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Have a look before purchasing Calling Cards

May 20th, 2009

International Phone Cards or Calling Cards are now getting a very big popularity among the users, because calling cards are very low cost & convenient. You can make a call at home, in office, with pay telephone or from your friend’s house. Now forget about a big numbers in phone bills and hold the control of all charges by your own. You just buy a prepaid calling card and enjoy talking.
Please have a look on below given points before purchasing a calling card:

  • Taxes : Closely familiarize with the information about taxes and additional payments
  • Connection fees: often the payment is removed for incomplete calls
  • Surcharges for calls from payphone: the additional payment is removed at fulfillment of a call from the payphone
  • Surcharges for international calls: you’d pay extra for every international call
  • Addition taxes: some cards impose calls on surcharge
  • Application fees: such payment is collected weekly or once a month
  • Validity and expiry: at different cards validity can be from 90 till 365 days
  • Rounding up timings:  some cards take five minutes for it. If you talked for a minute you pay for 5 minutes.

Many companies give excellent qualitative service. But you must check the reliability and consistency in service before buying a calling card. Before to buy a card, familiarize with facility which it can provide because many additional services appear paid. The more facilities the card gives, it costs more. Therefore be very attentive at a choice of a card and the provider. Make purchase only after thorough studying and screening the information about card, which interests you. And at last, simply compare with cost of a card to quantity of services which you receive.

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Wireless VoIP – The next generation VoIP

May 13th, 2009

There are lots of advantages of VoIP telephony with 1 drawback is that it is not a fully portable and wireless communication system. As cell phone became a part of our lifestyle, VoIP needs to be one of them to reduce our communication expenses. Cell phone does not support and work as a dual mode phone for VoIP or any Wireless VoIP devices does not support cell phone compatibility.
Some communication devices manufacturer companies are developing a phone with both capabilities, as a cell phone and can automatically detect VoIP service area. It will be very popular with the consumer those want to reduce communication cost of their home or office. This technology must be adopted by the cell phone company to grab the considerably large market.
The next step in the development of VoIP + Cell phone integration is the speed of wireless connections to provide seamless and fast communication to the user. Because VoIP communication consist of not only voice but also video, pictures, data files and lot more, and it requires high speed and continuous connectivity on the go.
As the all technologies limitations to overcome, same way VoIP is our near future communication medium that can replace the traditional communication ways and at very low cost or free !!!

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AT&T Joins EPA in National Cell Phone Recycling Week

April 24th, 2009

It’s not Earth Day yet — is it? Maybe not, but it’s time to recycle wireless phones, according to AT&T* and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Plug-In To eCycling program. AT&T is supporting the EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week, which runs April 6-12. The project brings together leading cell phone manufacturers and service providers to encourage consumers to recycle used cell phones, Personal Data Assistants (PDAs), cell phone batteries, chargers and other accessories — and to reduce the amount of reusable materials in landfills, especially e-waste. (More information and partner details are available at www.epa.gov/cellphones .)
AT&T offers two simple ways to donate phones: Wireless customers of any carrier can drop off used cell phones and accessories at any of the 2,000-plus AT&T stores across the U.S. Or, they can download free shipping labels from www.att.com/wireless and mail them to Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS), a charity that recycles used cell phones and uses the proceeds to buy free phone cards for troops overseas.
The EPA’s call-to-action hits just weeks before AT&T will announce the results of its Earth Day Challenge with CPFS to help the charity double the number of mobile phones it collects — to recycle more than 1.8 million phones — between Earth Day 2008 and Earth Day 2009. Phones recycled through AT&T stores, community drives and online tools have added volume to the broader efforts of the CPFS recycling program, which has now collected more than a million total wireless phones since July 2007.
According to the EPA, more than 100 million cell phones are discarded annually; and, in 2007, only 10 percent were recycled. Recycling or reusing cell phones — which are made up of precious metals, copper and plastics — prevents air and water pollution and reduces greenhouse gas emissions that occur during manufacturing. If every consumer recycled his or her cell phone, the country could save enough energy to power more than 18,500 U.S. homes for one year.
Encouraging cell phone recycling is one way AT&T is working to tackle environmental issues. AT&T recently announced plans to invest up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T also works to enhance energy performance and reduce energy consumption and has begun to use alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power. AT&T helps customers further manage their own environmental impact through intelligent use of AT&T products and services, such as teleconferencing, video conferencing and other broadband applications.
For more information about AT&T’s sustainability efforts, please visit www.att.com/sustainability .

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

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M5 Networks Announces ContentNext Media Selects M5 to Seamlessly Connect Distributed Remote Workforce and Maximize Staff Efficiency

April 24th, 2009

M5 Networks, market leader in hosted VoIP business phone systems, announced today that ContentNext Media, the media and information company covering the business of digital media and parent of paidContent.org, selected M5’s hosted VoIP for integrated business communications to seamlessly connect its remote workforce and maximize staff efficiency.

ContentNext Media’s news sites, which include paidContent, mocoNews, contentSutra and paidContent:UK, chronicle the economic evolution of digital content that is shaping the future of the media, information and entertainment industries.

