phone. You will then be able to take your phone anywhere in the world, plug it into any broadband connection regardless of specific provider, and you can make LOCAL calls to your home area code. Parents can keep in touch with children at college; churches can contact missionaries all over the world; and businesses can connect branch offices in different cities.

7. Will I be able to dial 911 emergency services?

Some Internet Voice services have difficulty seamlessly connecting with the 911 dispatch center or identifying the location of Internet Voice 911 callers. Check with your local VoIP provider to determine if they can provide this service in your area.

8. Will I be able to use my computer while making a VoIP phone call?

Yes you most certainly will be able to use your computer while making calls on your VoIP network.

9. Will I be able to take my phone adapter with me while traveling?

You should be able to use your VoIP service wherever you travel as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection available. Your adaptor should work the same as when you are at home or in the office as long as you have access to a high-speed Internet connection.

10. Does my computer need to be running in order to use VoIP service?

Your computer does not need to be turned on but your broadband connection must be active in order for VoIP to function properly. However, if you are not using an adapter and choose to use a microphone or headset with your computer then your computer must be on.

11. How will I know when I receive a phone call over my VoIP service?

Your VoIP phone will ring like any other telephone.

12. Who regulates VoIP services?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has worked to create an environment promoting competition and innovation to benefit consumers. Historically, the FCC has not regulated the Internet or the services provided over it. On February 12, 2004, the FCC found that an entirely Internet-based VoIP service was an unregulated information service. On the same day, the FCC began a broader proceeding to examine what its role should be in this new environment of increased consumer choice and what it can best do to meet its role of safeguarding the public interest. In November 2004 they ruled that States do not have the jurisdiction to impose taxes on VoIP services, another victory for the consumer.

13. What are the computer system requirements for VoIP?

The specific requirements of any VoIP system must be checked with each individual VoIP provider.

14. Are free trials normally available?

You need to check with your selected VoIP provider to determine if a free trial is available. Most VoIP providers will provide some kind of free trial or conditional free trial period. If you are dissatisfied for any reason you should return the equipment in their original packing boxes together with all shipping paperwork and packing slips to ensure they will honor their warrantee.

14. Will I be able to use VoIP behind a firewall?

You need to ask your network administrator regarding any special setting that are required to function through the firewall.

15. How can I improve the sound quality?

* Speak with a headset instead of a microphone. Better still, use a phone with an adaptor.
* If you are using a microphone, hold it away from the speakers to avoid having the sound from your speakers recirculate into your microphone causing feedback.
* Lower the volume on your speakers.
* Check with your sound card manufacturer to be sure you are using the latest drivers.
* Use a direct phone jack. A split line or extension cord between your phone jack and computer can distort the sound causing an echo.

Global Value Connect (http://globalvalueconnect.com) offers a wide range of VoIP products and services from the most reliable vendors at the most competitive prices. If you are in the market for VoIP services or curious as to what it may cost or how you may benefit then stop in and check out our products and services at: http://globalvalueconnect.com/VoIP.htm

VoIP Communications Joins Escape International as Representa

--> VoIP Communications Joins Escape International as Representa Recent News and Press Releases

The Latest Announcements and Press Releases
For Immediate Release
VoIP Communications Joins Escape International as Representative of Team Manager

Making calls and talk to me with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) becomes the newest communications provider
Published: December 6, 2004, 9:45 PM PST
By VoIP Communications Show "Talk To Me With VoIP" With Nate Perkins, http://www.nateperkinslive.com

Atlanta start-up VoIP Communications with Escape International and 8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT), the Packet8 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and videophone communications service provider, announced the availability of its DTA Broadband Phone Adapter and DV 326 Broadband VideoPhone at VoIP Communications http://www.voippacket8.net with Escape International Company: http://www.escapeinternational.com/, whose broadband VideoPhone service with Freedom Unlimited U.S & Canada Video calling broadband software lets anyone become a small-scale Internet business provider, Virtual Office hosted PBX Services and a Home-based business, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of VoIP Communications, Nate Perkins, says it's close to letting people create their own miniature phone networks as well as a small home business.

The Packet8 DTA adapter and VideoPhone will be featured at Voippacket8.net's online store, a component of its web-based information portal designed to provide consumers with a comprehensive guide to understanding Internet telephony. The latest chapter in the life of local entrepreneur Nate Perkins us VideoPhone, a Stockbridge outlet for the new Voice over Internet Protocol picture phone. Perkins, with 24 years in military telecommunications, received a MASTER in Information Technology (IT) from University of Texas, Killeen, Texas, a disabled-combat retired Army colonel and Republican activist, has closed another Stockbridge business and his Art Outlet in Riverdale to concentrate on sales of the Packet8 phones from Escape International. The phones allow subscribers to see each other as they speak. The number Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) households is expected to mushroom to 18 million by 2008 as service quality increases, already inexpensive rates continue to drop and more homes get broadband, which VoIP operators usually require.

Because the 9 Nov, ruling the Federal Communications Commission has decided not to have the states limited to regulate the new technology, there's a chance for small businessmen like me to compete with the big companies, which will serve to keep the prices down for Voice over Internet Protocol services.
VoIP Communications' unique VoIP Packet8 service, Packet8 VoIP Phone Adapter service introduced a few months ago, lets someone buy, install, maintain, operate and resell high-speed Internet service using Packet8 VideoPhone service, which are commonly used to with a high-speed internet connection (DSL, cable) or with a DSL or cable router and a Packet8 VideoPhone and Packet8 Phone Adapter dispense high-speed Internet inside millions of schools, homes, offices, hotels and motels, retail outlets, public areas airport ports, transportation hubs and states-wide Homeland Security Act.
With the Enhanced 911 (E911) broadband AMBER Alerts states emergency communications service plans. VoIP Communications, highly recommend that our company broadband VideoPhones (business or home phone) will offer and add greater, cheaper and faster Internet Phone Service with Voice over Internet Protocol that the states receiving broadband AMBER Alert notifications via their VoIP phones just like e-mail and electronic text messages. VoIP Communications service would add an order of magnitude of functionality to security his offering. Initial deals for the customers include (2) two month's free service free activation and rebates on the phones he will offer for about $250 during the holidays. VideoPhone price starting at $19.95 to #34.95 plus $3.00 for the E911 service if or when your states install the E911 network.

