Tuesday, April 5, 2011

i Phone calls

How to make iPhone calls from my ShoreTel handset - By: Drvoip


Yeah, I am sure you were just dying to know how to call your iPhone and have your ShoreTel phone ring? Better yet, pick up your ShoreTel handset and make a call out your iPhone? Actually, it is a useful integration and one that I recently had the opportunity to implement. Many carriers have plans in which you can call any of your “family members” without racking up minutes. This is useful when calling from cell phone to cell phone, but how useful is it for the office? If you have a field sales force running around the market with cell phones, and you as manager need to call them frequently, you might not always be on your cell phone! This means that each time you call them, using your office phone system, you are paying full fare for the call whatever that might be.

It is very possible to Integrate your cell phone with your ShoreTel phone system in a way that enables you to enjoy the benefits of both systems. You can link your iPhone to ShoreTel such that when someone calls your cell phone, your ShoreTel desktop phone will ring. Answering the ShoreTel handset, cuts you through to your cellular caller. (Yes, your ShoreTel Communicator does a screen pop with the Caller ID of the Cellular caller). Likewise you can you can initiate a call on your ShoreTel handset and direct it out your cellular network. There have been a number of solutions in the market for putting cellular gateways on your PBX. Generally they have the advantage of making the cellular access available to everyone on the phone system. They also have the disadvantage of being fairly pricy!

The solution we implemented can be described as a black box that uses blue tooth technology to couple your office handset to your favorite cell phone. Drop me line and I will send you the solution and you to can do stupid phone tricks!
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VOIP (voice over internet protocol)

VoIP – Total phone solutions for small business - By: Avad Technologies


If you are like most businesses, the answer lies somewhere between ambivalence and total disdain.

All small business owners know the importance of low cost overhead. Working smart with your money has never been more important than it is in today's economy. A very efficient way for small businesses to save huge dollars is by subscribing to a small voip phone system, also referred to as voice over internet protocol services. It is a method for making telephone calls by using the Internet. The technology became available around 1990 but with the recent advancements it has become a strong replacement for the traditional land line service.

One of the reasons that Internet VoIP is so popular is because it is very inexpensive as well as dependable. All of the equipment such as bluetooth voip headset, voip phone adapter, and headaches are hosted by the provider so all the business needs to worry about is the Internet connection and a telephone. In some cases you'll be able to use the same telephones that you used for your land-line while others a special Voip broadband phone will be the best solution. The call quality is so good that rarely would anyone know that you were not using a land line. The provider keeps all the updates and relative maintenance up to date so having equipment or a service that becomes obsolete is not a concern.

The cost of Internet VoIP is so inexpensive because the calls are able to transmit over the Internet in place of a local telephone company's system. By bypassing the local telephone company there is no fees that have to be paid to them. The process of dialing out and receiving calls is the same. You will need a high speed Internet connection and small voip phone system that is on at all times with a bandwidth large enough for the transmissions to always be clear.

To get started with Internet VoIP you'll need to choose a voice over internet protocol providers and subscribe to the voip phone plans that best fits your business needs. With all the Internet VoIP options and providers now in the market place, it can be confusing for businesses to know what they need and the best provider for them.

AVAD Technologies, specialists is small business Hosted VoIP, has launched aggressive new pricing on its Hosted VoIP Phone Service. If you are thinking about switching your business to VoIP or just have some questions, please feel free to call (800) 733-4136

Click for Business voip telephone and Hosted pbx providers
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VoIP can give you cost effective calls from India in 2011 - By: VoIPExpert


The ability to make long distance calls to destinations as far afield as India, in a manner that is both simple and cost effective is one of the unique selling points that VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) technology holds.

VoIP allows for the user to make calls by utilising the internet as opposed to the more traditional landline.

But how does it do this? Well the system operates by taking the voice signal from a VoIP phone call and then converts it into data format. This data is then transported across the internet before then being converted back into a voice signal for the user on the other end of the call. Thus this allows for calls to be made across a great distance in an easy accessible way.

Many VoIP service providers allow for customers both operating a VoIP phones to call each other as often as desired, free of charge. This is another prime example of how calls can be made over on an international level for such a low price.

As India has a growing market for VoIP technology, the number of people operating these phones is growing and growing. Therefore this method in which calls could be made to and from India has never been better.

Typically, there are three ways to utilise VoIP technology. The first is by using a computer and headset (which in effect act as the handset and receiver of a traditional phone); the second is by using a special VoIP phone (provided by the majority of service providers on signing up).

This phone is very similar a standard handset and operates via a cradle which is plugged into a broadband router. Usually a VoIP service provider will provide a VoIP phone with a unique designated phone number allowing non-VoIP users accessibility and freedom in making calls back and forth.