ContentNext puts priority on price, efficiency and convenience and selected M5 Networks’ flexible and scalable solution that allows monitoring from anywhere. Seamless call routing and transferring is a necessity for the growing media company’s distributed workforce. M5’s hosted VoIP service keeps ContentNext on the cutting edge by maximizing staff efficiency and providing the latest technology and feature sets without the hassle of management.

“M5 provides us with extreme flexibility in managing, tracking, forwarding and administering a distributed remote workforce at a competitive price,” said Nathan Richardson, CEO of ContentNext Media, Inc. “We’ve been using the company’s hosted VoIP services since we opened our New York office, and we’re very happy with the level of service we’ve been provided.”

To learn more about M5, please visit www.m5net.com.

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Asterisk Learns to Fax

April 17th, 2009

From the viewpoint of small businesses, the Asterisk open-source IP PBX platform has always had a big weakness: It wasn’t very good at handling faxing. Companies usually had to keep an analog PSTN (public switched telephone network) line or two solely for that purpose. It was one corner of the telephony world into which the convenience and flexibility of IP technology had not yet penetrated. Asterisk creator Digium Inc. has finally fixed that problem with the introduction of Fax for Asterisk software.

Users can download software from Digium’s online store. It is free for installations requiring only one fax session at a time. A multiple-session license costs a one-time payment of $38.50 per channel. The software allows faxing to and from the PSTN and IP telephony networks.

If the Asterisk IP PBX in question uses analog PSTN line cards, the software sends faxes through those. It supports V.17, V.27 and V.29 fax modems, and operates at speeds of up to 14.4 Kbps. If the IP PBX installation hooks up to an IP telephony service, the software uses the T.38 protocol if the provider supports it. Users send and receive faxes in the form of TIFF image files.

The main beneficiaries of the new software will be small businesses that buy Asterisk-based IP PBXes from resellers or systems integrators. Many such companies still rely heavily on faxes, which means the new software will let them get rid of analog lines altogether if they wish to move to IP trunking. They will have to confirm which version of Asterisk they’re using, though. When run on version 1.4, the software supports only faxing to and from the PSTN. When run on version 1.6, it supports T.38 faxing as well.

In the end, the new software represents yet one more step toward communication parity for small businesses. It means they will have the same faxing capabilities as enterprises using gear from big-name vendors. They will be able to fax between their locations over IP data links using the T.38 capability, and fax to and from regular fax machines without trips to a separate fax room. Switchvox, Digium’s turnkey Asterisk-based IP PBX, has had faxing capabilities based on the same technology since February 2009.

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Switchvox IP PBX from Asterisk

March 24th, 2009

The next generation of business phone systems

Find out more about Switchvox today!

Switchvox is everything that you don’t expect from a PBX. It’s truly affordable, easy to set up, simple to configure, and a breeze to maintain.

It has features that let your business run more effectively and with fewer hassles. And it does all of this for a fraction of the cost of the PBX dinosaurs of the past.

Switchvox is so much more than just an office phone system. Its a revolution in business communications, putting you in control of your most important asset in business, your voice.

With this incredible leap in technology comes astounding cost-savings for your business, integration capability that you never thought possible, and the flexibility to meet the needs of whatever industry that you’re in.

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Top 10 benefits to move to the IP PBX

March 24th, 2009

An IP PBX is a telephony system that provides telephone calls over IP based data networks. All calls are sent as data packets over the network. It is a software based IP telephony system connects more than one IP/SIP softphone or hardware based phones registered with IP PBX system to route the internal as well as external calls.

1. Easy to Set-up
An IP PBX is software on installed a computer and can manage the advanced processing power of the computer and user interface as well as operating system’s features. Anyone, who has basic knowledge of networking and computers can install and manage an IP PBX.

2. Cost Saving
You can easily use VoIP service provider’s facility for long distance and international calls that significantly saving in your monthly communication expenses. You can reduce communication cost between your branch offices and also save money that you might need to pay for hardware based PBX system to each and every office location.

3. Roaming & Hot Desking
You can roam anywhere with your IP PBX and able control, manage each and every call and you can keep yourself connected with your office buddies, family and friends while you are moving.
You can easily move your office location according to task and functions. Simply take your phone and your desk anywhere in the world and work as you where working. No new-setup and patching required as you were doing with your traditional PBXs.

4. Scalability
An IP PBX telephony system can easily manage a large numbers and variety of phone lines and extensions with no more extra efforts or expenses to expand your communication network.

5. Better Service & productivity
You can deliver better customer services and productivity using less expensive IP PBX system. Using IP PBX advanced features i.e. click-n-call, Voicemail, integration with other related software etc. you can improve and expand your service to satisfy your clients and customers.

6. Bye-Bye to ‘vendor lock in’
All IP PBXs are open standard therefore you can mix softphones, SIP/IP based hardware, PSTN gateways and VoIP providers to reach out to your communication needs.