VoIP technology "We're moving fast" to start supporting Voice over Internet Protocol), a way of making phone calls over the Internet, www.VoIPPACKET8.NET web site claims. This way, broadband Internet networks, also known as "VoIP communications," could serve as a kind of giant online pay telephone booth, the resprestaive company says. Its soon-to-be potent mix of Wi-Fi, VoIP and open-source software that works on just about any Wi-Fi router "help (s) break the monopoly of regulated data and voice communications," a company spokesman said. "He has hired 25 home-based sale people already, he added, and plans to hire up to 3,000 in the Metro Atlanta and nationwide in the next several weeks to come". Perkins informed his staff, "that this is how we are going to put American back to work, people who have suffered from traditional companies layoffs and economic ups and downs".
While some entrepreneurs will probably use the Packet8 phones to turn their homes into small-based business, VoIP Communication's founders believe the initial market will predominantly be businesses run out of homes, or small companies looking for any competitive advantage they can get.

We here at VoIP Communications are another example of the changing face of the telephone industry. A decade ago, nearly every phone call at one point use the expensive, privately owned and heavily taxed and regulated local phone network. But VoIP technology allows the same calls to use the Internet--a haven from taxes and regulations-- that makes them much cheaper, and Packet8 (www.VoIPPACKET8.net). See Atlanta Journal-Constitution cover story "Ask Clark Howard", dated 16 November 2004, paged IE3. Listen Clark Howard's radio show 1-4pm Mondays-Fridays on WSB-AM (750). Have questions about VoIP? Visit www.ajc.com/buyersedge

Traditional telephone operators first used VoIP technology to cut down on their own costs. Two years ago, commercial services such as Vonage helped seed the market for using a broadband connection to make and receive calls from any phone number. By year's end, a million U.S. homes will be using broadband to make phone calls, and 10 million by 2008, several analysts have predicted.

About VoIP Communications

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Communications, the Founder LTC Nate Perkins USA, Ret., the Chairman and CEO, VoIP Communications, a Broadband Videophones: http://www.voippacket8.net. Starting at $19.95 unlimited U.S. & Canada Calling. The author of the bestseller book: NATE PERKINS LIVE! WE'RE AT A CROSSROAD. TALK TO ME (see page 101). http://www.nateperkinslive.com "Is dedicated to the President of the United States, George W. Bush, and the Republican Party 2004. LTC Nate Perkins, USA, (RET) is the most controversial TV host/ Radio host in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a 24-years disabled-veteran combat veteran".

For more information, visit wed sites www.VoIPPACKET8.net or http://www.nateperkinslive.com, free call 1-866-904-VoIP, fax to 1-678-565-8733. VoIP Communications is a disabled-veteran company, located in SOCKBRIDGE VILLAGE at 893 Highway 138 W Suite 10, Stockbridge, and Georgia 30281. A member of DSL Reports Gold and The Fierce15. Representative Team Manger With Escape International.

About Escape International

Escape International Incorporated, a privately held company, founded in 2001 is a marketing company focused primarily on telecom products and services. A second division exists specializing in wellness products. Escape prides itself on being a legitimately free network marketing company with income opportunities ranging from stay at home part time income to full time business opportunities. Escape is managed by a strong team of highly experienced individuals with over forty years of combined experience in the industry. For additional company information, visit the Escape International Website at: http://www.escapeinternational.com/

NOTE: 8x8, the 8x8 logo, Packet8, the Packet8 logo and Packet8 Virtual Office are trademarks of 8x8, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Nate Perkins of VoIP Communications, +1-800-994-VOIP, or CEO@VoIPPACTE8.NET

Web site: http://www.voippacket8.net/

Web site: http://www.escapeinternational.com/

Web site: http://www.8x8.com/

About 8x8, Inc.

VoIP (voice over internet protocol) service provider 8x8, Inc. offers internet-based telephony solutions (www.packet8.net) for individual residential and business users as well as small to medium sized business organizations. In addition to regular Packet8 VoIP service plans, priced as low as $19.95 per month for unlimited anytime calling to the U.S. and Canada, 8x8 now offers the Packet8 DV 326 VideoPhone, the industry's first stand alone broadband
-more-
Consumer videophone. Packet8 Virtual Office, 8x8's VoIP system for small to medium sized businesses, is a hosted PBX solution comprised of powerful business class features. For additional company information, visit 8x8's web site at www.8x8.com.

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VOIP: A Basic, Basic Intro

--> VOIP: A Basic, Basic Intro

What is it?

Most people are familiar w/ NetMeeting and other software that let you talk to others over the internet. VOIP is similar. However, it also uses your phone - the interface we're all familiar with.

Instead of connecting your phone to the wall, you connect it to a box either the VOIP company provides or you buy on your own. This is the modem. You need highspeed/broadband internet for this. Your modem plugs into your cable/dsl modem and now it can 'talk' btwn your phone and the internet.

Your phone lines already do pretty much what VOIP does, just w/ different/older technology (well, some of it's new w/ optics and such, but...).

How hard is it to setup?

It's actually very easy. Assuming you have the company send you a modem or you buy a kit at the store, you simply plug the modem btwn your current cable/dsl modem and your computer (e.g., the out from your cable modem now goes to the new box and the out from that to your computer). It also has a phone jack for your regular phone.

Once it is on, it will boot up and configure itself.

What are the benefits?

There are many benefits depending on the company you go w/, but here are a few I have (all of these are free w/ the monthly fee- $14.99 for my setup):

1. Features like caller id, call waiting, call waiting caller id, call forwarding, etc.
2. Voicemail
3. Email alerts for new voicemail.
4. Web access to voicemail - you can play your messages on your computer.
5. Auto-forward - if the phone is ever down or isn't answered, it's auto-routed to another number
6. Online management of all features, settings, account, etc.
7. Computer dialing - highlight any number on your computer, hit F6 and it sets up the call from your phone to theirs - very convinient!
8. Keep your regular phone (you don't need a voip phone)

There are some other cool features available for extra $ like the softphone which lets you use your computer as a phone w/o the modem - this means you can take your laptop w/ you wherever and you have your phone w/ the same phone number everywhere too (you can do this w/o the softphone, but you have to take your VOIP modem around w/ you - not bad if you're going somewhere for a longer trip).

Another really cool thing is the virtual phone numbers. You can get extra numbers that ring the same phone, but they are local numbers to any area code you want. So if I live in Dallas and have family in New York, I can get a local phone number here and there. That way my family in New York can call a local number (free) and talk to me! Vonage charges $4.99/month for that. I'm not sure about the others.

And the biggest benefit - IT'S CHEAP! I pay $14.99 plus some tax and such, but not the ump-teen taxes, charges, fees, etc. like the phone company charges.