The third option would benefit those who are wary of replacing their traditional handset for a new piece of technology. It entails plugging a cable (provided by the VoIP service provider) into your normal handset; this will then enable the phone to work with VoIP technology, while allowing the user to retain their familiarity with their current set-up.

The cable itself will replace the traditional wire which connects into a landline socket and instead it would connect into a broadband router.

The VoIP phones, once provided, are travel friendly and operate in the same way as they would if used in a normal home environment. Extra services are available such as three way calling, call transfer and anonymous call block, these ensure that anyone utilising VoIP doesn't miss out on any of the extras offered up by traditional phone service providers.

A Wi-Fi version of the VoIP phone allows for even more flexibility in making international calls using VoIP.

Its unique technology that give it the ability to make cost effective calls on an international level, coupled with VoIP's versatility makes it not only a brilliant alternative, but, in the future, also a competitor to the widely used traditional landline.
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VoIP Service Provider Role in Your Business - By: jmsallen


The prime consideration of all business houses - regardless of its size and scale of operations - is how to reduce expenses and increase profits. It is to save costs and to enjoy the many advantages that businesses are switching over to the feature-rich VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services.

Since the demand for VoIP services is steadily growing, there are today a host of VoIP service providers who vie with one another to offer you attractive terms and competitive rates. But the fact is you should spend sufficient time in selecting the right VoIP service provider if you want to truly avail all the advantages.

The reliability and experience of the VoIP service provider are critically important. Only a provider with adequate knowledge and technical background can set an appropriate and efficient VoIP communication system for your business and ensure it performs uninterruptedly. In fact, the VoIP service should explain to you all the minute details of VoIP facility and help you to identify a cost-effective package that will eminently match your requirements.

The service provider you eventually select must be in a fit position to understand your nature of business and be sensitive to your specific business communication needs. The service providers offer different packages so as to suit every business requirement and it is therefore up to you to compare all the available packages and choose the one that is most appropriate for your requirements.

It may not be wise to select the VoIP service provider based on the prices quoted alone but you should compare all other facilities and features of VoIP they offer. When looking for a VoIP service provider, make sure the provider does not charge any set up fees. A lot of times, the monthly fee will be deliberately kept low and the provider will charge a set up fee that is many times the amount of the regular monthly rate.

Discuss the upgrade facilities with the VoIP service-provider. You should be in a position to upgrade your VoIP system whenever the need arises without incurring serious additional expenses.

Meantime, do not forget VoIP provides a host of standard and non-standard features like Speed Dialing, Find-me-follow-me, Do not Disturb, Call Transfer, Toll-Free Numbers, Caller ID Blocking, Conferencing, Multi-Ring facility, Distinctive Ringing, Local, as well as International Calling, Enhanced Voicemail, Area Code Selection, Anonymous Call Block etc.

It is essential that you are clear in your mind what features you exactly require - so that it is easier to select the service that is right for you. To identify the right VoIP provider, you may consult web directories for listings and related information about all the leading service providers.

You can also study the various VoIP reviews to help you know about the various service-providers and their experience and background. You can also make a reference and obtain feedback information from the provider's existing clients.

The fact is there are a lot of VoIP service providers who are new to this business and may promise you all impractical terms and you will have to exercise your discretion when turning down such offers. Instead, you can choose a VoIP service provider that has some type of money-back guarantee or free trial for a limited period of 30 days. This will enable you to make sure that the VoIP is running smoothly before you finally sign the agreement.
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Worldwide Calls Through VoIP - Making Cheap VoIP Calls - By: bartaltayl2856


Making international calls can many instances be a hassle, from selecting the best service providers to ensuring that we get the most effective deals in terms of tariff, it's positively a difficulty that one must invest some amount of time to get happy results.



At this time one can make cheap VoIP calls in a lot of methods, from a cell phone, from a set line or from the latest know-how that is out there i.e. VoIP. Calling from a hard and fast line requires a consumer to sort the country code that one wish to connect to after which proceed to sort the state and the city code after which the phone number. The worldwide call tariffs for such a facility varies with totally different factors. One being the gap between the consumer and the nation being called and the opposite being the service provider and the tariffs they offer.



Let us take an example of calling an Asian country like Pakistan from the US or the UK. The mounted line charges are such that a name would price round 1.5 dollars per minute or 1.2 pounds per minute. There are additionally additional prices like monthly prices and glued expenses as soon as a name is established etc.



Another technique to make international calls which is very fashionable is by a cellular phone. The easy availability of a mobile makes it a good selection for anyone to make international calls via this device. The tariffs are once more depending on the gap between the callers and the type of service provider. Using a cell for international calls typically is high. They differ from 2 dollars to five dollars per minute and the same charges on the pound. These rates could be decreased by using a calling card or focusing tariffs for worldwide calls as provided by the service provider.



