May
14
Choosing A Toll-Free Phone Service
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When was the last time your had a business with a toll-free number? Was it back in the mid-1990s, when the “new” area codes 888, 866 and 877 started showing up?
My step-daughter recently asked me “what the deal was with the 877 area code?” She grew up in an era when long distance was always free on her cell phone. It got me thinking about how things have changed with Ma Bell (even saying that will date me, I am sure).
I had an 800 number back in the day when I thought it was important for people to easily call me. This was when I had 128 kbps ISDN “broadband” Internet, and had to pay something like two cents a minute for each call to my ISP (that cut down on my surfing time, to be sure). Most of the time I got wrong numbers, which I paid I think regular long-distance charges for. I think my business phone bill was around $300 a month, including the ISDN access.
Fast forward to today, where my personal phone bill is around $200 a month and the thought of having a “dial-up ISP” and ISDN puts you back in the cretaceous period. Of course that includes several cellular lines, DSL, and unlimited wireline long distance. But there are still some situations where you might want to have a toll-free number for your business, or even personal needs. So what do you do?
The easiest and cheapest way to get a toll-free number is if you already are a Vonage VOIP customer (there are still a few of us diehards around). It costs an extra $5 a month with a $10 activation fee, and you have your choice of 877 and 866 numbers with 100 minute in-bound calls. The number is tied to your existing Vonage line, of course, and it takes seconds to sign up via their Web site. Clearly, these guys get how to do self-service features.
If you aren’t a Vonage customer and don’t expect a lot of calls, you can get a toll-free number from Ureach.com for $10 a month that includes 30 minutes of inbound calls on one of their messaging plans. After that, the price is 7 cents per minute, which can add up. A better deal is a plan from OfficeDepot.com, where the same $10 a month gets you 200 minutes, and then 4.9 cents per minute after that.
And PhonePeople.com is just one of a number of Web sites that allow you to type in your name or some catchy seven-letter phrase and see if you can match it to a particular toll-free number, where the first 100 minutes will cost – you got it – $10 a month plus a $29 activation fee. They offer all the various toll-free prefixes too.
There are a number of differentiating features on all of these plans: some will send your voice mail calls to email-based notifications and voice attachments, some will allow you to have multiple “extensions” on your line for different users, some can forward to different numbers or have a “follow-me” type of service, and some will have toll-free fax tied into the voice line too.
Speaking of Ma Bell, I tried to get information from AT&T’s various Web sites about toll-free numbers, but wasn’t able to find anything even after I entered my login information as one of their customers. That is shameful, and just goes to show you how far we have with toll-free calling.
By: David Strom
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May
11
Free Reverse Phone Look Up
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White Pages and our traditional telephone directories give us the contact information of individuals when we look for their names in them. This information is listed alphabetically by name. If you just have a phone number and want to know who owns that number, it would be almost impossible to scan through all these listings to find your desired number.
That is why reverse phone look up has become a very popular service nowadays. Now you can find information regarding any phone number whether land line or mobile from the comfort of your own home just by using a computer with internet connection.
This service is being provided by a number of companies these days but they all vary in quality of information they provide. You need to be really careful in choosing the company. Generally they offer you a free reverse phone look up that gives some basic information about any phone number. For additional information you need to pay them a very small fee.
Always look for companies who have complete information on land line, cell phones and unlisted phone numbers as well. If you want to search on multiple numbers then keep in mind to go with their one time membership option. This option will allow you to lookup as many numbers as you wish as long as you are a member.
Pay a close attention on what kind of information you are getting. In most cases you will get name and address associated with any number. In some cases you can also receive other background information as well.
By: Manya Verma
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May
10
12 months free line rental plans offer the flexibility to manage the mobile phone bills according to the wishes of the user. This plan comes with the handset of your choice. Easy recharge options never let you to fall short of connectivity.
