The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

Absence makes the heart grow fonder — Cliche? Yes. True? It depends.

Missing a person could be one hell of an ordeal. The stress it may bring is almost tantamount to mental torture. Distance is often the most fearsome test for relationships to withstand. What if a person has been away for too long? The tendency is that the person desserted or even both parties cope through looking for other activities with the attempt to make preoccupation forget the loneliness or homesickness a person feels.

But you know what? The rigors and melancholy that these trying times could bring may be alleviated. How? It’s as easy as getting the phone, dialing the phone number of that person and talking to that person. Calling your loved one more often and a lot longer is a surefire way to surmount that “abandoned” feeling.

Now the real problem is what if you need to be tight on your budget? Phonecards used for international calls often come with a hefty price tag. How do you deal with that when there’s some tuition, utilities and other bills waiting for you to act on.

Don’t fret. There are some ways for you to save on international calls. Just read on.

One way for you to not pinch much from your wallet while making that awaited international call is to know what kind of phone will receive your call. Overseas calls to mobile devices such as pagers and cellphones can cost you much more than when you call to a land line phone. This is because of the system called “calling party pays” employed by several overseas carriers. Ask your honey if she can just look for a landline instead of calling her through her latest Nokia.

How about getting some help from your good old smooth operator? NOT. Unless your call is for an emergency, don’t let the operator sweet talk you. You’ll see that what you can pay for only a few cents per minute could cost you some precious dollars after asking an operator to assist you with your call.

Go PPC. No, it’s not about your pubo-coccygeal muscles or those Internet marketing hype known as pay-per-click! It’s about using prepaid phone cards. Enjoy the convenience of not having to think of your bills after making that international call through the use of prepaid phone cards. Just make sure that you don’t fall for the mistake of buying expired cards or those that have high connection and maintenance fee.

Opt for pre-paid plans. If you’re not a prepaid card person despising all the fuss on knowing first all the hidden charges, prepaid plans could be of great help for you to save your hard-earned bucks. Websites that especially cater to those who’d really like to save on their international calls abound.

Choose what will not burn much of your time and what you’re most comfortable with. With these tips on how to save on your international calls, you don’t have to look for other activities to just resist the temptation of making that international call. Just call!

www.MrLongdistance.com owner Bernard Pragides has been in the telecommunication business since 1997. Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries on phone cards or international call rates. You may email us at HelpMeSave@MrLongDistance.com

Bluetooth headsets make up one of the fastest wireless markets here in the US and around the world. Headsets with Bluetooth wireless technology are capable of working with a variety of other Bluetooth enabled devices such as cell phones, PDAs, and digital music devices (like the iPod). Unlike conventional headsets, Bluetooth headsets do not require wires of any sort, but rather receive information from your portable device through 2.4GHz radio waves. The range of communication for most headsets is somewhere around 10 feet, which is usually plenty long.

Not surprisingly, there are a wide variety of Bluetooth headsets out there, and it really comes down to tastes in styles and preferred features as to which one is right for you. You’ll want to make sure, for instance, that your Bluetooth device - whether it be an iPod, laptop, or PDA - will work with your chosen headphones. Here we list below some of the most popular Bluetooth headsets and their relevent features.

Logitech Mobile Bluetooth Headset

Logitech’s Bluetooth headset is a real competitor in the market. It is a solid product with a dependable brand name, fully capable of providing sound connection between your cell phone and the headset. The device is entirely compatible with most major Bluetooth phones, but you may have to look into its compatibility with other devices. Like most headsets, the device can clip easily to either ear. It comes with an adjustable, swing-out boom that includes a noise-blocking microphone. The battery unit is rechargeable and is capable of giving you about 7 hours of talk time.

Motorola Bluetooth Headsets

Motorola currently has two stylish Bluetooth headsets on the market: the HS810 and HS820, and one soon to be released: the HS850. The HS810 and HS820 are very similar in style and shape.