Also, if you do a little research/reading, you can set it up to where every phone jack in your house is wired for VOIP. It's little more than plugging the output of your VOIP modem into the wall jack you already have. Very little more.

Bottom Line

You get lots of good, free features and options for doing/managing a lot more including a lot over the web and it's SO much cheaper (at least it is for me!). Being the 'average guy' I am, I don't really use all the features. Fortunately, it's pretty much a 'set it up and forget about it' type thing except that I save $40+/month w/ it!

I use Vonage b/c that's what I was told about first and it was one of the first. There are others and I'm sure they have their strengths, but Vonage has the cheapest base option at the time I did my research.

VOIP Internet Phone and Internet Telephony FAQ

--> VOIP Internet Phone and Internet Telephony FAQ How VoIP / Internet Phone Works
VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is then converted back at the other end. Internet Voice can allow you to make a call directly from a computer. If you make a call using a phone with an adaptor, you'll be able to dial just as you always have, and the service provider may also provide a dial tone. If your service assigns you a regular phone number, then a person can call you from his or her regular phone without using special equipment.

Background
Internet Telephony, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. Some services using VoIP may only allow you to call other people using the same service, but others may allow you to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. Also, while some services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, other services allow you to use a traditional phone through an adaptor.

What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?
A broadband Internet connection is required to make VoIP calls. Some services allow you to use a regular telephone, as long as you connect it to an adaptor. Some companies allow you to make calls from a computer or a VoIP phone that doesn't require an additional adapter. If you are calling a regular telephone number, the person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone.

If I have VoIP Service, Whom Can I Call?
Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call any phone number, anywhere in the world. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, a long distance, or an international number.

What Are Some Advantages of VoIP?
Because VoIP is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broadband Internet connection, you need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls.

Does My Computer Have to be Turned On?
Not if you are making calls with a phone and adaptor or special VoIP internet phone, but your broadband Internet connection needs to be active. You can also use your computer while talking on the phone.

Is There a Difference Between Making a Local Call and a Long Distance Call?
Some VoIP internet telephony providers offer their service for free, normally only for calls to other subscribers to the service. Some VoIP internet telephony providers charge for a long distance call to a number outside your calling area, similar to existing, traditional wireline telephone service. Other VoIP providers permit you to call anywhere at a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes.
Your VoIP internet telephony provider may permit you to select an area code different from the area in which you live. This means that if your VOIP provider charges for long distance, then charges could be based on whether you call within your area code rather than geographic area. It also means that people who call you may incur long distance charges depending on their area code and service.

Can I Take My internet Phone Adapter With me When I Travel?
You may be able to use your VoIP service wherever you travel as long as you have a broadband Internet connection available. In that case it would work the same as in your home.

How Do I Know If I have a VoIP Phone Call?
The phone will ring like any other call.

Does the FCC Regulate Internet Voice?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has worked to create an environment promoting competition and innovation to benefit consumers. Historically, the FCC has not regulated the Internet or the services provided over it.

Additional Considerations
If you're considering replacing your traditional telephone service with VoIP, there are some possible considerations you should be aware of:

Some VoIP services don't work during power outages and the service provider may not offer backup power

It may be difficult for some VoIP services to seamlessly connect with the 911 emergency dispatch center or to identify the location of VoIP 911 callers

VoIP providers may or may not offer directory assistance/white page listings. Aspects of these considerations may change with new development in Internet Voice technology. You should always check with the potential VoIP service provider to confirm any advantages and limitations to their service.

Unlocking the marketing power of the web!

--> Unlocking the marketing power of the web! Unlocking the marketing power of the web!

By Frank Williams

If you are not utilizing the power of the web as an integral part of your marketing program and business strategy, you are simply asleep! And your competition loves you for it.

In today's Internet-loving environment, you and your business should clearly understand the huge benefits of an effectively designed and properly utilized e-presence. Using the Internet is virtually free, providing a worldwide customer reach for your message and product. Imagination is the only limitation in effectively utilizing the Internet in your marketing. Quickly and easily, the Internet will cost-effectively provide current information to your target market in a non-intrusive and timely manner.

The Internet has become the great equalizer for thinking businesses wishing to thrive in the 21st century. I dare you to ‘surf-the-web' and pick 10 companies at random and tell me how big their annual revenue is. Whether your business is just starting out, or celebrating its 25th year, the Internet tends to level the playing field, initially providing equal access to your targeted market. And that is a primary task for any marketing group wishing to grow their business.

There are a number of aspects to an effective "on-line" presence adding both reach and currency to your total marketing strategy. Short of being just an e-business, your e-presence should compliment other marketing efforts. In other words, the look & feel of the web site, e-newsletters, e-mail, etc. should reflect and reinforce the image you already send to your target markets through sales brochures, direct mail, product presentations, and corporate communiqu

UK Broadband

--> UK Broadband Ever since August 2000 when BT first launched their broadband internet package, speeds have been increasing and prices have been dropping. The end aim of the UK government and all broadband providers is high-speed internet in every home in Britain.

Broadband is the name given to always-on, high-speed internet. High-speed internet is a connection that runs at 512Kbps or faster. Currently 6 million homes in the UK have a broadband connection, either through ADSL, Cable or LLU, of which 4 million are connected by ADSL.

The fastest commercially available internet connection out there is 8Mbps. With such a fast speed users can download music in seconds, stream live television and be shared between a household of computers so all the family can have a decent internet connection.

Wanadoo Broadband, the main competitor to BT broadband is running a LLU trial over summer 2005. Local Loop Unbundling is currently only used by 1% of households but if trials prove successful Wanadoo could be switching to this instead of BT's ADSL which is really what all other ADSL providers use. LLU is only possible now BT have been forced to surrender their open loop (their network of telephone lines over the country) and will involve Wanadoo installing their own equipment at BT telephone exchanges to by-pass BT's network and onto their own. For the customer this means Wanadoo internet will be cheaper and faster in the not-so-distant future.

BT have 1.7 million people subscribed onto their broadband where Wanadoo have 0.7 million. Other main contenders in the broadband war are Tiscali, Homecall, Pipex and AOL. All offer their own competitive prices. The main Cable provider in the UK is NTL.

Recently many ISP's have been increasing their internet speeds to fight off the competition. The standard ADSL connection at the moment is 2Mbps, with 8Mbps at the high end and 512Kbps at the low. As well as increasing the speed and price ISP's have also been putting up the bandwidth allowances for their customers. Typically your bandwidth allowance may be 3 GB, with 1 GB at the low end and unlimited at the high end.