The latest in technology that has diminished calling fees drastically is the VoIP. The VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol. The principle feature of this service is that it uses the web to make calls and this is very low-cost compared to different services and its rates do not range drastically with the gap between the users. The fastened expenses per month on this service is a comparable to others (around four kilos or 5 to six dollars more) however whereas one seems to be at the larger image which is per minute costs, it would show that it is a good system to take a position your money. The biggest function of VoIP is that one can purchase a phone number that's from a overseas country. For instance if one would want to make VoIP calls to Pakistan, one should buy the cellphone quantity which is an area number in Pakistan thus getting charged at local rates. Typically one would spend just a few cents or pence per second.



Utilizing VoIP has many advantages and when destinations the place the distance normally dictates tariffs like making cheap VoIP calls to Pakistan from the USA or the UK. It's not only becomes low cost but comes with many features like a monthly fastened charge than is comparable to mounted line fees and pin less dialing etc. The other options like straightforward teleconferencing and voice messages which can be cheap even on a global scale would only make it logical to approach the VoIP to make suffice our budgetary demands.
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Importance of business VOIP telephone system - By: greenlanesolutions


Telecommunication is very important for any business. Today VoIP system has become the backbone of all types of telecommunication system. It helps immensely to improve the productivity of the business. Many people do not understand how VoIP systems work and for them we are going to VoIP telephone system in the following article. You will then understand how Business telephone system in London can play a crucial part to expand the business and increase the productivity. The traditional phone system is out of the trend now and VoIP has become the rage with improved services. If you too want to be successful then you need to improve the customer care and business productivity. If you understand the VoIP system then it will be extremely good for your business productivity. To know and explore the VoIP telephone system more you need to check out the following article once for sure.

You need a broadband internet so that you can connect multiple phone lines. The VoIP system actually converts the analog signals to data packets so that the voice transmission can happen properly. This is very important that the voice transmission is clear and VoIP system ensures that. You do not really need any complex hardware for the whole set up and that is a big benefit of using the VoIP telephone system. You can even use this service for long distance calls at a cheaper rate. This is really money saving when you need to pay just a fraction of the original cost. This is something really beneficial for you. Now you need to think and decide whatever you want. The best facility of the VoIP telephone system is surely the multiple call handling and your work becomes smoother and easier for sure.

If you check then you will find that people rarely use the conventional phones now. VoIP system is making the work easier and nobody feel the urge to use the conventional phone at all. The telecommunication cost is really high now and that can be saved using the VoIP telephone system. Business telephone system is already cost and that is why more people are showing interest in Voip telephone system. In case of VoIP the data transmission and vice transmission happen together. The whole user friendly menu option is making the operating easier. People who are not much tech savvy are also showing some interests in it.

There are various premium services offered by some organizations. You can avail those services as they often offer multiple services like fax, voice mail, caller ID, call forwarding and various other services. VoIp ensures the best quality and uninterrupted services at the minimum charges. Even a few years ago people were not aware of this and now most of the companies are opting for VoIP business calls for its benefits. You need to check out the VoIP service providers and their services properly. Only then you will be able to choose the best deal for your company.
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Finding Reliable VoIP Service Providers - By: voipmaniac


Hiring VoIP service providers will give your company telecommunication capabilities that you will not be able to obtain when you use traditional phone services. A standard VoIP service provider will give your company the ability to communicate with clients, employees, business partners and suppliers through the Internet. Despite using the Internet to facilitate calls, VoIP phone systems are also able to process calls transactions with traditional phone systems. Calls that are made from traditional phone systems will be converted into a format that is compatible with the Internet before it is transmitted to your VoIP phone system. Making a call to traditional phone system also goes the same process but only in reverse. This permits you to exchange communication data with all forms of phone systems, giving you more flexibility in business communication.

Given this advantage in business communication, it is easy to understand why several businesses are employing VoIP service providers. Obtaining of the aid of a VoIP service provider is also easy since you can use the Internet to browse through multiple service providers. However, not all VoIP phone service providers are created equal. There are those that supply the best services in telecommunication while there are also other service providers that fall short of your company’s expectations. Landing the right VoIP service provider for your business will not only give your business an edge over your competition but also makes your investment worth all the money you spend in acquiring and maintaining its services. Here is a short list that will help you find a reliable VoIP service provider.

1.) Sound Quality – It is already a given fact that conversations done in VoIP communication systems are of better quality compared to phone discussions performed in traditional phone systems. Reliable VoIP service providers will enable you to experience phone conversations that are almost identical to talking in person. On the other hand, telephone discussions using an undependable VoIP service provider are usually marred by static noises in the background. Another symptom of a fly-by-night VoIP service provider is that there are interruptions that occur during phone conversations.

Using this information, the next step that you need to do is to test your selected VoIP service provider. One way of doing this is by asking for a few sample phone calls. Never commit to a VoIP service provider if you have not tested some phone calls as you may regret your initial choice.