Both devices are, of course, Bluetooth enabled and can thereby communicate with Bluetooth 1.1 compliant devices, including handsets, PDAs and computers. The device is compatible with the Motorola V600 and V710 phones. The HS810 and HS820 both weigh about 20 grams, and the HS820 has a slightly longer talk time range of 6 hours, compared with the HS810’s 5 hours max. They both can run on standby for 100 hours. The HS820 has the ability to communicate with your phone up to 33 feet away, and is equipped with a couple nice features: conference call and voice dialing. The HS810 sells for $99.00 and the HS820 for $79.00.

Information concerning the newest headset by Motorola, the HS850, has just recently been released. Those lucky enough to have tested and reviewed this device have, so far, given it high marks. Like it predecessors, the HS850 has a simple yet attractive design. The main casing is black, with silver around the control area (image below). One of the more innovative features of this device is the flip-on connection system that enables the headset to connect with your phone as soon as you flip it open.

Jabra FreeSpeak Bluetooth Headsets

Jabra, a leading provider of hands-free communication devices is optimistic about its newest headset the Jabra FreeSpeak FS258 released recently in Malaysia. Weighing only 23 grams, the FS258 is the lightest behind-the-ear device produced by Jabra. The company is encouraged by a new trend in the US towards banning the use of cell phones while driving is some states, such as New Jersey.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on Bluetooth wireless technology, please visit our Bluetooth headset webpage.

New York, NY, 11/28/2005 - The free discussion forums at
snarkish.com are celebrating their first birthday by awarding an
iPod nano in their “Type for Tiunes” contest. Forum members who
post trenchant, compelling messages between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4th
are eligible to win.

Snarkish.com - the free grown-up discussion forums for
people with their clothes on - is celebrating its first
anniversary by giving a free iPod nano to a new or current forum
member who posts at least one interesting, creative, and
relevant message in any of the 20 Snarkish.com forums during the
week beginning November 28 and ending December 4. The winner
will be drawn randomly from all eligible entries.

The contest is part of a membership drive being held in
connection with the Snarkish anniversary. To participate,
entrants must sign up for their free membership, or log in to
their current account, and post a message that is substantive
and relevant to the forum they choose. Entries can be news
topics or replies to existing online topics. Quality, not
quantity, is what counts.

Binky explains, “This contest will attract new members who’ll
provide fresh viewpoints and the current members get a chance
for the nano. As a bonus, we introduce the new members to a
forum where they aren’t plagued by tweenagers with surging
hormones and pulsating emoticons.”

Snarkish is a collection of reviews, articles and discussion
forums about current events, entertainment, Mac and Windows
support, politics, books, photography, and more. Snarkish member
Jim Nichol says, “Snarkish forums offer real depth. For example,
the movies we discuss don’t stop with Harry Potter. We have
screenwriters on board who are familiar with indie, obscure, and
foreign movies worth watching.” David Bondelevitch, another
long-time member, says, “Snarkish is one of the few forums on
the net where you can communicate with adults about virtually
any topic and get an intelligent response.”

Binky, a former CompuServe forum manager, founded Snarkish in
response to what she terms the “AOL-ization” of CompuServe.
Joining her are former MAUG members Alan August, David Ramsey,
and CompuServe’s Showbiz forum staffer Nicholas D’Amato.

Entries will be judged by forum staffers Binky, Alan August,
Steve Lee, Howard Oakley, and Nicholas D’Amato. Complete contest
details are found at http://snarkish.com.

The latest research shows that more and more people use their
ringtones as a fashion statement. Countless companies are
growing up to cater for this need and the music industry is
taking note. However caution needs to be given for those wishing
to purchase ringtones from the internet. In a recent survey, 36%
said they had been mislead by a ringtone provider at least once.

Despite this, the ringtone business is set to become a multi
dollar business within the next 3 years. Already in Europe more
people bought ringtones last year than CD singles. This craze is
only expanding with advances in mobile phone technology, which
allows consumers to listen to MP3 quality ringtones on their
mobile. The most popular being TV shows and films. These new
tehnologies are allowing consumers to customise their phone like
never before. Not only ringtones but wallpaper and logos etc.
The list is endless.