ISP's implement bandwidth allowances with the increasing popularity of downloading music, TV shows and films from the internet. 1-2 GB is more than enough for normal WebPages and chat room access but limited if you wish to download a lot of music and video files. Since most people download such files illegally it isn't a large problem, but if you accidentally go over your monthly limit you could spend the rest of the month with a limited internet speed or no access at all.

The main complaint of users in the early days of Broadband Britain was accessibility. Many BT exchanges were simply out of date and the phone lines incapable of handling such fast data streams. Today 96.6% of all UK households are within a broadband area and BT is constantly upgrading their existing network, aiming to cover the entire country as soon as possible.

Broadband in the United Kingdom is expanding faster and faster. Package prices are decreasing and speeds are increasing with heavy competition on all sides. The future sees Internet becoming an ever increasing presence in each UK household, replacing televisions, radios and telephones.

Top 3 UK broadband providers

--> Top 3 UK broadband providers Top 3 U.K. broadband providers offer variety of products

Every Internet provider today wants to make it sound like you are getting something for nothing. There are even some providers who will offer free access if you are willing to surf the Internet with numerous pop-ups from their advertisers. But the top 3 U.K. broadband providers have made their presence known by simply giving customers what they want - quality service at an affordable price.

Homecall Broadband, one of the top three U.K. broadband providers, offers screaming deals on broadband and phone service that starts as low as 19.99 pounds per month. There are other plans available from Homecall to help suit your home business or office needs. The company has made quite a name for itself as one of the top U.K. broadband providers and has no plans to stopping anytime soon.

BT Broadband is another of the top three U.K. broadband providers that also offers affordable Internet access that doesn't tie up your phone line. The company states on its Web site that about 99 percent of the country has broadband available to it. With prices quite low and its service quality helping to garner a solid reputation BT Broadband will likely continue to be one of the top three U.K. broadband providers through the years.

Another Internet company that is offering both cheap and reliable Internet access that does not disrupt a home or business's phone line is Wanadoo Broadband. The company offers smoking 2 mbps per month deals starting as low as 17.99 pounds, almost unheard of for broadband Internet service. The company offers greater bandwidth for larger users, such as businesses as well.

But with the three top U.K. broadband providers clamoring for market share, if you are shopping for a provider it could be in your best interest to check them all out and see which service may be right for you. In some areas, one of these providers may not be available to you, as it may not have infrastructure in place to provide service to you yet.

But even if all three of these top U.K. broadband providers are in your area, it would still be advisable to get opinions from those who use their services. They are all very reputable companies, but talking to people who may even have the same broadband needs as you will give you insight into what life will be like with a certain broadband provider. Even with the top three U.K providers available, one may have a service that fits your needs better than another provider.

Even still, with broadband service becoming more and more accessible to everyone in the U.K., all three of these companies should see a very promising future as broadband providers. In short, don't expect them to fall from the top three ranking any time soon.

The Premium Movie Channel Paradigm Could Soon Face Extinctio

--> The Premium Movie Channel Paradigm Could Soon Face Extinctio

The article sent shockwaves throughout Wall Street, as the stock prices for both TiVo and Netflix shot up. Last September, a Newsweek article reported that TiVo and Netflix might be getting together to produce a true form of video-on-demand (VOD). Last week, a Netflix official fueled this speculation by dropping hints about a potential joint venture. TiVo, the original and premier provider of digital video recorders (DVRs) in the U.S., would eventually provide instantaneous online access to the entire DVD library (currently more than 35,000 films) of Netflix, the nation's number one mail order video rental service. This would be accomplished via a broadband internet connection to specially equipped TiVo DVRs. This development could also spell the beginning of the end for premium movie services like HBO, Showtime, and Starz.

First, let's put all of this into perspective with a little history of the premium services. Home Box Office (HBO) was the first premium service, debuting in 1975. It was one of the first channels beamed from a satellite and carried by cable operators across the country. As its popularity grew in the late 1970's, several other premium services like Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel, as well as some lesser known premium services came into existence. The industry started consolidating in the early 1980's as HBO bought Cinemax, Showtime bought The Movie Channel, and those lesser know services went belly-up. In the early 1990's, the Starz-Encore networks debuted to compete with the HBO and Showtime networks.

During the mid-1990's, as satellite services such as Directv and Dish Network debuted, the premium services began offering "multiplexed" channels, i.e., multiple channels of HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel, and Starz-Encore for the price of one. Unfortunately, the number of movie choices didn't increase. Those services just began to air their same libraries of movies at different times on their various multiplexed channels. There are hundreds of movies at local video stores that have never played (and will never play) on the premium channels while there are a comparatively small number of others that have played on these channels thousands of times. That has always been the major weakness of the premium services. Multiplexing did not fix this problem.

Several market tests of VOD were conducted during the 1980's and the early 1990's but, because the technology was rather primitive, it did not catch on with consumers. By the late 1990's, it finally seemed ready and lots of promises were made about the brave new world of VOD. The cable companies were talking about veritable online video stores, which were going to put Blockbuster, et al, out of business. Unfortunately, the reality of VOD has never lived up to its hype. The stuff the cable companies are currently passing off as VOD is nothing more than a glorified version of pay-per-view or a DVR. For the most part, their VOD offerings aren't any different from the stuff currently playing on the premium channels and/or on pay-per-view. This is what I call "faux VOD." How lame!

Fortunately, led by the apparent impending TiVo-Netflix undertaking, the landscape is about to change and a new era of genuine VOD is about to be ushered in. PC-based broadband VOD services like Cinemanow (www.cinemanow.com) and Movielink (www.movielink.com) have been up and running for several years and are about to broaden their offerings. In addition, SBC Communications and EchoStar Communications have already announced that they are teaming up to provide an online-to-TV VOD service this year, while several similar phone company-satellite operator projects are still in the negotiations stage.

Also, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) platforms, offering hundreds of television channels via a broadband internet connection to a TV set-top box, will be coming online this year. One of the major features of these services will be advanced VOD technology. Microsoft has developed its own version of IPTV technology. See Microsoft's website (www.microsolft.com/tv) for details. The nation's two largest phone companies, Verizon and SBC, plan to utilize Microsoft's technology in the rollout of their respective IPTV platforms later this year.

Not to be outdone, several smaller companies also plan to compete in the broadband-to-TV market. Akimbo Systems (www.akimbo.com) debuted its service last fall and is currently in the process of expanding. Similar ventures such as DAVETV (www.dave.tv), TimeShift TV, (www.timeshiftv.com), and VCinema (www.vcinema.com) plan to enter the market later this year. All of these companies plan to offer almost unlimited amounts of movies, TV shows, sports, specialty programming, and international programs via a set-top box interface between a broadband connection and a TV set. This programming will be culled from the vast internet universe and made available for TV viewing. For a more detailed description of these services, see my related article entitled, "The Coming Television Revolution."