2.) Call Conference Ability – VoIP service providers that present excellent call conference service is another indication that they are reliable. A VoIP service provider that you can depend on will enable you to conduct meetings on the phone without any delays. Those that are involved in your phone meeting are readily connected. Moreover, the line is always open in this telecommunication service given by a dependable VoIP service provider. There will be no instances that the line goes dead, eliminating the possibility of losing possible clients or transactions due to downtime.

3.) 24/7 Customer Service – This is one of the most important factors that reliable VoIP service providers must have. With 24/7 customer support, any problems or issues concerning your VoIP phone system will readily be attended to. A VoIP service provider that offers tech support and live chat options should be on the top of your list as these options indicate that they care for their customers.
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VoIP Phone System Requirements for Small Businesses - By: Stephen Ray


VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, provides a rapidly growing alternate to traditional phone systems. VoIP calls are also referred to as internet telephony as it does not necessarily require telephone lines to communicate with the other person(s) and can be channeled across the intranet and internet. However, the implementation of internet telephony is very different between the corporate and enterprise market and small business, home office and consumer applications. We have set out the application of VoIP Phone Systems in the corporate arena elsewhere, but in this instance will focus on small business and consumer internet telephony.

Primarily, there are three basic requirements for a VoIP phone system to work for you: a fast speed internet like DSL, a computer or other terminal, and an adapter. Though VoIP Phone Systems can also work on slow speed internet connections but they hinder smooth communication and annoy the users. So, it is recommended even to pause all other downloads while using VoIP. Hence a fast speed internet is the first requirement.

Second requirement is related to the hardware. A computer is typically required to use VoIP services. That means there are some specific clients who prefer not to use a computer for this purpose, in such a case the VoIP service provider may provide them with the necessary alternative equipment to connect with VoIP; Vonage is such a company that does not require computers to provide VoIP services. However, the majority of the VoIP Phone Systems utilizes a computer as the terminal. The second hardware required to connect with VoIP network is a headphone to communicate with others. These headphones are available in the market or you can buy a VoIP head set for this purpose. These headsets are especially designed to VoIP functions and a VoIP services provider can provide you with one if you want to have one.

Software installment is the third and last requirement to connect with a VoIP network. Putting a glance at the top three VoIP service providers i.e. Google, Skype and Vonage; we come to know that only Skype requires its software installment to let VoIP users use its services. However, most of the VoIP service providers require their software installments for using their VoIP services. Most of these softwares are freely available for downloading.

VoIP Phone Systems are getting popularity for their affordable business communication solutions especially for small businesses and for this reason; they are called the future of business communication.

If you are paying lots of money on business communications, you can cut these bills down to a reasonable level by using VoIP services. Of course this has implications – call quality is typically very poor over the internet, and consequently this is seldom used in the corporate or enterprise markets.
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VOIP Canada has been put in our daily use due to its vast importance - By: Angolina David


In case of internet, by making video calls this has become cheaper. To make cheaper calls through phones, VOIP Canada has been introduced. The VOIP denotes Voice over Internet Protocol. This VOIP has been introduced by various phone company Canada. Here neither the person calling nor the person whom one is calling requires computer. Only a simple phone is required. VOIP Canada only provides software that is attached to the internet service. With which the required calls can be made. The VoIP provider gives service to make use of internet connection in order to do phone calls to any of the landlines. Also mobiles just by using an adaptor and a headphone set. It uses the home phone Canada by actually routing the phone lines through internet connection. Although this uses the internet connection but computers are not involved. There are many different categories including calls within a province or around calls for 200 minutes to Canada likewise.

Now a day’s International call are generally very expensive. But the virtual calling cards have made those calls at a cheaper rate. Anyone who can get the access to the actual network by only dialing a toll free number is a regular instance today. The few steps are to be followed for making an international call. First thing is that, dial in access number of the country from where you are calling in order to get an access to the local network. Then one has to enter the ten digit pin number. Lastly the person has to dial the destination number. This always enables direct calls at a cheaper rate. It is one of the excellent qualities. It is also known to travel calling card. It has wonderful customer service. Our friends and relatives are present throughout the world Home phone service is nothing but the VoIP service. It is provided by various phone companies of Canada. This very home phone service has following features like call answer, voice dialing and also many others.

There is another option to make international calls at a much cheaper rate like the cellular long distance service. There are many numbers of people who make random calls to Canada. This is especially for those people. Wired connection is less advantageous than the regular cellular service as one can enjoy the handy cellular service. It is mainly maintained at per minute call. It has a good and enough exposure starting from basement to every corner of the house. It is very necessary to have another cellular phone at home along with its charger and batteries.
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Should Your Business Switch to VoIP Phones? - By: Sarah Simmons


As a business executive in today's world of technology, every day you hear of new innovations that will "better your business" and "increase ROI." But how many of these ideas really improve the way your business runs, and how many fall way short? Like all technologies you consider bringing onboard, it is important to have a full understanding of what exactly VoIP phones are and how your business will benefit.