This is especially true of teenagers who make up the bulk of
ringtone consumers. To a teenager a ringtone is not a way for
you to know that your phone is ringing but a fashion statement.
It tells who you are to others around you, on the bus, in the
street, where ever it may be. Its like wearing sports wear or
“grunge”, it tells people who you are and what you stand for. So
what started out to be a “fad” might turn out to stay with us.
Who can predict what will be the next “fad” in the mobile
market.

Perhaps you have been hesitate to get into the mobile device
world. Today, more and more consumers are turning to methods of
improving and enhancing their communication needs. This can
often start in the form of using a cellular phone. Many
providers have a wide range and selection of this product for
your review. Quite often you can do your own research to find
which product is the one that will suit your needs. Popular
wireless phones include camera, prepaid, free cell phones and
pay as you go.

Where the catch is the monthly plan that you
may or may not wish to accept. The benefits of prepaid cellular
phones is that often there are no contracts to sign, no monthly
bills, no credit checks and best of all you can simple add air
time when you wish. For most other cell phone plans you are
committed to a contract for upwards of three years. The most
common features can include stuff like free anytime minutes,
free long distance, free roaming, text messaging, voice mail,
caller ID, photo capability and more. It really depends on how
many different bells and whistles that you are seeking.

One
important factor to take into consideration is the reception of
the digital phone that you are thinking about. Good things to
factor are the reviews written about a particular make and
model. This well help to determine if users have had positive or
negative experiences with the phone. It is wise to read the fine
print so you can see if there is a trial period you can work
with. If you are not happy with a particular aspect do not go
with that model. The best feature about prepaid cell phones is
that you can control your budget. You know exactly how much
money is going out the door every month.

Userplane’s Michael Jones explains why online video must be
included in your marketing mix.

Thanks to online video ads, guys with bad hygiene and pathetic
social skills can try wooing VH1 VJ Rachel Perry– and they even
get a well-mannered response. Ah, the wonders of the internet.

The ad campaign was an innovative partnership between laddie-mag
Maxim and Pontiac to hype the carmaker’s Solstice Roadster.
Users logged onto the magazine’s website and submitted pick-up
lines to an image of Perry, actually an incarnation of the
beautiful celebrity compiled from hundreds of pre-recorded
videos. People with the best lines registered to win a car.
Depending on the attempt, the program culled Perry’s retort in
real time from hundreds of pre-recorded responses. The site was
flooded with users. According to Advertising Age, 16,000 people
registered in its first three weeks.

The titillating Pontiac campaign was the successor to Burger
King’s Subservient Chicken, an online craze of its own. The two
demonstrate the unique potential for online video ads. They lock
millions of users to the sites, create a viral response by
allowing fans to email the links to friends, and generate pop
culture buzz. And of course, the online video ads paid off in
higher chicken sandwich sales and registrations.

We shouldn’t be surprised online video ads are becoming so
popular. The streaming ads are a natural outgrowth of
technological advances, evolving consumer habits and the
perennial desire to gain traction with users. They are a
much-needed advance in the maturation of the internet and will
help ensure its future profitability. Fortunately, companies are
realizing this. The online research aggregator eMarketer
projects streaming video spending will nearly triple to $640
million in the next two years, and grow to $1.5 billion by 2010.

Three key factors have caused the rise of online video ads, and
will guarantee the medium soars in 2006. 1.) A tech-savvy
culture If the internet were a child, we could say it’s leaving
the awkward ugly stage and beginning to blossom. Let’s face it,
only a small number of consumers jumped on board with the latest
technologies when they over-promised on the results or didn’t
work out the bugs. At first, technology was holding back
advances, which held back the profits. I was like a parent,
cringing and wincing at those banners and pop-ups. It was like
seeing my youngster lurching through puberty. Hang in there
little buddy, you’re gonna make it! Now, technology is catching
up with expectations, which entices a broader range of consumers
and gives marketers a piece of the action. I’m beaming.