If nothing else, all of these developments should compel cable companies to offer a much more competitive form of VOD. Comcast, one of the leading cable providers and a partner with Sony in its recent purchase of the MGM movie library, is now in the process of rolling out its advanced VOD platform. The other cable companies are sure to be following suit real soon.

Meanwhile, the premium services have still been slogging along. The premium channel paradigm has long outlived its original usefulness and has only been able to hang around because of the lack of a good VOD system thus far. The only thing really going for the premiums right now is their award-winning original programming; including series' like "The Sopranos", "Dead Like Me", and "Six Feet Under." Perhaps the premium services could morph into original-programming-only services in order to survive. However, they'd have to seriously increase the number of series' (and the number of episodes of each) they produce. Perhaps they could also carry longer and/or alternative versions of programs already aired on broadcast television and basic cable. In addition, they would have to find a way to lower their subscription rates. I'm not sure all of that would be feasible. One thing I do know for sure is that people would not continue to subscribe to the premium channels for their movie content once they could conveniently pull up virtually any movie or TV show they wanted, any time they wanted.

The Human Side of Web Hosting

--> The Human Side of Web Hosting

M6.Net, a web-hosting company (What the hell is that?) has turned this techno-phobic writer into a working member of a new age information and communication team. Let me tell you a story, a story about a crazy company that sits high up in the clouds looking at its global community. I had always been afraid of computers, such a sterile environment, and no trees to sit under. Of course this has become redundant with the advent of laptops and Broadband Internet, but here's the truth of the matter: I believed computers were for geeks and nerds, and the radiation from the screens caused one to go sterile or infertile. The day I walked into M6.Net my assumptions were not altered...looking around at the bland walls, the plant-less vacuum of faces staring into screens tapping away foreign codes that only astro-chipmunks could comprehend...'Why am I here?' I thought as the people started to talk computer jargon to me. 'What do these freaks want with a creative writer? Let me out of here quick!'

After talking to one guy for about fifteen minutes he finally realized I didn't understand a thing he was saying. It was like I had just gotten off a spaceship on the planet Googamooga! Then one of the 'bosses' came over for a little chat. I say 'boss' because the owners of this company don't act like authorities or the top of a hierarchal chain. They say they'd rather see all humans as equals, "Don't call me sir, please call me Michael." he had said with a smile. This made me feel a tiny bit more relaxed; I still wanted to leave, as it just wasn't my kind of place if you know what I mean. Then Michael and I had an interview. He asked me if I knew anything about computers or the Internet. I said 'nope'. He said 'cool'. I knew then that I was in for an unexpected twist in my life's journey. Well, life is a mystery anyway, I guess I needed to learn not to 'judge a book by its cover', to spit out a clich

The Death of Windows

--> The Death of Windows

I have always regretted how Microsoft price gouges and rips off computer users. I really regret Windows XP activation. I have always intended to convert to Linux, but it isn't easy for a Windows user since version 3.0.

Recently, I purchased the book "Moving to Linux" by Marcel Gagne. The interesting thing about the book is that it includes a bootable Linux CD-ROM. "Knoppix" is a special version of Linux that you can run entirely from your CD drive. You can run Linux without uninstalling Windows or making any changes to your PC.

I tried the Knoppix CD on a Windows 2000 machine with a 200 MHz pentium II and 128 RAM, a very low power machine by today's standards. Linux provides you with step-by-step status information, and I ignored several error messages as Knoppx was booting. It took a while for Linux to boot from the 52X CD-ROM drive, but then Windows 2000 also takes forever to boot on this machine.

To my amazement, Knoppix booted successfully, with the proper screen resolution and access to all the drives. To my further amazement, the CD-ROM contained OpenOffice.org 1.0. I used OpenOffice to create a file. I couldn't save the file to the hard disk, probably because of access rights (NTFS or Linux), but I could save it to a floppy disk. Later, I opened the floppy disk file on a different Windows 2000 machine with the Windows version of OpenOffice.

In his book, Marcel Gagne gives you several tips to make knoppix start faster and work faster. For example, he provides a command that creates a Linux swap file on your Windows partition, and a command that saves Knoppix configuration to a floppy disk.

Note: If you have a broadband Internet connection, you can download Knoppix from www.knoppix.net (700 MB). You also need to know how to burn raw data to CD-R. The book gives you all kinds of information about the different Linux distributions, appications, and how to use Linux, plus the included Knoppix CD is all set to run, so I think the book is worth the extra cost.

If want you to explore and learn about Linux without uninstalling Windows or making any changes to your PC, Knoppix is the way to go. Maybe someday everyone will carry a Knoppix CD and a CD-RW to use on any computer they find. That day will truly be the death of Windows.

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to subscribe@bucarotechelp.com

The Coming Television Revolution

--> The Coming Television Revolution

The revolution is just getting started and will begin to make its mark this year. By 2010, it will begin to take off. By 2025, it will be the standard for all TV viewing. It's called Internet Protocol Television, or IPTV for short. IPTV works with a set-top box connected to any broadband interface and to a TV. It will allow users to choose among thousands (and eventually hundreds of thousands) of hours of programming, including movies, sports, classic TV, etc., and download their selections from the internet to the hard drive of the set-top box. Initially, set-top box hard drives will be able to store up to 300 hours of programming at a time, but capacity will expand as the technology becomes more refined. Also, download times will become shorter and shorter as broadband connection speeds become faster and faster. Eventually, a two-hour movie will be fully downloadable in a couple of minutes. Once the programs are downloaded to the hard drive, they can be viewed on the connected TV at any time via a DVR-type interface provided by the set-top box.

Besides the convenience of an all video-on-demand (VOD) environment, IPTV will provide a much wider range of programming than broadcast, cable, and satellite TV, or even major video chains, could ever provide. Because the programming is available from the internet, it will be almost completely unlimited and unconstrained. Programming from all over the world will be available along with every imaginable genre of niche programming. Also, previously unreleased independent films that have been sitting on shelves for years due to the lack of a distribution source will suddenly become available to the masses via IPTV. Films that previously could not be made at all will become a reality and be available on the IPTV services. Long forgotten films and TV shows will have new life breathed into them by IPTV. To top it all off, much of this programming will be eventually be available in high definition (HDTV)!