7: Easy to Administer
An IP PBX can be administered via a GUI based web based control panel. It allows you to maintain and fine tune your entire phone system for better utilization of your available communication resources.

8. More Features with No Extra Price.
Since your IP PBX comes with lots of easy to use and customizable rich feature sets including voice mails, group calling, interactive voice response system and more without paying more money for each feature you use.

9. Better phone usability
No need to learn and train to configure and use IP PBX if you know computer basics and some sort of knowledge of networking. It has very easy and user friendly GUI interface with step-by-step wizards. You can utilize all of your communication resources to reach out your tasks and can have better control over all VoIP devices using IP PBX.

10. No More Wire Web
Software based IP PBX system allows you to connect softphone installed devices or IP/SIP hardware based phone devices using standard ports that eliminate cable webs in and around your office locations.

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VoIP and 911 Service

March 24th, 2009

The requirement to access 911 emergency service is a basic component of public safety. It is an essential that consumers of telephone service must be able to reach to emergency services regardless of the communication technology they use to place a 911 call. To make sure that a user’s choice of VoIP telephony service does not make any adverse effect the users ability to access 911 emergency services. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken necessary steps to require that VoIP service providers and other connected agencies to meet Enhanced 911 obligations. E911 emergency system automatically provide to emergency service personnel a 911 caller’s call back number and location information in most of the cases.

The traditional PSTN phone network has generally associated a particular phone number with fixed address but because of VoIP portability and interconnected service’s features the location of the caller may not be capable of being determined automatically. This portability raises many challenges for emergency services. Although the FCC has taken actions to make sure that emergency calls from all VoIP services will get through to the appropriate public safety authorities, but there are still difference between VoIP E911 and traditional PSTN wireline E911, so there are many things that users need to know.

*  VoIP 911 calls may not connect to the PSAP or may not ring properly to the PSAP administrative line.

*  VoIP 911 calls may connect correctly to the PSAP but not automatically transmit the user’s phone number and location information.

*  The customer should provide location or other required information to their VoIP service providers and update the same information as and when it is required.

*  The VoIP service may not work during power outage or when the internet connection fails to work properly.

*  The customers must be familiar with the service procedures of their VoIP service providers.

*  The customers have to inform to their children, babysitters and visitors about the VoIP 911 limitations.

*  The customers should maintain back power supply during power outage to connect to the VoIP 911.

*  The customers should have wireless phone or landline in backup during internet is down or not able to function properly.

    For more information please visit http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/voip911.html

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    Plantronics.Audio 325 Stereo Headset

    March 23rd, 2009

    plantronics-audio325It’s obvious to search better headset when you want to make free VoIP calls from your PC. Crystal clear & stereo voice quality, easy & plug-n-play devices are hot favorite these days for VoIP calling. Here is one of the best Plantronics’s .Audio full ranges of internet calling headsets. Specially .Audio 325 Stereo Headset that gives best crystal clear voice quality, adjustable boom microphone close to your mouth for better voice delivery. Pillow-soft cushions for earphone focus sound for comfort listening.

    Features
    It is best for VoIP internet calling but it also best for full range of stereo sound music so it rocks you during your endless music fun. Its noise cancel microphone delivers your sound with no-noise clear voice to your friends and family to other end during your VoIP conversations. The Plantronics’s .Audio 325 gives in-line volume and mute control for your convenience. So don’t forget to enjoy your lightweight and comfortable Platronics’s .Audio 325.

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    YATE – An Open Source VoIP Application

    March 20th, 2009

    YATE (Yet Another Telephony Engine) is a next-generation telephony engine that is the first open source telephony application capable of handling 600 H323 calls; while currently focused on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and PSTN, its power lies in its capability to be easily extended. Voice, video, data and instant messaging can all be unified under YATE’s flexible routing engine, maximizing communications efficiency and minimizing infrastructure costs for businesses. YATE can be used for anything from a VoIP server to an IVR engine. The software is written in C++ and it supports scripting in various programming languages (such as those supported by the currently implemented embedded PHP, Python and Perl interpreters) and even any Unix shell. Note: YATE is multiprotocol, as it works with SIP and IAX, and H.323 protocol is stable supported just by Yate. The most used application of Yate is as a SIP-H323 translator because is the only open source stable translator.
    YATE can be used as a:
    •    VoIP server
    •    VoIP client
    •    Audio-Video Conference server
    •    VoIP to PSTN gateway
    •    PC-to-Phone and Phone-to-PC gateway
    •    H.323 gatekeeper
    •    H.323 multiple endpoint server
    •    H.323/SIP Proxy
    •    SIP session border controller
    •    SIP router
    •    SIP registration server
    •    Jingle server
    •    ISDN passive & active recorder
    •    IAX server & IAX client
    •    IP Telephony server & IP Telephony client
    •    Call center server
    •    IVR engine
    •    Prepaid & postpaid cards system
    •    Jingle client or server
    •    MGCP gateway or server
    •    SS7 switch
    •    ISDN , RBS , analog passive recorder

    YATE is production-ready software and is easily extensible.

    YATE is licensed under the GPL.

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