Does the monthly rental of service providers perturb you? Are you looking for a change to get rid of the mounting monthly mobile bills? You can become the master of your own talk-time. The easiest and cheapest way for connectivity is available now. Get 12 months free line rental with attractive discounts and gift vouchers on the purchase of handsets from our online marketing store.
The festive season is knocking the door. You have other predetermined expenditures. The festive season demands a larger than life fun and excitement. However, being in touch with your near and dear ones is also important. The simplest formula for both of them is available online. Remain connected all time but not at the cost of drying your pocket.
12 months free line rental offers you pre-paid talk-time. You enjoy the flexibility to manage it according to your needs. The handsets available with this scheme are seamless. You are free to choose the service operator of your choice. Recharge options are very much borrower friendly. Recharge facility is available 24 hours. When you fall short of balance, recharge your talk-time balance and enjoy the uninterrupted connectivity.
You are free to choose one of the exciting and latest handsets according to your choice from our widely diverged collection. Nokia 6080 the tri-band mobile phone with the global roaming facility is available at the best buy range. Other available Nokia models are Nokia 6300, Nokia 6300 red, Nokia 2626. We offer you the smartest way to frame your Christmas fun for all time to come. The 5 MP inbuilt camera of Samsung G600 is all about superb performance and indomitable quality. Capture the moments of cherishing and share them with your beloved one.
Our rich collection offers you the latest models of Sony Ericsson and Motorola. You can compare the price of a model with different dealers. Go for the “12 months free line rental” plans today and remain in touch with your friends without cutting your Christmas expenditure.
By: Morton Devi
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May
9
There is no free lunch in this world. The same goes with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls. The free VoIP calls have never been free of cost fully. More often than not, the objective is not to provide entirely free calls for all destinations, but to encourage the VoIP operator usage that is the most suitable for one. If you look back, you will realized that most VoIP companies only provide free phone calls made in their own network and a few of the uniquely chosen destination. Once you start making calls out of their designated network, you will be charged. This is the strategy implemented to draw users to the ‘talk for free’ promotion and the need to buy credits in order to make payable calls to other destinations.
There a number of choices that one can make for the preferred VoIP service.
Firstly, there are the direct PC to PC connections, PC to mobile phone connections or even PC to land-line connections. This is the most usual method of using VoIP as it only needs the VoIP software. One of the most famous free VoIP services used here is Skype. Skype allows free of charge conversations among other Skype users. Subsequently, it will be chargeable if calls are made to landlines or cellular phones. Another VoIP services that offer free calls made to landlines is Raketu. It does not only cater for 42 countries but provides live video television as well. The disadvantage side of this service is that it requires one to pay up front before utilizing their service. On the other hand, VOIP Cheap permits one to make non-chargeable calls to computers and regular landlines. However, the drawback is it is only limited to 300 minutes of talk time per week and per IP address too. After the limit has been exceeded, one will have to start paying for the service.
Secondly, one can obtain the free VoIP services from land-line or mobile phone connections that are routed to the Internet. Service from Jajah enables one to make free phone calls to either landlines or mobile phones for selected countries. Furthermore, there is the YouFon service provider where it will route calls from the Nokia E-Series phone to the Internet. It also allows you to call other registered YouFon users for free with a small sum of monthly fee.
Thirdly, the more advance technology used by the VoIP service is establishing a Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection between the VoIP phones directly and Internet Protocol (IP). Ooma is known to cater this service for users residing within US. It is called the peer-to-peer VoIP technology. Users can make free phone calls from within US only and they provide a limit up to 3000 minutes of talk time. The only thing that involves cost is the purchase of the specify device.
By: Stuart Michael M
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May
9
Call Capture or Automatic Number Identification (ANI) is a tool that every private investigator must have in order to conduct effective telephone investigations.
In this third article in a series about telephone investigations we will examine trap lines, often called call capture or automatic number identification. A trap line will trap the incoming caller’s name and phone number. This should not be confused with caller ID. Caller ID can be blocked or even faked while a trap line equipped with automatic number identification cannot. A trap line will notify you of the incoming callers information even if they have caller ID block activated.