Most IPTV platforms will be divided into "channels", but not the same kind of channels that we have grown accustomed to with traditional TV services. In this case, a "channel" is defined as a division of an IPTV service by individual content provider. Each content provider carried by a given IPTV platform will have its own guidelines for delivering programming on its channel. Some will provide their content for free to everyone who owns a given IPTV product. Some will be subscription based, i.e., everything on their channels will be available for a monthly or annual subscription. Others will be all pay-per-view. Still others will provide a combination of all of the above.

Several entrants into this market have either already debuted or plan to debut sometime this year. Among those are Akimbo (www.akimbo.com), DAVETV (www.dave.tv), TimeShifTV (www.timeshiftv.com), and VCinema (www.vcinema.com). Please see their respective websites for more details, as each one will offer a slightly different variation of IPTV technology. In addition, a joint venture between TiVo (www.tivo.com) and NetFlix (www.netflix.com) will be starting up later this year. TiVo plans to eventually make the entire Netflix DVD library available to its customers on an on-demand basis via a broadband connection to a TiVo box and a TV. Other potential IPTV contenders will be announcing their intentions over the next year or two. One of these nascent IPTV services headquartered near my home has already started placing "help wanted" ads in my local newspaper.

Within the next 20 years, all the fuss over broadcast TV indecency will become irrelevant, as there will be very little other than news and live sporting events on broadcast TV. The major networks will shift most of their entertainment programs to IPTV to avoid all the broadcast content restrictions currently being enforced by the FCC. Eventually, broadcast TV will cease to exist. Cable and satellite services as we know them will also become extinct. Yes, there will still be cable and satellite platforms, but they, along with DSL and wireless internet services, will exist merely as conduits for bringing broadband internet into homes and offices. There won't be any more cable and satellite TV, per se. The now 60-year-old paradigm of television schedules in which programs air at specific times on specific days of the week will pretty much be a thing of the past. Everything, except what's left of broadcast TV, will be exclusively available on demand via an IPTV platform.

These developments in no way mean that all TV programming will become more risqu

Slash Your Phone Bill in Half Now!

--> Slash Your Phone Bill in Half Now!

Rip Out Your Phone Lines

I hate the phone company. Reading my phone bill is like reading hieroglyphics. I thought that the break up of ma bell was suppose to make it easier for the consumer. We were suppose to get more choice. The choices seem to all be the same. For instance, I was so elated last year when the phone company offered me a lower rate. Yes, 29.99 and that was all I had to pay. Well, they forgot to tell me about all the special charges. My 29.99 became a towering $55.00 a month. I went from jubilation to silent despair. Is there anyone who could rescue me from my prison?

But then freedom came from the most unlikely source while visiting a friend's office. He told me that he had unplugged his entire office from the phone company. He was running his phone over the Internet. It's called Voice over IP. It has been around for a few years. Voice over IP allows you to make calls through a broadband Internet connection. I have always been reluctant to try it. I was concerned about quality of the sound, loosing my old phone numbers, and what happens if the cable goes out.

My friend convinced me to take the plunge. I decided to go with Vonage, they are a fast growing Voice over IP service and they provide a plethora of goodies. At 24.99, I get unlimited long distance calling to US and Canada; voicemail, caller id, call waiting, call forwarding, and 3 way calling. I purchased a router phone box for my cable modem. Cost after rebate, $29.00. It took me about 30 minutes to get whole thing up and running.

So far, so good. The sound quality is great. I was able to transfer my personal and business number to my new service. Even If I loose the cable connection, the calls go to voicemail or I can forward them to my cell phone. All my services are completely accessed via the web. I can see all the calls, and make any changes via the web. My entire cost to switching is less than one month's phone bill. I estimate that I will save over $400 this year alone.

But don't take my word for it. Would you like to get a free coupon for 30 days of free Vonage service? I would like to offer this to all my pals out there. If you want to slash your phone bill in half, click on the link below and I will send you the coupon immediately. http://www.speakingsmart.com/vonage.htm

Reginal Smith, Speaking Smart

Author of "Speaking Secrets for the Bored Room"

Learn to be an Effective Presenter

Free Ezine, Free Speaking Teleseminars

Contact: www.speakingsmart.com rsmith@speakingsmart.com

Reginal Smith is a dynamice speaker, trainer and writer. He is the author of Speaking Secrets for the Bored Room. What's is worse than sitting through a boring presentation, giving one. Reggie's Speaking Secrets book can help any professional become more a more effective presenter. He has trained hundreds of executives, managers, and community organizers with his technique. He has been featured on over 200 radio and Televison shows.

rsmith@speakingsmart.com

Should I Make My Own Web Site?

--> Should I Make My Own Web Site?

With the growing popularity and automation of wyswig (what you see is what you get) web site design software titles, a growing number of small business and individuals are creating their own web sites. Should you make your own web site? One school of thought is that you can save yourself some cash by making your own web site, and saving some cash is always a good thing. The other school of thought is that in order to make a top quality product equal to what you provide your customers with on a daily basis you are going to have to invest some money in some quality software.

You would need to purchase a web site design program like Macromedia's Dreamweaver and if you plan on embellishing your web site with some of your digital photography you will need some photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia's Fireworks. Even if you take fantastic pictures you will still need to optimize them for fast loading in your customers web browser. An unedited five megapixel photo takes up about a 19x19 inch screen and if you put two of those puppies on a web page and your customer does not have broadband internet access they will be nodding off before your page is viewable. And that equals bye bye visitor.

That bring us to learning about search engines which is a sceince unto itself. Am I using the right keywords? What are my best keywords? Is my keyword density right? The questions are almost limitless, definitely one of the toughest parts of the job.

There are endless tutorials on web site design available online as well as the tutorials that come with most software packages, so the tools to learn to make good web sites and edit photos are there for you as well. But wouldn't you rather be spending your time learning about the industry you have devoted your life to and making certain every customer that leaves your establishment leaves with a smile? My answer is you bet I would.

I could easily run down to my kitchen every morning and get out my flour and eggs and bake myself a loaf of bread so I can have some toast, but since the bakery does a great job and gives me quality bread at affordable prices, the baker wins my breakfast order. I've got customers to please!

Secure the border, secure Internet connections...what about

--> Secure the border, secure Internet connections...what about Everyone is talking about the U.S. borders not being secure
- illegal aliens streaming over our borders, about securing
our broadband connections from hackers, and I was just
curious about the silence of securing our children's minds.