All businesses, especially those that heavily use telecommunications, should be using VoIP phone systems as an affordable solution to rising communication costs. The operating costs of VoIP service providers are significantly less than traditional phone companies because they do not have the same costs of maintaining phone infrastructure and industry regulations. Money is also saved by not having to maintain multiples networks for phones and data.

If you are a small business with goals of expanding, then surely you have felt the squeeze of trying to stretch a tight budget. This can be especially true as new versions of software are released and constantly make you feel behind. That's why it is so important to build relationships with reliable, innovative, and trustworthy business partners whose service will keep your business on the cutting edge.

Aside from the drastic money saving advantages, companies greatly benefit from additional capabilities of VoIP phones that are not offered by traditional land-line phones. VoIP phones and VoIP conference phone systems not only meet the increasing need for sophisticated phone systems in the workplace, but they also provide exceptional communication service whether at home, the office, or on the other side of the world. VoIP phones keep you connected as though you were at your business' location. VoIP services are also constantly enhanced with the latest features and firmware available without additional service charges.

VoIP phone services have also been proven to increase productivity in companies with high volume calling. Multiple VoIP phone numbers can simultaneously call multiple devices until an answer or voice recording is reached, which eliminates time-consuming calls that go unanswered. Studies have even shown that VoIP phone services can save more than 3 hours worth of calling per employee.

Additional features include the ability to monitor and keep a record of calls. Not only will phone monitoring software provide valuable information about the number and length of calls made, but it will also improve your business' customer service standards. Your customer service standards will be both protected and promoted while creating a loyal customer base.

VoIP phones and VoIP conference phone services should be an essential business element for any business who wants to save money, increase productivity, offer exceptional customer service, and maintain clear, effective business communication no matter how far away from the office.
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4 Big Reasons To Adopt VoIP - By: Harriet Colt


VoIP or voice over internet protocol is a technology that allows you to make calls over an internet connection. It works by compressing the audio into packets of data and sending them over high speeds through the line. This has quite a few advantages, as we shall see, and small businesses can streamline their operations and become much more efficient by investing in a VoIP system. While VoIP has its own set of drawbacks and problems, it's a technology that is still new and making great strides every day, so these problems are sure to go away in time. For a Chicago based small business, VoIP is certainly extremely useful, especially for the following reasons:-

* Cheap - Perhaps the biggest advantage of VoIP and the one that means the most to small businesses is the low cost involved. There are many service providers in the market who allow you to make unlimited calls for a small, regular fee. However, these free calls are usually limited to a geographic area, like a country. If you wish to make calls outside the area, you may have to pay a small fee, but even that is usually quite low compared to sky-high international call charges that are inevitable with a telephone line.

* Portable - Unlike a fixed line connection, VoIP is portable. Unlike a cell phone connection, you get to save money. You can log in to your VoIP service from any computer or even mobile device like a tablet (as long as you have access to a high speed internet connection), and make your calls from the computer or mobile device itself. Just carry a headset with a mike with you whenever you are travelling and you are good to go. If you are not comfortable making calls from a computer, internet phones are also available. Just plug it in to any broadband connection and you are good to go. No matter where in the world you are, your internet phone number never changes

* Always On - Those used to dial up internet remember the pain of not being able to use a phone when their internet connection was on. That is never the case with VoIP, as the internet connection will not go off if make a call over the phone.

* Extras - With a regular phone line, you usually have to pay for extra services like conference facility, call forwarding and voice mail. With VoIP, all of these as well as quite a few others come as part of the package.

Here is something entrepreneurs need to understand when they are looking for the ideal phone service for their Chicago small business. VoIP is gaining in popularity every day, and is well on its way to change telephony forever. In fact, a research revealed that VoIP prices have gone down over the last year and more and more firms are taking to this new technology. It's high time you too jumped on and rode the wave.

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Samsung Business Telephone Systems

Are 800 Numbers Essential? - By: jmsallen


If you want your customers to interact with you more and discuss at length about the nature and pricing of your products and services, then you will have to necessarily provide them the facility of 800 numbers. The simple logic is - why should you make your customer pay for the phone calls for contacting you to know about your products or services.

This apart, the fact also remains that both existing as well as prospective customers will be encouraged to call you more often as they will not have to pay the phone charges. Possessing 800 numbers will thus contribute immensely to improve Customer Relations Management (CRM).

Customers obviously want to deal with a company they can trust, a company that's easy to contact, where someone can listen to their complaints and provide spot information. Customers view toll free numbers as a big boon because this not only means that the company can be called easily for buying the products but also for post-purchase complaints and services.