The rapid adoption of broadband internet access is the primary
driver of online video ads. And it’s only going to get better.
The U.S. market hurdled a barrier to internet advertising this
year when more than half of online households were using
high-speed connections. A study by eMarketer estimates the
number will continue to grow, from 42.3 million households in
2005 to 69.4 million in 2008.

With all those high-speed connections out there, comScore
Networks found consumers putting them to good use. More than 94
million people in the United States viewed a streaming video
online in June of last year, according to comScore. The company
recently released the first comprehensive assessment of the
online streaming marketplace and, surprisingly, discovered that
technology isn’t just for youngsters anymore. Consumers between
ages 35 and 54 accounted for more than 45 percent of online
video ads watched in August 2005. It is 20 percent more likely
that these mature adults will watch an online video than the
typical internet user, the study found, and people between the
ages of 25 and 34 are 12 percent more likely to watch a
streaming video. These are hot marketing targets, and they love
their streaming media.

“Contrary to public perception, it’s not just ‘college kids’ or
‘bleeding edge’ internet users who are streaming videos,” said
Erin Hunter, senior vice president of comScore Networks media
and entertainment solutions. Publishers are using innovations
like high-quality video product clips, music videos, movie
trailers — even news broadcasts — to engage consumers, Hunter
said. “This creates a fantastic opportunity for advertisers to
capitalize on what is now a mainstream audience,” she added.

2.) An evolving business mindset The video ad pioneers have
mainstream companies hot on their heels, jumping on the online
video bandwagon. Todd Herman of MSN told Clickz.com that 23 of
the top 50 brands have advertised on the site since its launch
in August 2004. They include Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, General
Motors and Johnson & Johnson.

Hunter, of comScore, says advertisers are “waking up” to the
potential of online video ads. “People want more than a
two-dimensional experience online, and this powerful medium now
reaches everyone with engaging and interesting content,” Hunter
said.

The internet makes users part of the media experience. They
aren’t just viewers, as they are on television. They’re
participants. They’re members of the online community.
Advertisers are taking advantage of this increased engagement
and loyalty. On New Year’s Eve, MSN aired 30-second video ads
from the entertainment and automotive industry throughout its
live web cast from Times Square. The coverage allowed internet
viewers to become part of the show– sending emails that were
included in the web cast.

Companies are also mainstreaming online video ads because they
use quantitative data to connect consumers to products and
services. This is the new “golden metric” to determine ROI,
according to Diane Mermigas, contributing editor to The
Hollywood Reporter. “It is impossible to counter the logic that
paying 28 cents for a click on Google by a targeted consumer who
might engage in an electronic transaction is not preferred to
paying 10 cents per reader for a national magazine print ad that
might not be seen,” Mermigas writes.

Mermigas says traditional media outlets can cash in on the
online action by moving consumers and advertisers to websites.
In the future, look for more joint marketing sales between
internet video advertising and traditional media outlets.
Companies will integrate campaigns, combining online videos with
TV spots run on cable networks. This naturally extends the
campaign because video production costs were paid when the
content was prepared for traditional media.

3.) Interactive, engaging and informative Finding your ads’
target audience is only a start, you have to lock them in to be
effective, get them to engage. TV, radio and print have skinned
this cat every which way for decades, but they’re still
handicapped. They’re dealing with passive mediums and can’t
snoop while the consumer interacts with the pitch. The truth is,
they don’t know who’s paying attention or for how long!
Meanwhile, customers who check out the new online video ads by
Ross-Simons not only get a behind-the-scenes peek at the styles
of jewelry merchant, their interaction with the ad teaches
marketers what works.

Ross-Simons just launched its streaming ads on its website. They
star soap opera actress Lauren Koslow of NBC’s “Days of Our
Lives,” and allow consumers to click on highlighted items to
learn more or order the product. The videos engage customers and
allow them to take action at the moment of interaction. It’s
more than an advertisement– it’s a prelude to a transaction.