Has anyone been paying attention to our most precious
treasure being assaulted on a daily basis by the equivalent
of illegal aliens - a failing education system, drugs,
violence, teen pregnancy and immoral attacks on all levels?
Our children's spiritual borders are being left unguarded,
and this assault is during the most critical years of their
lives when it comes to learning about becoming a whole
person when they become adults. The Southern Baptist
Convention to their credit has developed a resolution "to
warn their members concerning the toxic spiritual nature of
the government school system". The resolution further calls
on churches to "become aggressive and proactive in starting
Christian schools and in supporting homeschooling".

That is a wake-up call and others need to be sounding the
alarm across our nation. Securing broadband Internet
connections cannot be more important than securing a loving
realtionship with our children, instead of them forming a
relationship with the blurred PG-13/R rated broadcasts
coming from the television.

Parents, family, neighbors, and friends should be sounding
the trumpet about protecting our children's spiritual
borders. See more info here:
http://www.earnedmedia.org/gtko0531.htm it is a website
called the Christian Communication Network and details the
SBC's resolution. This site also has a link to
http://www.getthekidsout.org/ a grass roots effort to
educate parents about the loss of morals in the public
school system and the full resolution.

A moral education is the first defense our children should
have against everything else, they need the ammunition to
make the right choices when it comes to drugs, violence and
when to start a family - which is where the confusion starts
that creates teen pregnancy in the first place. A second
pillar of defense is a proper relationship with your child
as each one is a different person and needs respect, love
and wisdom for that individual. These pillars help develop
a foundation that can withstand practically any assault our
children have to face in the world today and in the future.

If the Southern Baptist Convention is drawing up a
resolution advising parents to take their children out of
public schools, then at least we have someone paying
attention. Their needs to be a far louder alarm sent to
parents everywhere to get our children into a quality
environment where they can learn moral values and will not
be restricted or challenged for exhibiting moral values.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed like no other
as it is already too late to ignore with the large number of
children being negatively affected by the forces trying to
brainwash them to make the wrong choices.

We all need to remember - to train up a child in the way he
should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs 22:6)

Daviyd Peterson 2005 All Rights Reserved

Sci-Fi Communications at Home

--> Sci-Fi Communications at Home Computers and web cams are taking communication to levels only imagined in sci-fi novels.

One of the most incredible inventions I've ever come across is the web cam and its process of video conferencing. This is just so futuristic I can't believe they really exist and are readily available to anyone with the Internet, speakers, and the right software. I'm not absolutely sure but doesn't this spell the end of telephones? Now we can have conversations with people on the other side of the world, and see their face moving as we hear them speaking live.

Picture this: You're an Antarctic explorer on a solo journey in the middle of the ice and snow on your way to the South Pole. The only living creatures around are the slippery penguins sliding around having fun. You're in your special tent keeping safe from the intense wind from the blizzard outside. As you boil up water on your portable stove you flip open your laptop (with battery recharger, broadband Internet, and in-built speakers) and connect with your family back in Russia. You can see their smiles as you hear them speak. What a magical connection!

Another great aspect of video conferencing is the fact that you can communicate with whole groups of people at once either through networking a group of computers or by form of broadcast. This is a huge step forward for both companies and for schools. I've heard corporations have saved a lot of money and time, and students are enjoying learning this way much more than from a textbook. Informed people can talk to classes and help them learn, where otherwise they wouldn't be able to because of time and distance restrictions. This is also a bonus for children who have different learning styles. E.G. The more visual types who understand better when they can see what they're working with.

Feasibly, a surgeon in Japan could watch an operation in Australia and even ask the doctor in progress questions about procedures. It's obvious that video conferencing will both help humans evolve further through the sharing of knowledge as well as keep loved ones more connected when they are far from home.

A lot of people who are either fascinated or obsessed with sex will also tell you about the benefits of this technology for their voyeuristic purposes, but I'm not going to go there. Science Fiction has once again turned to reality, and I hope we can truly make the most of this invention created by humans who wish to make society a better place.

Satellite vs Cable

--> Satellite vs Cable

Satellite versus Cable
By Gary Davis

Dish Network Satellite TV.ws


(Webmasters - you may freely use this article in your newsletter or website, providing
you re-print the article exactly as it appears, including the Byline, Bio and a link back
to Dish Network Satellite TV.ws.)

There's a battle going on between Cable TV and Satellite TV. Many people wonder what the best choice really is. The best choice may lay in these factors:

Popularity
Both Cable TV and Satellite TV are popular. Although cable still is more popular overall, satellite TV has made huge gains on cable TV.

Equipment
Cable TV systems require a cable to be installed from the network to your house. If your street has no cable you may need to wait a while before it is available in your area. Besides the cable you need a receiver. With digital services you need an additional box.

Satellite TV requires a satellite dish, a receiver and a cable from the dish to your TV (no digging in your garden).

Reception Quality
Cable TV has analog channels and even though you can upgrade to digital services, analog channels will still be analog, meaning an often fuzzy picture. Satellite TV is completely digital, which gives you all the advantages of digital systems. Very heavy rain or snow can obstruct reception briefly, but generally this happens very rarely. Reception quality is much better with Satellite TV.

Programming
Here it gets really interesting. Cable TV can handle up to 260 channels. Satellite TV can handle more channels. Also, Satellite TV is more advanced in HDTV (High Definition Television) services.

Pricing
Usually Satellite TV is less expensive than Cable TV due to many additional costs that are related to Cable TV: franchise fees, taxes, plus costs for any pay per view services, and equipment costs. Dish Network Programming Package starts at only $29.99 per month.

Interactive Services
In general Satellite TV has more interactive services than Cable TV. Digital services like Dish Network's DVR (Digital Video Recorder) which gives the option to rewind while recording even in live broadcasts, EPG (Electronic Program Guide), Instant Weather, video on demand, etc. are all available on Satellite TV, but not all are available on Cable TV.

High Speed Internet
Cable has high speed broadband internet services. Satellite TV has this too, but is somewhat slower.
Directv: offers Direcway High Speed Internet, which is ultra fast but somewhat expensive.

Overall conclusion: Satellite TV is less expensive, has better picture quality (digital signal) and gives you more channels and programming options than cable TV.

Safely get your free full movie download

--> Safely get your free full movie download The ability to get your free full movie download has finally come around. Broadband internet has opened a Pandora's Box for movie and music downloads. You can now get a free full movie download in a few hours. Thanks to video compression you can fit an entire movie on a couple of CDs or a single DVD.

Now that they have DVD burners people are looking for ways to get DVDs for free. There are tons of DVD rips all over the net. You just have to know where to look. These are high quality rips that give you the exact same performance as regular DVDs. You can download all this and more at little to no cost.