Most customers would choose to call you if you have 800 numbers and if you do not have one, they might as well turn to your competitors. Receive your incoming customer calls on your cell phone, at the office, at home or at any other place as your customer will always be dialing the same toll-free number and you will not miss out on their calls. Check with your toll-free service provider as most of them offer call hunting and voicemail/fax services via email at no extra charge.

There is a host of toll-free service providers and due to the stiff competition, 800 numbers have become affordable to all sizes of business houses. There is no denying that a toll- free number projects a corporate image and most of your customers may not know the size of your business operations.

Toll free numbers, beginning with 800, 888, 877, 866 and the lately released 855 have assumed a lot of importance in the business circles today and it is widely recognized by marketing professionals as a powerful marketing tool. Companies can choose to take advantage of being toll free by obtaining a vanity number, Skype, Google Voice or any other marketing tools that can complement it.

It may be a good idea to use one number for your website, one number for your yellow pages ad and a third number for billboards. Now, tracking the performance against each type is simple - all you have to do is to check your call logs on your online management page and immediately see where most of your inquiries are originating from. Most customers would choose to call you if you have 800 numbers and if you do not have one, they might as well turn to your competitors.

It will be a still greater business advantage if you have a vanity number. To those who may not be aware, a vanity number is a toll-free telephone number that also spells a person's or company's name or spells a word or acronym or name of the brand, product, services of the company as chosen by the subscriber. The vanity number triggers instant brand recognition in the minds of customers.
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Get the best telecommunication services in Canada from Telehop Communications Inc - By: smith8


Telehop, Founded in 1993, Telehop is one of the leading telecommunication providers having its headquarter in Toronto, Canada. Being a quality voip Canada provider, the popularity of Telehop Communications Inc. has grown by leaps and bounds. Moreover, its services cater to business as well as residential customers thus helping its growing popularity even more. It introduced its services by offering two way monthly flat rate calling services for both business and residential customers. Moreover, this phone company Canada also caters its services to Greater Toronto Metropolitan area. With time they not only improved their services but also included new services. In 1994, it created a new recognition in the market by offering attractive low rate cellular long distance services. The instant success also drew the company in providing other relevant services like alternative Home Phone Canada and North America. The success story was same here as well as they got Home Phone Canada soon grew as the most trustworthy and reliable packaged home phone services in the country.

A proper in depth details of the range of services provided by this voip Canada, proper knowledge of its residential services and business services is absolutely necessary. Some of the services that are part of residential services are casual calling services, homephone services, cellular long distance services and world talk long distance. These services perfectly match the needs of the customers. Some of the services like cellular long distances and Telehop Homephone are an absolute hit among customers. One of the major reasons for its overwhelming service is the convenient, low cost services embedded with “True portability”. It allows you to carry your phone to any part of the world. In fact, Telehop Homeohone acts as a perfect alternative Homephone Canada. It also offers a World Long Distance scheme that has attained tremendous popularity among customers.

The business services provided by this well esteemed voip Canada has also benefited the commercial telecommunication sector to a great extent. Some of its business oriented services are perfect for the commercial sector to utilize best quality voip Canada. Some of the main business services are audio conferencing, toll free services, virtual calling, business phone and these are immensely popular in the commercial sector of Canada. This voip provider also offers virtual calling cards to prioritize communication amongst customers, employees and business concerns. The toll free numbers available under the category of toll free services also acts as a great helping hand for the customers. Besides, it also builds a distinct identity in the commercial sector. Some of the services offered under the business phone package are call display, call forwarding, 3 way calling, call waiting and advanced voicemail. This phone company Canada also offers dial-in access numbers to offer easy access for the customers. These numbers helps customers to reach the business concern without much difficulty. With time to time addition of new offers and services, Teleho Communications Inc. always makes its customers satisfied with its services. Opt for Telehop and enjoy a world class telecommunication service.
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Features Of Samsung Business Telephone Systems - By: Matthew Markham


When you are installing Samsung business telephone systems, you will need telecom experts to do the installation. A telephone system is very important for any organization. Small businesses as well as big businesses have telephone systems that help in internal and external communication.

Importance of A Telephone System

A telephone system is very important if the organization has a customer care service. When prospective customers call up an organization, they don't want to stay on the line for a very long time without talking to anyone. So, it is imperative that office telephone systems are in the right place. Phone systems need to be maintained and serviced from time to time.

Benefits of Hiring a Telecom Service Provider

A typical telecom service provider would give you installation as well as maintenance support. When a voip or voicemail service is not working, you need to call in the right guy. So, you must keep the contact numbers of the best telecom companies handy. Telecom companies may not be manufacturers of handsets or telephone systems, but they would be professionals who offer consultation, provide installation services, do maintenance work, and offer troubleshooting solutions.

