The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

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.

Uses of Video conferencing

Video conferencing can be used in a host of different
environments, which is one of the reasons the technology is so
popular. General uses for video conferencing include business
meetings, educational training or instruction and collaboration
among health officials or other representatives. Thus far video
conferencing has been used in the following fields:

- Telemedicine - Telecommunicatio - Education - Surveillance -
Security - Emergency Response

Advantages and Benefits of Video conferencing

Perhaps the biggest advantage or benefit video conferencing has
to offer is the ability to meet with people in remote locations
without incurring travel expenses or other expenses associated
with face to face communication. Business meetings, educational
meetings, healthcare conferences and more can all be easily
conducted thanks to video conferencing technology. Individuals
living in remote areas can also use video conferencing to keep
in touch if you will, with the world at large.

More people are easily accessed and contacted using video
conferencing. Because of this technology information and
knowledge are often disseminated at more rapid rates, and
collaboration between people occurs more willingly and freely.
Students can take advantage of video conferencing to take
classes at distant locations that would normally be unavailable.
They can also take classes that will accommodate busy schedules.

Video conferencing can stimulate better brainstorming, knowledge
sharing and information gathering. Businesses can use video
conferencing to provide presentations to key members of an
organization or to solicit new clients in a professional manner,
regardless of their location. The possibilities for
communication are virtually endless thanks to video conferencing
technologies.

Frequency Considerations for Recreational 2 Way Radios

If you are in the market for 2 way radios for personal use, you have an immediate and important choice to make: What radio frequency band do you require?

Frequency! 2 way radios obviously utilize ‘wireless’ communication methods so when using a 2 way radio you are transmitting and sending your message through the air — the same air that is currently carrying television signals, commercial radio signals, Ham radio signals and literally thousands of signals from other private 2 way radios. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the job of controlling all of these communication signals so they don’t run into each other; to accomplish this they have reserved frequency bands for use by certain types of communication (signal sending) devices. There are two frequency bands in use for recreational 2 way radios, these are called Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS).

In 1996, the FCC reserved a set of radio frequencies they called the Family Radio Service (FRS) band, specifically for short-range 2 way radios (radios that operate no more than 2 miles away from each other) with a small power output (up to 500 milliwatts or one-half watt).

About fifty years before the FCC created the FRS band they had reserved a set of frequencies for higher power 2 way radios that operated over a longer range this is the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) band. The GMRS band is for radios with a power output between one and five watts and a range over 2 miles. The FCC regulates the 2 way radios that operate on the GMRS band and requires users of this type of radio to obtain a license and pay a fee. The GMRS license is good for five years and costs $80.00; the license must be obtained by an adult (the radios operating under the license may be used by minors but only with the licensed adult’s knowledge and permission). Go to the FCC’s Internet page at:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=general_mobile
for more information on GMRS licensing.

When buying 2 way radios, your choice is between a set of radios that operates only on one of these frequency bands or a set of radios that is able to operate on either one of these frequency bands. This determination will obviously have to be made based on the maximum distance the radio users will be from each other. If the radios are to be used within two miles of each other, FRS will be the best (and least expensive) choice. If a greater distance is consistently required, 2 way radios that operate on the GMRS frequency band will be required. If the need for distance is uncertain or if you want the option of occasionally transmitting up to five miles a FRS/GMRS hybrid is the radio set to choose.

http://twowayradioshq.com Find out more about Two Way Radios.

Ooh I need romance babe , I hope you know it’s true Hope you
need romance babe, Just like I do too…

Okay, it’s not exactly the same lyrics to the Beatles song,
Eight Days a Week, but it’s true (for most of us, that is). And
just like the lyrics to the song “Eight days a Week, Is not
enough to show I care…” Romance is not reserved for holidays and
special days, it’s the wise person who is romantic on a daily
basis. And being romantic every day of the week is not that
difficult. It just takes a little forethought and imagination. I
call it planned spontaneity. And let’s face it, sometimes we
need a little help to add more romance to our relationship.