Shot on digital video, there is little comparison between online
advertisements and their passive cousins. Programmers can blend
interactive concepts with the campaigns, like hidden “Easter
eggs,” flash, 3-D and high-resolution images. Many online ads
include viral elements like emailing the ad to friends or
allowing users to become part of the online community by posting
comments on the site.

David Hallerman, senior analyst at eMarketer, said, “More than
any other advertising format, internet video has the potential
to blend hot marketing elements together– branded
entertainment, paid search, viral marketing, consumer generated
media, behavioral targeting, website brand marketing and online
gaming.”

And every time a user emails an ad, clicks on an Easter egg or
conducts a search, we’re learning more about our target
audience. We’ll take that information and improve, giving
consumers what they really want next time, and the time after
that, and the time after that. The best part is that this is
only the beginning.

Is it time to look for t1 service? Many people are confused when
they consider whether to upgrade from DSL or not. There are
several factors to consider when examining you current DSL
connection and the possiblity of replacing it. For many people
the biggest factor is reliability and if reliability is critical
to the applications you run over your connection you should
seriously consider replacing your DSL connection with a T1. DSL
is a quick and cost effective method of acquiring high speed
bandwidth however it is not intended to support commercial
applications or large numbers of users as are T1 connections.

Reliability becomes critical when customers or employees depend
on your connection for immediate responses. If your customers
use your connection to access your databases or your server or
the internet then reliability of your connection is critical. If
your employees depend on your connections because you host the
e-mail server in house or host web servers or ASP type products,
your connections is considered critical. A critical connection
can be viewed much like a lifeline, without which your business
would be negatively impacted. Your monthly savings of having a
sub-par connections will not make up for the loss in
productivity of your employees or loss of customers when your
DSL connections gets bogged down or cut off. To reiterate,
ciritcal connections should be supported with a T1.

Many customers are extremely price sensitive and cannot afford
the cost of a T1 which can be as much as 20 times more expensive
than a full T1 connection. Residential customers who are most
sensitive to price should not consider a T1 circuit unless then
have a business reason to pay for such a circuit and cannot
access DSL service. Most people don’t realize that a DSL
connection can be just as fast as a T1 at 1.5Mbps. The
shortcoming of DSL is that it is oversubscribed. This means
there is a finite amount of bandwidth available and a customers
speed can drop if other customers in the neighborhood decide to
use their service. SDSL (Synchronous DSL) is a business class
DSL and is ranked as a higher priority than residential DSL or
ADSL (Asunchronous DSL). This means it is not oversubscribed to
the extent than ADSL and is subject to fewer bandwidth
restrictions. In short, if price is your critical factor go with
DSL. If reliability is the critical factor purchase a dedicated
T1.

Calling cards can be an excellent way to save money, both at home and abroad. Calling cards can offer you the lowest prices in domestic and international long distance service, no matter where you call from.

This means that the next time you’re traveling, you won’t have to pay the hotel their ridiculous long distance charges. Some hotels charge as much as $8 per minute! With a calling card, you can get rates for less than a penny a minute - now that’s dome savings!

But if you want to save as much money as possible, you need to know several things about choosing the correct calling card for your uses. The cheapest is not always the best. Here are several factors to consider:

1 – is there a connection fee?
Some calling cards charge you a fee for each call you make, usually in exchange for lower rates. If you make short calls, this setup could be expensive for you.

2 – is there an expiration date?
Some calling cards have an expiration date – if you don’t use the minutes on the card within a certain number of days or weeks, they become invalid. Of course, this would not matter to you if you make lots of calls on a regular basis, and would use up the card before it expired.

3 – how do the international rates work?
If you will be calling to more than one country, look carefully at how the international rates work. Some cards may give you very low rates to one country, but high rates to other countries. Some domestic calling cards do not allow international calling at all, or charge very high rates. Every card is different – just check before you buy.

All in all, if you get the right calling card for your uses, you can save a great deal of money over time. Just use these tips to ensure that you get the right calling card for you.

Visit www.startdialing.com for great deals on international calling cards.

