The AAPHI Blog

Not being particularly technical or a big follower of the latest technological news, I was completely didn’t know until not long ago that you can use the same ‘VoIP’ technology to make cheap calls to Pakistan from your mobile phone. VOIP is a relatively new technology which has taken by surprise the telephone companies, and not least the major mobile phone networks. Its popularity is steadily increasing with the increasing pervasiveness of broadband connections. It has proved to be an astonishing invention which has created a novel mode of telecommunication by exploiting the internet. VOIP is an abbreviated form of Voice Over Internet Protocol.

With the emergence of VOIP technology, calling your friends and family has never cost so little. You can easily make local, long distance, and overseas calls from your cell phone by tapping into a wireless internet connection or using a VoIP phone with a broadband net connection.

One of the most significant improvements of VoIP technology is the various new and improved features it allows you to enjoy, such as easy to set up conference calling. There are many much improved services offered by the various VOIP service providers. For example, there is voice mail facility, 3-way conference, speed dialling, call forwarding, simultaneous ring, call waiting, caller ID, call return, caller ID block, anonymous call rejection, an interesting feature of do not disturb, and last number dial. A great thing about VoIP is that you can often benefit from a host of additional services for no extra charge.

There’s a lot of hype these days surrounding Internet-based voice communications (VoIP) replacing traditional telephone service. Most of this revolves around companies such as Vonage who coin themselves as the ‘Broadband Phone Company’. So what about those of us who don’t have a broadband connection? Just because you don’t have high speed Internet, doesn’t mean that you can’t save a fortune by using VoIP for your long-distance calls. Whilst a broadband connection will usually result in more consistent VoIP call quality, comparable results can be achieved using a dial-up connection provided some simple guidelines are followed.

Shop Around

Not all VoIP service providers support dial-up users. Companies such as Vonage bill themselves as alternatives to traditional telephone service and shy away from the dial-up community (who are tied to those ‘traditional’ networks to access the Internet). Furthermore, some service providers only support dial-up above a certain speed (e.g., 56Kbp). Two companies whose VoIP softphone applications work well over low speed connections include Callserve and Go2Call.

‘Free-up’ your System Resources

In order to ensure the highest call quality, close programs that are running in the ‘background’. For Windows users, these applications can be seen in the taskbar at the bottom right of your screen. ‘Right-click’ the icons and close those programs that aren’t critical to system security (e.g., don’t close anti-virus software, firewall applications and the like).

If you’re using Windows XP with user switching enabled, log off all users except the one that will be used to make the call. This will prevent the other user identities from running software and/or using your bandwidth while you’re making calls.

‘Free Up’ your Internet Connection

Given the limited data capacity of dial-up connections, it’s important that you devote as much of your bandwidth as possible to the VoIP softphone application. To achieve maximum call quality, don’t do anything that uses your bandwidth whilst making calls. This includes instant messaging, checking email, using a webcam, browsing the internet, downloading, etc. In Windows, you can look at the two little computers in the bottom right of your taskbar to see whether your connection is being used prior to calling (the little computers illuminate when data is being uploaded and/or downloaded).

Scan your System for Viruses, Spyware, Adware and Malware

Some of these malicious programs can hijack your browser, tie up your internet connection and slow down your system (not to mention seriously invade your privacy!). I recommend AdAware for free scanning and removal of Spyware/Adware. Once you’ve checked and cleansed your system of these nasty programs, your virus definition files should be updated to minimize the chances of re-infection.

Use a Headset with an Integrated Boom Microphone

Last but not least, using a headset with a boom microphone should eliminate those annoying voice echoes often associated with PC to Phone calls. Echoes are caused by your microphone detecting the voice coming from your computer speakers and re-transmitting that voice signal back to the person you’re talking to. By using a headset, the voice signals are limited in volume (due to the headset being directly adjacent to your ears) and thus the chances of your microphone ‘re-transmitting’ those voice signals is greatly reduced.

So there you have it. A Lack of high speed Internet needn’t mean a lack of PC to Phone VoIP capability.

Nathan Smith

Nathan is the owner of netphonedirectory.com which deals specifically with PC to Phone and PC to PC VoIP. The site includes a comprehensive directory of PC to Phone service providers as well as information on VoIP and what you need to make inexpensive long-distance telephone calls using your computer

Orange has emerged as the topmost mobile broadband provider in the recent YouGov Dangle Tracker poll, as it did in the last poll. The survey is conducted every three months to judge the mobile broadband companies on 15 criteria like the value for money, network coverage, ease of use and quality.

The survey was conducted around a month back and YouGov interviewed around four thousand mobile broadband users. Orange has raked the highest points in nine criteria including ease of use and value for money. The newly introduced software which notifies customers when they are about to reach the usage cap and the monthly bill limit that ensures that cost of extra use is not more than forty pounds are being considered as the reasons for Orange’s top scores.

Orange UK’s Director of Broadband and Home, Asif Aziz, noted that it is a great honour and an amazing victory for Orange to emerge as the topmost mobile broadband provider. He said that Orange always aims as ensuring that the experience of its users is of highest standards. Orange even offers packages beginning from monthly rates of £5 for ensuring value for money for customers.