That’s where The Romance Calendar comes in. Take a look at your
calendar. What day is today? Is it Relaxation Day – the perfect
day for you and your love to sit around the house and read the
paper or have a movie marathon? And what could be more romantic
than Make a Difference Day? What could you do today to make a
difference in your love life? Why not volunteer for a special
cause together. Having a cause that you both feel strongly about
and believe in is a sure way to deepen your relationship. These
are just two ideas to show how much you care about one another.
There are 363 other days to be romantic. Use The Romance
Calendar to help you plan more of those special days.

January January has many great days to celebrate with your love.
They include: Turn up the Heat Day (Jan. 5th), Show and Tell Day
(Jan. 8th), Thank You Day (Jan. 11th), Send a Hug Day (Jan.
21st), and Compliment Day ((Jan. 26th).

February February may be a short month, but it is full of love.
In addition to Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14th) there’s also
Chocolate Day (Feb. 12th), Dream of Your Sweetheart Day (Feb.
13th), Cuddle Day (Feb. 25th) and Romance on a Budget Day (Feb.
28th)

March March on over to your love and celebrate Share a Smile Day
(Mar. 1st), Call her up on Telephone Day (Mar. 10th), Lips
Appreciation Day (Mar. 16th), Flower Day (Mar. 21st ), and Make
up your own Holiday Day (Mar. 26th).

April April showers may bring May flowers, and is also the month
to celebrate Great Lover’s Day (Apr. 2nd) Stories Day (Apr.
10th), and Kiss Day (Apr. 28th).

May May is more than Creative Beginnings Month. There’s Lei Day
(May. 1st), Naked Day (May. 4th), Slow Down Day (May. 5th),
Tulip Day (May. 13th), and Poetry Day (May 21st).

June In June we celebrate the flower of love – the Rose. We also
celebrate Join Hands Day (1st Saturday), Sneak a Kiss Day (June
15th) National Splurge Day (June 18th), and Chocolate Pudding
Day (June 26th).

July Did you know that July is National Doghouse Repairs Month?
Special days include Carnation Day and Independence Day (July
4th), Get Out of the Doghouse Day (3rd Monday) and Ice Cream Day
(July 21st).

August August is the perfect month to Admit You’re Happy. It’s
also a time to celebrate Friendship Day (1st Sunday), Champagne
Day (Aug. 4th) Relaxation Day (Aug. 15th), Kiss and Makeup Day
(Aug. 25th) and Make Your Own luck Day (Aug. 26th).

September September is a sweet month to celebrate National Honey
Month. You can also celebrate International Chocolate Day (Sept.
13th), Born to Be Wild Day (Sept. 15th) and even Ask a Silly
Question Day (Sept. 30th).

October Beer and Pretzels definitely go together when you
celebrate Oktoberfest and Pretzel Month together. It’s also a
time to celebrate World Smile Day (Oct. 5th). Bring Your Teddy
Bear to Work Day (2nd Monday), Sweetest Day (3rd Sunday) and
Make a Difference Day (4th Saturday)

November In November we have much to be thankful for. In
addition to Thanksgiving (4th Thursday), we have Men Make Dinner
Day (1st Thursday), and then there’s Sadie Hawkins Day -women
ask your men out – (1st Saturday), World Kindness Day (Sept.
13th) and World “Hello” Day (Nov. 21st).

December December has celebrations all over the world. In
addition to Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanza, there are many
other special days. If you need more off-the-wall reasons to
celebrate, think of Bathtub Party Day (Dec. 5th), Personal
Passion Day (Dec. 9th), and Make Up Your Mind Day (Dec. 31st),
because then it starts all over again.

Excerpted from the book, Romance on a Budget –
www.romanceonabudget.net. © 2005 - Heidi Richards

The art of conversation comes so easily to some, but for others
it is a real struggle. Learning how to get past those things
that stand in your way are the first step to learning the art of
communication.

There are three common reasons why people tend to feel
uncomfortable about conversation. The following list explains
these reasons and how to overcome them so you can be a master of
conversation.

1. Fear.

Many people fear others will think they are not intelligent or
that they do not belong in the conversation. First of all you
must recognize that many others feel the same way. You need to
be confident about yourself. The best way to do this is to talk
about things you know about.

If you try to join a discussion where you have no idea what they
are talking about you may end up looking ignorant. Even in these
cases, though, there is a way to avoid feeling bad. You just
need to ask questions. Questions are the best way to learn and
others will appreciate the fact that you are interested enough
to learn about what interests them.