Business communication systems can be very complicated. If there are a large number of telephone handsets or telephone lines in an office, you will need a telephone specialist who can provide support during and after office hours. When selecting telecom service providers, check regarding their reputation and experience. To know more about the telecom service providers, you can call them or ask if their representatives will come over to your office. Most telecom service providers would tell you that the Samsung telephone systems are the best in the market.

Samsung telephone systems are branded and they last for a very long time without any maintenance problems. When you buy Samsung telephone products, you can be sure that they will not need any repairs for a very long time. In other words, Samsung telephone products are good value for money products. When you are ordering an entire business phone system, check out your infrastructure requirements first.

If cost of the office telephone system is a concern, get a quote before you install the telephone system. You must select a telecom service provider that gives you support for all days of the year, 24/7. There are quite a few telecom providers that provide excellent service. So, all you need to do is to find out the right one for your business. When you have installed the telephone systems, you will also need online support in the form of manuals or user guide downloads and other FAQ support.

A telecom provider needs to have two main characteristics. First, a customer centric approach and second is in-depth technical knowledge. When a telephone technician comes to your office for some repair work, he needs to complete it in a timely manner. A telecom service provider also imparts training to the customers. This training is generally given on the basic use of the telephones and its functionalities.

Some telecom service providers may also provide technical training to the system administrators of your organization. Installing Samsung business telephone systems is really a good choice these days because of the aforementioned reasons.
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Are you happy with your business phone system? - By: Avad Technologies


In today's turbulent economy, wise business owners must review their operational costs and cut down on overhead. VoIP Phone Systems allow business owners to pay one low price for their telecom service without compromising the important features they require in their office. Compare reputable and respected business telecommunication services providers offering digital phone line services and the features of the service to make the best investment and cut down on costs while enhancing features.

Maybe you are at the point "if it’s not broke, then don’t fix it". While your phone system may not be broken, it really could be a lot better. VoIP is a tool that allows businesses of any size to have a better small voip phone system at a price even a small business can afford.

Any business can literally have a state-of-the-art phone system up and running in a matter of hours that has an upfront cost of $49.95/per user plus the cost of a USB headset. Business Calling Plans start at $29.95/month.

Your system can have multiple office locations, incorporate home based employees, include Automated Attendants that can answer and transfer callers to any of your employees regardless of their geographic location, music on hold, a complete voice mail system plus many more features that are too numerous to list here.

AVAD Technologies is a leading small business phone service provider in USA and small business phone service provider of Hosted VoIP PBX phone service. With its cutting edge line of integrated voice/data solutions, AVAD Technologies provides complete ip office manager to cost-conscious, results-driven, value-oriented organizations. AvadTechnologies.com offers IP office manager, VoIP Services, software VoIP, and voice over internet protocol providers for small business and large enterprise customers.

AVAD Technologies specializes in the small/medium sized business market. VoIP for businesses is all we do. AVAD provides a complete business pbx solutions, we provide local and toll free phone numbers, the VoIP hardware and software, plus free installation and ongoing support. If you are thinking about switching your business to VoIP or just have some questions, please feel free to call (800) 733-4136

Click for Hosted pbx providers and VoIP small business
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Business Phone Systems Make Things Run Smoother - By: Mark Etinger


I have worked in about half a dozen offices over the past ten years. I'm not proud of my job hopping ways but I am proud of my ability to learn new things. When you work in as many offices as I have you learn business phone systems pretty quickly. I've picked up phones at friend's offices and gotten the hang of them pretty quickly. That is because a modern business phone system is pretty easy to learn. For a long time these hosted phone systems could be a little tricky and service was not always as good as traditional land lines. These days telephone service providers have gone out of their way to make their systems easily understood by everyone. Which is good because a company's phone system can really hold business together.

Long distance telephone service is important for businesses in the current global economy. As a result most good business phone systems offer great plans and clear excellent service internationally. When choosing your service provider and business phone system company it is important to really understand the kind of service you will be offered. Most companies opt for a VoIP telephone system. It is far cheaper than a PSTN system and easier to trouble shoot if something goes wrong. It used to be a phone technician might have to come to your office and rattle the entire work flow for a few hours when there was a telephone issue. Now though, it is pretty easy to fix most problems over the phone with a helpful customer service person.

The benefits of a great telephone system go beyond just being able to do your basic business making calls from here to there and so forth. They function as an intercom for the whole office! They also allow you to conference with clients and coworkers anywhere. It is truly integral to the success of your business to pick the VoIP telephone service that best suits what you're doing. When you choose a hosted phone system you are putting your company in the hands of another entity. It can be scary to put that kind of trust in a company not to mention in technology. But when you find the right one you will be shocked by how easy it is and how much more streamlined your whole enterprise will become.