Some time back, Orange started its four million pounds publicity campaign with “You’re Covered” as the motto. However, the assertion of the service provider that it has the most extensive UK mobile broadband network has been challenged by 3, and the latter has even approached the Advertising Standards Authority to lodge a complaint against Orange.

For a closer look at Orange Mobile Broadband, take a look at Broadband Genie for a comparison of their service and performance with the other internet providers. Their comparative table of UK broadband providers includes an analysis of the prices and products, such as free laptop deals, from all the internet service providers to help you make an informed decision.

Mobile phone enthusiasts who have
viewed the
rise of VoIP technology and seen it
transform the telephone
industry are today set to gain
as producers are discovering
ways to bring VoIP technology to the mobile
market. There can be little doubt that this will turn out to be an
exhilarating time for those who use mobiles to make calls.

If you own a VoIP mobile phone then you may already be
enjoying the major advantages such as free and low cost
international calls. The cost savings that VoIP mobile phones will give
to consumers is sure to be one of the principal
attractions, although certainly not the only one. Convenience is
another element that will be a
blessing to users.

The prospective market for a VoIP Mobile phone is certainly huge as some
observers have already
noted. At present there are billions of
mobile phone users and with the assistance of mobile VoIP they will have
the power to make international calls at a very low cost. It seems inevitable that that fact
alone will guarantee that there will
be a rapid take-up of mobile VoIP.

The start of this new
phase in the VoIP success story
seems set to herald a
seismic
shift from the past and is another
example of the
growing world of telephone communication. VoIP for mobile is a development
that seems certain to pull in plenty of existing mobile users who will find
it highly desirable both in terms of
convenience and cost-effectiveness.

Expect to see the VoIP mobile phone sector to go into
overdrive in the days running up to Christmas
and in the years to come as growing numbers of mobile phone users discover the incredible power and flexibilty that mobile VoIP offers. It is transforming the
face of the mobile phone sector and this is a
tendency that shows no sign of slackening any time soon.

The Conservative Party has used the broadband tax proposed by the Labour party as its trump card for the elections. The Labour party’s proposal has met with protests from the general public who fear the increased billing they will face if this tax is indeed imposed.

The Labour party has proposed a charge of 50p to each monthly bill for landline phone connections throughout Britain. This is part of the Digital Britain initiative and is anticipated to generate revenues that will be used to improve broadband facilities across the country.

Predictions are that a tax of £6 a year extra per landline connection can bring in a substantial £175 million into the kitty. A competitive supply market will result from the improved broadband network that will be put in place with this fund, that is expected to bring down prices which will offset the addition to the bill. However, this broadband tax has not been received well by users for the obvious reason that it will involve an additional burden on them.

Now the Conservatives have used this tax as their electoral trump card, and have vowed to do away with it if it is voted to power in Britain. Speaking for the Tories, culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has confirmed in a Financial Times interview that his party will indeed discard the plan. However, it is not clear how the Tories will enable high speed broadband across the UK without this fund.

There were rumours that the Labour Party is not very keen on pushing the plan through right now as it may adversely affect their performance in the elections. However, Stephen Timms, minister for Digital Britain, has reiterated that he hopes to see the law put in place before elections.

If you need more information on the ISPs, Broadband Genie’s comparative table of UK broadband providers includes an analysis of the products and services from all the internet service providers. So take a look at their website; click on best broadband, and check out the latest on broadband UK.

Zen Internet has joined the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) as a member and has been put up on its list of members on the IWF website. This announcement is likely to come as a surprise to the many critics of the IWF.

Zen Internet was considered by IWF critics to be an inspiration, as it had not joined the IWF despite being amongst one of the best broadband providers in the UK, although it was not known why they had not. When Zen was approached to explain its recent decision to enrol, it refused to say anything, stating that the time was not right to talk about its membership. Similarly, the IWF could not be reached for any comments either.

The IWF had started out as an independent self-regulatory organization in 1996. It was founded by the internet industry to fight child pornography and other kinds of indecency on the internet. The foundation works in association with the government and the police, and has its own website and a hotline for people to contact in case they come across inappropriate content on the web. Recently, the IWF has also begun to focus on eliminating racial hatred, and was embroiled in a controversy regarding blacklisting of Wikipedia, that garnered it a lot of damaging publicity.

Although, the public has been guaranteed that the organization functions independently and that the sites for screening are chosen by a self governing panel, people believe that it is either run by the FBI or with the intent of profiting in some way from the censorships.

Following telecom watchdog Ofcom’s report last week, Virgin Media has refashioned its selling strategies, seeking to be honest and to keep transparency with customers. Further, the company increased its available broadband download speeds up to 20 Mb.

All these changes are available with the company’s non-cable broadband products, that is, its ADSL broadband service. The company is doing away with false broadband speed claims and is aiming at providing correct information to customers about broadband speeds that their lines can support - not sure of your broadband speed?… click for a broadband speed test.