2. Nothing to say.

Starting a conversation may seem difficult, but it doesn’t have
to be. The best way to start a conversation is to talk about
something that everyone can relate to. Some good conversation
topics include, pet peeves, asking about family or employment
and talking about current events.

Finding common ground brings everyone into the conversation and
leads to great communication. If you are worried about
conversation suddenly stopping or not being able to find
something to continue talking about then use these same tips.

Bring up a new topic. Ask questions about the old topic. Just
keep the tone friendly and you should be able to continue the
conversation easily.

3. Offending someone.

Sometimes we worry that we will say something wrong and offend
someone. For example, we make a comment about a certain
profession only to find out someone in the group is in that
profession.

The best way to avoid these mishaps are to not say negative
things. Simply keep your comments complementary. Do not talk
about hot button issues like religion and politics. Also avoid
anything that could be seen as racist or prejudice.

These three things are the main reason why many people avoid
conversation all together. Communication is essential to social
and emotional growth. To avoid a good conversation is only
damaging to you.

You can overcome these worries and fears to master the art of
conversation Just follow the tips above and you should see that
the art of conversation is nothing to be afraid of or to avoid.
It can open up new worlds to you and create many long lasting
relationships.

Broadband or Internet phones function like real phones but
convert voice into digital signals that are then conveyed over
the Internet. The technology used is termed as, VoIP, Voice over
Internet Protocol. Less expensive than regular phone services
broadband phone services offer caller ID, call waiting, voice
mail, call filters, hunt facilities, as well as conferencing.

Broadband phone services need a high-speed Internet connection
and do work with wireless ISPs. However, there are still
concerns over voice quality, reliability, and security. The
advantages are: * Great savings in phone bills especially in
long distance calling.

* Choice of area code and addition of other inbound numbers for
a small fee. This means you can have local numbers in multiple
area codes around the country.

* The option of a second full service line at low cost with
unlimited long distance service. Can be used as a voice or fax
line.

* Availability of comprehensive on-line control over call
forwarding, time of forwarding or number forwarded to. E-mail
notifications, voice mail messages or e-mail or voice mail, can
all be arranged.

* One can access voice mail by taking along the phone adapter
from hotels, offices, internet cafes, and so on. The VoiP
service can travel with you.

VoIP can work with:

* A home office PC in which the software is loaded along with a
headset or specialized broadband phone connected to the PC.
Advantages of software based VoIP are that it allows integration
with other software, offers lowest calling rates, uses existing
hardware, utilizes few power connection, and needs little space.
Disadvantages are that the system needs the computer on at all
times, cannot use existing telephone equipment, and blocks
valuable computer resources.

Or

* With an adapter box that links the high speed net modem and
the home office network or PC. Advantages of this are that it
functions independently of the computer, uses landline
equipment, allows vendor control of adaptor support and
programming. Disadvantages are that it is not compatible with
computer software, needs space and power outlets, and lends
limited control. The new technology is provided by many
companies like AT&T CallVantage, Broad Voice, BroadVox, Lingo,
PacketB, and Vonage. The approximate costs are from US$ 14.95 to
US$ 19.99 per month for residences and US$ 29.99 to US$49.95 per
month for small businesses. There is a start up fee of US$ 39.94
to US$ 138.00 charged by some companies. More information on the
options as well as services can be gleaned from:

* What Broadband? at
http://www.broadband-service-uk.com/why.html covers different
broadband suppliers, has in depth articles as well as FAQs.

* The Connection Store at
http://broadband-phone.connection-store.com/ features broadband
phone vendors, a service provider comparison, as well as
articles and quick links.

* Database Systems Corp at
http://www.databasesystemscorp.com/psphoneservice_directory_broad
band.htm has detailed information directory on broadband service
providers.

* Broadband Phone at http://www.broadbandtry.com/broadbandphone/
–has information about broad band phones, providers, news, as
well as blogs. There are links as well as articles and resources.

Using broadband phone services can save you considerable amounts
in phone bills. Make an in depth study of options in your area.
Weigh the pros and cons and reap the many benefits. Technology
can really work for you.