Cellular service providers who offer SMS also offer public SMS
gateways, which allow you to compose and send messages from the
service provider’s web site. A number of independently operated
message gateways also exist on the Internet. Some gateways have
more features than others. A few let you compose messages to
more than one recipient, create group lists, manage messages,
and send pre-set or customized replies.

By using a public gateway you can send a message to a device on
another network, and friends or business associates without
SMS-equipped phones or pagers can send messages to you. If you
don’t have access to your e-mail account, or an SMS-equipped
phone, a public gateway (available from any computer with
Internet access) is a convenient way keep in contact.

Unfortunately, the one drawback to using public gateways is file
security. Unlike Web transmissions that occur as secure
transactions, any third party could monitor the cell phone
number and message contents when a message is sent through a
public gateway. Messages sent from phone to phone through Short
Message Service Centers are more secure, but the possibility
exists that these transmissions could also be monitored.

Public gateways are often referred to as SMSC or SMS centers.
The centers typically run a robust software application (like
advanced versions of those mentioned above) and subscribe to a
large database that allows for the messages to be routed to the
appropriate carriers using the appropriate settings.

For people in India, SMS gateways are a useful means to send
messages. The service enables even those who do not have mobile
phones or SMS enabled phones to send and receive SMS messages.
Even big organizations like Red Cross, governments find it a
convenient medium to use to send messages to a large number of
people. This way important messages like natural disaster alerts
of tornado, typhoon, hurricane, flood or earthquake can be sent.
The idea is to prevent accidental deaths due to natural
disasters. Romantic guys and girls who desire to wish their
loved ones can use the gateway in emergencies and send messages
through PCs to their mobile phones.

Schools, colleges, professional education institutions,
associations, guilds, federations, societies, groups and
communities are some other classes of society and community who
benefit by using SMS Gateways.

SMScountry Offers web
based SMS service in India and around the world.

Ask some Danes in the street of Copenhagen, the capital of
Denmark, about what is important to them. Many will answer you
that it is important that we have a country that is safe, that
all people get their basic supply of food, have a decent place
to live and have free access to the hospital and to education.
Many will formulate that it is important to them as Danes that
we have a well-functioning democracy without corruption.

If you talk more with people they would possibly argue, that
they appreciate a free press. Everybody should be allowed to
speak up and give their opinion on all kinds of issues in the
community, including on religion. In fact in most cases religion
isn’t a big issue for modern Danes and in Denmark people have a
right to practice their own religion.

As a very small country Danes are aware that we are just a small
sand corn in the global sea of sand. But due to the focus on
democracy and how to improve equality globally Denmark has for
many years been keen on developmental aid. The later years this
has ceased a little but still it is a fundamental thing among
Danes to try to make the world a little bit better.

As an example I can mention that I was assigned to be a part of
an effort of the Ministry of Thailand to ‘Strengthening
Environmental Education in Thailand’ (The SEET Project). This 4
years work was initiated by the host country, Thailand, and
partly funded by 0.80 USD from each of the 5 million inhabitants
in Denmark through the tax system. Formally the project was
funded under the agency DANCED, later under DANIDA, and the
project had very strong democratic aspects build in.

For Danes it is difficult to separate the importance of
democracy from the long term caring for the environment in
Denmark and world wide. Back in the late 1960s the environmental
movement in Denmark would never have had that important impact
without the free press in Denmark. All Danish newspapers are
independent of the government and most are more or less
independent of political parties, too. But of cause they have
their different basic attitudes that for each newspaper will be
closer to some political parties than to others.

The environmental movement in Denmark was for years in strong
opposition to the government and to the establishment of
business. But with the critical attitude to community issues we
love the newspapers for keeping the public debate going. In the
case of environmental matters it sparked a strong environmental
priority among some political parties and in the government as
such at that time. Effects of that are still highly viable:
Denmark is regarded as the ‘windmill hub’ of the world, and we
escaped from having nuclear power plans in our small country.

That would never have happened without democracy and a free
press in Denmark.