A trap line can be used in many areas of routine investigations. Locating skips, finding runaway teens, obtaining a persons current place of employment. Are just a few routine cases where a telephone trap line can be very useful.
For example: You can sent a clever pretext letter or post card to a targets home. The letter will instruct the target to call the included trap line number at a specific time during work hours,. If the target calls back from work the next day you’ll capture his work number. A reverse phone search of that number will reveal the targets place of employment.. Information that is vital in collections, judgment recovery, vehicle repossession or service of process.
You can also use the trap line number in conjunction with a caller ID spoof card. You can call the target and leave a message requesting they call back the trap number but this time you call using a caller ID spoofer. The target sees his caller ID display a whatever you tell it to say. Thus tricking them into returning the call. You can use your imagine for this and make the caller ID appear to be a flower deliver, utility company, maybe even a stripper gram service. Whatever it may take to lure the target out into the open.
One seasoned investigator has his trap line number on a cap, work shirt and the side of a van. He parks in the subjects driveway blocking it until the subject gets home and calls the number on the truck demanding the worker come out and move it. This way the investigator gets the targets phone number and even the exact time they returned home.
As you can see with a little imagination a trap telephone number can be used effectively for a number or different investigations. It should not be overlooked. Every investigator should have 1 or 2 set up and ready to go.
By: Ed Opperman
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May
8
How Does a Toll Free Number Work?
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As most of us know, toll-free numbers begin with one of the following three-digit codes: 800, 888, 877, or 866. However, it is important to know that although 800, 888, 877, and 866 are all toll-free codes, they are not interchangeable. Toll-free numbers allow callers to contact others without being charged for the call. As a matter of fact, the charge is paid by the called party (the toll-free subscriber) instead of the caller. Toll-free numbers have been in vogue for long and have proved immensely helpful by many businesses for developing customer relationships.
Toll free numbers are easy to set up and come with multiple features including audio conferences, professional voice announcement feature, call screening, call recording, call forwarding, auto attendant, and more. More significantly, having a toll free number is an assured means of staying in touch with customers.
Before learning how to obtain toll-free numbers, we must know that there are toll-free service providers called “Responsible Organizations” or “RespOrgs”. The RespOrgs may not be telephone companies but they have access to the SMS/800 database, which contains information regarding the status of all toll-free numbers. RespOrgs are certified by the SMS/800 database administrator, and authorized to manage the toll-free service.
Persons wanting a toll-free number must contact a RespOrg or other toll-free service provider, who in turn, will access the database and reserve a number for the subscriber. This may not be difficult as there are several hundred RespOrgs and toll-free service providers in the United States.
There are subscribers, particularly business owners who are keen on getting what are called “vanity numbers”. A vanity number is an alphanumeric toll-free telephone number that also spells a person’s or company’s name or spells a word or acronym that is chosen by the subscriber. Thus vanity numbers can help customers remember your business and your contact information. One has to ascertain from any RespOrg or toll-free service provider whether a specific “vanity” number is available.
As stated earlier, a toll-free number is referred to as an 800, 888, 877, and 866 by the area code phone number. With a toll-free number, you will receive incoming calls on your existing phone line at no charge to the caller. Please note there is no installation required. You will be able to identify the caller before you answer the call, if you have caller ID enabled on your Ring-to number. You can add on voicemail or you can use existing voicemail box if there is one.
Another question many ask is – How many calls can I get at one time? Please know your toll free number can accept as many calls as your ring-to number can handle. If your ring-to number has call waiting facility, then you will be able to accept more than one call at a time. If you don’t have call waiting facility, excess calls may go into your voicemail. There are also a few service providers that allow toll-free to cellular phone calls. Further, you can have as many toll free numbers as you want to ring into one line.