There are a lot of sites out there that you can use to get a free full movie download. You could be a couple clicks away from never paying for a movie again. Imagine never having to dish out 20 bucks for a DVD.

When you download free full movies always make sure you do it safely. You don't want to end up getting in trouble by the law. I recommend trying out one of these sites that insures safety by blocking your IP or by another means of anonymity. These are your best bet and they don't cost much at all.

Shared Movies
Movie Download World
Ultimate Movie Download
iMovieSearch
Full Movie Downloads

Proposed DirecTV and DISH Network Merger

--> Proposed DirecTV and DISH Network Merger

It was in October 2001 that General Motors Hughes (Parent company of Direct TV) and EchoStar Communications Corp., trader of Dish Network agreed to a merger. The new company would have improved the services for satellite TV clients by adding many HDTV channels and local channels would then be available to all satellite TV viewers.

However, the US Department of Justice blocked the merger.
Why did they do that?

The merger would create a monopoly position


When merged the new company would serve all of the United States without any competition. As we all know, competition spurs progress and a merger would basically result in less progress. At the present time about 25 to 35 million homes do not have access to cable TV services. Those people have the choice between 2 satellite TV companies. The merger would reduce this to just 1 company, which clearly is a monopoly position that is not allowed. Even in areas with cable TV the merger would result in just 2 providers, of which each has a monopoly on its own technology. Further, EchoStar claimed that the merger was needed to be able to compete against the cable TV Giants. However, satellite TV was growing very fast while cable TV was loosing clients. Out of every 3 new cable/satellite TV clients, 2 would go for satellite TV.

EchoStars proposed self-regulation does not compensate for the basic monopoly issues


EchoStar and Hughes promised local TV programming to all 210 TV markets. However, the day after this promise, EchoStar asked the Supreme Court to overturn a law that required local carriage. They said they had no intention to carry all channels with the new company. At the time, local channels were available in just 41 markets while the 2 companies together already had the technology available to provide local programming in all 210 markets. A competitive market is more likely to speed up these services than a self regulated monopoly.
A proposed national pricing plan that would guarantee that prices would be the same in both rural and urban areas was also not accepted as prices could be set too high.

The merger would create a monopoly position for broadband internet services
In areas that are not served by DSL or cable, the only alternative to broadband internet services is via satellite. The merger would create a monopoly for broadband internet services in these areas.
Over all it seemed that without any other satellite TV providers a merger of the 2 companies was not possible. The public’s interest was just not served by a merger (or at least not enough).
Some markets just don’t have much competition because of their nature. Satellites are expensive to build, put into orbit and operate. The fact that there are 2 providers and not just 1 is a blessing for the public and everyone can make a choice. Of course we at Dish-Network-Satellite-TV.ws believe that the choice is easy. Dish Network Satellite is our preferred choice.

Prophetic Nerds

--> Prophetic Nerds I am an Internet creative writer and journalist and yet knowledge of the technical side of computers still eludes me. As I work with tech-heads I've always had a feeling that they were a different breed of people, with their strange language of numbers and abbreviated terminology. I've also had the egotistical belief that because they are always sitting at their computers, that somehow they were missing out on life, as opposed to people like me who try to spend as much time in fresh air as possible. Well, I had a wake up call today when I asked a few of my colleagues about the changing world of communication, television, film, and advertising that has begun to evolve at an alarming rate since the advent of the Internet.

First of all, after a short discussion I realized these people are just like me, they do all the things I do in their spare time. Secondly, I came to understand that a lot of these so-called 'nerds' are actually at the forefront of this revolution of technology and ideas that are changing our world for the better. Their well-kept secret is this: As they are the people designing these technologies that harness the power of the human imagination, they are actually prophets who can see into the future. I'm not saying that they are gurus who have mastered all aspects of life, on the contrary, I still believe that most of contemporary society still needs to focus much more time and attention on internal growth and understanding of our emotions and thought processes. However, as the tech-head jobs are usually based around ideas about how to make the world function better, they are miles ahead when it comes to knowing about which systems are going to implemented in the future.

Take communication for example. When the telephone was first invented by Alexander Graham Bell a lot of people questioned the worth of being able to speak to someone that they couldn't see face-to-face. Of course after the benefits were discovered, the whole paradigm of communication drastically changed. Everyone now felt that it was 'necessary' to have a telephone. Many, many years later came satellites and with them the ability to talk to people on the other side of the world. Recently we've had huge cables constructed of optical fiber laid along the ocean floor, and with them came light-speed telephone and Internet connections. Well, the future of communication is now on the verge of a new revolution in paradigm as voice-over-Internet communication comes into existence and evolves.

A good example of this technology in its early stages can be found at http://www.skype.com/. Skype is a company whose service of computer-to-computer and even computer-to-phone communication has already had around 115 million downloads off the Internet. The reason that it is so popular now is that compared to a normal landline phone call, it is super cheap! A few of my friends and colleagues use it regularly so I'll tell you how it works. In the case of computer-to-computer voice communication, each person needs either a headset with built-in microphone and headphones, or a combination of microphone and computer speakers/headphones. At this stage you both also need a Broadband Internet connection, but let me tell you, until the big telephone and Internet corporations put a block on the current system (some US companies already have), you can now talk to people on the other side of the world for relatively free! The only cost seen is where the amount of time you speak is subtracted from your allowable download limit. Talking to someone for an hour on the other side of the globe hardly takes any download usage and as the Internet is the medium, the 'phone call' is actually better quality than a landline but with equal speed so there's no time delay of speaker to listener like in the days of satellites.

The computer-to-phone service does have a fee but it still costs less than the rates on a normal telephone, although my friend says that the quality isn't as good as the other Skype method yet. What does this mean for future communication in our world? It means eventually telephone companies will probably have to become Internet communication providers, and by that stage they will probably raise prices, as they will be losing so much of the revenue that they make now from overcharging on telephone services. It's kind of like the situation we have with fossil fuels versus environmentally friendly energy production. Even though the technology exists, the oil companies aren't going to bring it out until they've made every cent they can from the old technology.

However, as the Internet is a new medium where the general public has much more power and freedom from corporation and government constraints, this new technology has a much better chance of being implemented into our society straight away. 115 million downloads of Skype alone means that if the phone companies try and block this sort of communication completely, people probably won't stand for it. This is also an important fact as it means that Internet nerds have a much better chance of bringing their ideas to reality, compared with nerds in other areas of human progress that are controlled more by big money-makers. As for now, if I were you I'd get onto Skype or another Internet voice communication provider and save your hard earned cash for as long as you can.