Ofcom’s report highlighted that service providers promise unrealistic and unachievable broadband speeds to customers, thus deluding them in a big way. Following this, Virgin Media is the first telecom firm to come up with a transparent approach. The company’s ADSL products will now feature the correct maximum broadband speed, or the company will sell its products by endorsing them as the fastest possible that it can provide.

Speaking on the company’s new approach, CEO Neil Berkett said that customers are puzzled by the difference in actual broadband speeds they receive and broadband speeds the ISPs promise to offer when they sell their products and services. The customers feel deceived by such dubious promises. Therefore, he added, the company’s new commitment policy would make customers select the right product and would establish a new benchmark of transparency for the telecom industry.

To put the icing on the cake, Virgin Media’s national broadband customers will no longer have to pay rents for separate lines to other ISPs, as the company is going to provide them direct broadband lines. Further, Virgin Media is offering a mobile broadband service for its customers staring from £5 for 1GB transfer of data.

Are you getting the best phone service for your hard-earned dollars? If you stayed on with whatever company got “dibs” on your area when phone service was deregulated, you may be paying more than you need to. Businesses have learned that there is a lot of money to be saved by comparing phone services options and choosing carefully. Why should they get all the benefits? Take a look at your phone service bills from the past year. Take note whether your make more long distance calls or if local and/or toll calls take a bigger bite out of your budget. Knowing what kind of service you need is the first step in taking control of your phone service costs.

If your long distance phone service is costing you an arm and a leg, here’s a secretyou can make those calls for free. There’s a new technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) that lets you make long distance calls over the Internet. Because the signal is not carried over land-lines operated by a phone service, the only charge you pay is your regular bill to your Internet service provider. To use VoIP instead of a traditional phone service, you must have a computer with broadband, or high-speed Internet access. The cost for this access may see high at first glance, but when you realize you save the money you would normally pay for long distance phone service, the true cost comes way down.

You can also use VoIP in place of your local phone service. One of the great things about VoIP is that you can save money using it even if the person you are calling only has regular phone service. Another way to save money on local phone service is to use a cellular phone instead of a land-line. This tactic takes a bit more consideration, because if you don’t have a good cellular service plan, using your cell instead of a local phone service can end up costing you more. Before you decide to shut off your regular phone service for good, be sure to crunch the numbers and make sure a cellular phone or VoIP is the best way to handle the number of local calls you make on a regular basis.

Voice over Internet Protocol calling makes good sense for most small businesses. Large business spend enough money on their phone service to work out the best deal, but many small businesses don’t have that clout. Using an alternative phone service is one way small businesses can put their profits where they do the most good.

Craig Whitley is a freelance writer and Internet entrepreneur. He is a featured columnist for numerous business-related websites, including Your-Phone-Service.info.

So many companies that offered GPS handheld mapping devices are operated today. Some of them are just among those many outstanding GPS handheld mapping providers such as Magellan, Garmin, Lowrance, and much more.

For those who are interested to acquire some knowledge about some of those GPS handheld mapping devices that are widely used by many nowadays, try to look at some of the information below about a couple samples of GPS handheld mapping devices. Note that these are just among the many GPS handheld mapping devices that are out in the market today.

One of the outstanding GPS handheld mapping manufacturers and providers is the Magellan GPS Company. Magellan GPS devised one of their excellent GPS handheld mapping receivers and that is the Magellan SporTrak Map which is a Euro base map. This certain GPS handheld mapping device is a scraggy well-built, lightweight and compact GPS handheld mapping device that provides an exceptional benefit for the outdoor junkies. Aside from that interesting of feature, the Magellan SporTrak Map as a GPS handheld mapping device has an accuracy of about 3 meters and highlights a 2 MB European mapping database.

For much detail, the Magellan SporTrak Map as one of the outstanding GPS handheld mapping devices has a free memory that is 6 MB for favors for downloading street-level maps. Besides of being a GPS handheld mapping device, the Magellan SporTrak Map contains seven huge graphical navigation displays for the adventure junkie to fully and clearly view all the details stored in such GPS handheld mapping device. With this certain GPS handheld mapping receiver, I am sure that you will gain something that will add a new level of pleasure to your adventure.

Another noticeable GPS handheld mapping receiver is the Garmin GPSMAP 76 unit. The Garmin GPS Company has designed this GPS handheld mapping receiver to give those adventure enthusiasts concrete GPS positioning through the correction data gathered from the Wide Area Augmentation System. This smart GPS handheld mapping receiver highlights a built-in quad helix antenna for an exceptional coverage and this particular GPS handheld mapping device can offer accurate position to less than three meters when acquiring WAAS adjustments.

Besides, the Garmin GPSMAP 76 as one of the notable GPS handheld mapping devices has an internal memory that is capable of eight megabytes for obtaining optional MapSource which is detailed maps, including some marine cartographic sketches. Lastly, this GPS handheld mapping device is capable of storing exact details about the worldwide cities and the nautical navigation aids.

Shelved in the Doing Business, Life Of Telecommunication, The Hardware Way category | No comments are allowed on this one ... sorry