Obviously, customers love toll free numbers because they will not be required to spend to get information about your goods and services. It is an established fact that having a toll-free phone number for your business increases sales and brings customers closer to your business. There are many different ways business owners can exploit toll free number to increase profits. In all printed stationery, business cards, pamphlets, brochures, and catalogs, make sure the toll free number is prominently displayed. People should be reassured by the fact that the phone call to your business will cost them nothing.
By: A. James
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May
7
Save a Lot With A Beneficial 12 Months Free Of Line Rental
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Getting a novel and extremely advanced mobile phone has become easier with the attractive and unconventional contract deals, presently available. The handset deals allow the consumers to get a huge range of advantages like enhanced talk time, free text, free gifts, cash back, free insurance, free roaming and a lot more. The wonderful offer of 12 months free line rental mostly forms an essential part of these schemes. As a matter of fact, it is acquiring popularity among numerous users, residing in the UK.
In the schemes consisting free line rental, the consumers have to enter into a contract with network service providers for a pre-specified time duration of 12 months. During the time period of contract, the consumers would attain the network services along with few months free line rental plans. Under this scheme, the individuals have to deposit the a specific amount as a security deposit to a particular network provider. Nevertheless, the scheme are for the benefit of the users but still it is important to read the terms and conditions of these plans quite carefully.
There are various reasons for the acceptance of these contracts. During the period of 12 months, the consumers are capable to enjoy huge talk value, free messages and various other benefits at a very affordable rate. While the most attractive thing is that such a plan assists the users to get rid of paying the huge monthly telephone bills. The users have to choose the tariff plan from the network provider as well as the mobile phone that they like to utilize and they are done. Some of the best handsets are a part of these proposals.
Depending upon particular conditions, the consumers can pick and select from a wide array of the latest phones from numerous well acknowledged brands with which these offers can be availed such as LG – 12 Months Free Line Rental, Nokia – 12 Months Free Line Rental and various other big brands too. The mobile phones are backed with the marvelous blend of style and performance. With the wonderful multimedia efficiencies, the individuals can shoot the interesting moments of their lives or capture the valuable impressions with the inbuilt camera features. The embedded music player or an excellent FM radio can be utilized for amazing music with the comfortable and effective music attributes. In spite of the multimedia functionalities, a user can also experience the fast and speedy Internet access on the phone. All of these deals are possible to get at low costs – thanks to the alternates like such wonderful 12 months free line rental plans, which are truly very helpful for the users.
In addition to this, the 12 month contract enables the consumers to acquire the services of almost any service provider of their choice. As a matter of fact, there are numerous network providers in the market who are offering various interesting offers considering the useful 12 months free line rental plans and the consumers can opt for any depending on their personal likes and dislikes.
By: Adam Caitlin
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May
7
Whether you operate a home business or a large corporation, your lifeline to the world is the telephone line. With out it you would be out of business. Phone lines are very important, but they are also expensive, and as a valuable resource, they should be managed wisely. An intelligent phone switch will manage your calls and save you money month after month.
Line-sharing technology can cut fixed costs on your monthly bills and give you the advantage of more control over your telecommunications system. Sharing phone lines for voice callers, a fax machine, a modem, and other devices is both feasible and cost-effective. Automatic call processing technology makes this possible as well as profitable.
Automatic call processors save the monthly cost of having dedicated phone lines for your fax, modem, and/or voice calls. By effectively using your phone lines, you can eliminate one or more of them with the help of a “smart” phone switch.
When installed on your system, the line-sharing device automatically routes calls over one or more lines to multiple devices. When a fax call comes in, the switch automatically sends the call to your fax. If it’s a data call, it’s routed to your computer. Or if the caller is a human, it’s routed to your phones, phone system, or answering machine. The correct device answers automatically and no other devices will ring. A smart switch pays for itself in a few months and keeps on saving you money for years to come.
Cut Fixed Costs
A smart switch can save you 1-9 lines per unit in phone charges, and multiple-line devices can save you even more.
A computerized call processor can automatically tell whom the call is for and whether the caller is a person or a machine. Fax switching frees up the fax line for other uses when the fax is not in use.
Distinctive ring processors allow up to 3 phone numbers on the same line.
Tone Detection call processors allow up to 9 devices to share a single phone number.
Modems can share lines with other modems, fax machines, voice systems or any phone-connected equipment. You can poll multiple modems over one phone line in one call automatically. Line Sharing will save you thousands over the life of the equipment.
By: Robert A. Higgins
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May
6
Multi Line Cordless Phones
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Cordless phones have been increasingly used for home and office use. They provide convenience of use and are an effective mode of communication. Cordless phones have evolved from being a bulky and immobile piece of equipment to being a state of the art technological advancement. Phones have now become a small, light and handy device that can be moved around freely in limited space.
Cordless phones work on the principle of radio waves that transmit and receive digital signals. Multi line cordless phones are an addition to existing range of cordless phones. They are cost effective and economical solutions for small businesses and for businesses run from home. Multi line cordless phones are systems that are based on cordless transmissions that eliminate the need of messy wiring and installation. These systems need to be hooked up and plugged in to an AC outlet. Multi Line Cordless Phones allow for 7 to 10 handsets to be installed on one number. Additional number of handsets can be easily installed as per specific requirements.
A cordless phone is primarily a radio transmitter, as it broadcasts signals over open air spaces rather than transmitting them between the handset and base station. Conversations on a cordless phone can be easily tapped into with the help of a radio scanner. This is an important aspect to consider while purchasing a cordless phone for a business. In this respect digital phones have an upper hand over analog phones as they provide adequate security against eavesdroppers. 43-50 MHz cordless phones provide negligible or least security as they can be picked up by baby monitors. Higher end digital phones of 2.4 GHz are foolproof Multi Line Cordless Phone systems. Multi line cordless phone systems make use of only one base station and a phone jack. This can support many cordless handsets. Each handset is provided with a battery and a charging base.
Multi line cordless phones are a handy solution for small businesses. However various aspects must be suitably scrutinized before making the final purchase.
By: Peter Emerson
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May
5
Mobile Phone Deals – Elegant Deals!
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In order to make standard of phone users high, domain of communication is blessed with numerous smart mobile phone deals. With the help of these deals, one can get hold of favorite handset without any hassle. Main service providers of UK are Vodafone, Three, Virgin, T-mobile, Orange and O2. They all are undoubtedly mind blowing. They appears with different deal, package, plans and price structure. Number of assets they offer to users.
Some prominent Mobile phone deals are Contract deal, PAYG deal and SIM Free deal. Alongwith these deals, almost every recognized phone maker like Nokia, LG, Samsung, Blackberry etc are availing their smart gadgets. At a much user friendly rate, one can own one’s favorite handset. Free gifts with mobile phones, such network providers offer to catch more and more user. PlayStation, LCD TV, laptop, iPod etc are some attractive free gifts which one can get hold of with preferred handset. Not only these, one also gets chance to avail certain free phone services like free text messaging, free line rental, reduced call rates and many more.
Contract deal is contract based which is good for business users and for such people who use their handsets a lot. Once in a month, users are needed to pay the phone bill. Just enter into contract with choice of network provider, sign the agreement for either 6 months, 12 months or 18 months and service can be availed then easily. PAYG phone deal is usually popular among youngsters and students group. They can recharge the phone account whenever they needed. And, most importantly, users have freedom in this deal which allows them to go with any network provider and even one can switch to another network if found any problem with existing one. SIM Free phone deal is unique too. Users are free to select any network provider. One is just needed to own the SIM of preferred network and insert it into phone for further processes. Thus, it can be said that owning handsets with mobile phone deals would be truly a good deal for anyone.
By: Abner Tegan
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