Some people might tell you that with cell phones there really isn't a reason to invest in a business phone system. These people are dead wrong. A business phone system shows how professional and cohesive your business is. It is a great first step to bigger things.
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SME Businesses Turning To Carrier Pre Select (CPS) For Reduced Carbon Emissions - By: Ian Roberts


For the last few years, businesses have been placing more emphasis than ever on carbon neutrality. The movement began in 2008 with the launch of the Greening Government ICT: Efficient, Sustainable, Responsible strategy, which prompted companies to reduce the energy consumption of their ICT systems to become carbon neutral by 2012 and to make all departments neutral for life by 2020.

Normal desktop phones are well known to come with a sizable carbon footprint; cost effective and flexible IP telephony technology can offset these carbon emissions by helping you 'green' your IT infrastructure and telephony usage with carbon neutral telephony minutes.

Voice over IP, or VoIP telephony systems play a large role in decreasing carbon emissions as well as adding an incredible amount of flexibility to the working environment. Employees are able to work directly at home rather than make the commute to and from work, thus reducing overall carbon emissions even more.

The VoIP transition can be either instant or gradual, depending on your needs. UK businesses no make use of SIP trunks as well as IP extensions for their existing PBXs, giving them the flexibility that comes with IP without the need to replace expensive existing telephony hardware. The possibilities are endless.

To further emphasize the point, the Efficient ICT, Greener Government 2011 conference will bring together 350 local and central government delegates in September, 2011 to discuss further opportunities for reducing emissions. Some topics on the agenda are "achieving cost efficiency," "reducing power costs," and "mobile working" with emphasis on more efficient mobile technologies, the very definition of VoIP and IP telephony.

It's now a viable option for any SME business to make the switch to carbon neutral telephony, mostly because of Carrier Pre Select, or CPS.

CPS is the process used by carrier networks to shift any calls to carbon neutral soft switch carriers. Carbon neutral minutes are also known as Green Minutes or Green Telephony.

The push for change comes when the Cabinet Office goes so far as to recommend "VoIP as a replacement for desk-top phones". Recent documents that they published pushed for departments dealing with ICT procurement to "review and reduce energy consumption of PBX equipment".

We're living in the future of telephony technology. Don't get left in the dust while your competitors upgrade to IP telephony and help green your telephony.

So what are the real benefits of using carbon neutral telephony in your business?

Lower Cost Greater flexibility for employees Gain more carbon credits Effortless upgrade to existing PBX hardware

Now is the time to embrace the future. Carbon Neutral Green Minutes let you offset costs and save the environment while you're at it.


Copyright (c) 2011 Ian Roberts

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Business VOIP telephones: Multi-functional and multiple platform based devices - By: Small Business Phonesystem



No one could have imagined a few decades back that making long distance calls will not only be same as making the local calls in all respects. That long distance telephony will not only become widespread in usage, extremely economical and affordable and also, retain the good quality sound with clarity was not so imaginable only a decade or two back. What has been the harbinger of this change? The name of the technology is the VOIP, or voice over the internet protocol. As the name itself suggests, this technology is based on the use of internet for communication. Earlier, the internet was available only through the wired connections into the computers and therefore, the business VOIP service providers first provided their services through the PC mode.

Of late, the internet has been made available in the mobiles as well. Today the mobiles allow people to surf the internet from their hand held sets provided they are connected either to the Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) of the Hot wired areas or the internet is provided by the telephony service providers. The broadband connections with or without the wires have further facilitated the communication process by allowing not just the voice packet to be transferred from one place to another but also allowing the video chats or video telephony. voice over IP telephones have also come up. IN looks, these are just like the normal landline telephones but these can be connected to the computers to allow for the smooth internet based communication.

The uses of this telephony technology have been varied. The households can now afford to talk to their near and dear ones free of cost or at minimal costs, comparable to local rates. This way they can communicate any time of the day without having to worry for the exorbitant charges of the same. But the most important use of these phones has been in international calling. While the PC to PC calls using the same service provider at both the ends can be made free of cost, the business requiring to call internationally very often can make maximum use of these Business VOIP services. Some of these businesses could be the export-import businesses, the call centers, the international business having their spread across different geographical regions and many others.

At the level of organization, the PC–based voice over IP services can be used to do many other additional tasks. These can help in transfer of files to employees, arranging video calling or conferences among the employees of different locations. Even the PBX Samsung system Sydney used by the organizations for maintaining effective control over the telephonic calls are now available with the business VOIP functionality. Also, there is a lot more to choose from for the customers when it comes to these modern telephones, irrespective of the size of the business.

The coming of the 3G and the 4G technologies for the mobile communication is further set to revolutionize telephony like never before.
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PBX Phones

More Than Just Hosted PBX Phones - By: Mark Etinger

Setting up a business is no easy feat. Before you can even think about what color to paint the office or what chairs will be the most comfortable, you have to take care of the important items first, like buying computers and choosing a telephone provider. If you're a medium to large-sized business, you're probably going to choose a PBX phone system. However, there is more than just a hosted PBX phone and you'll need to know which is right for your business.

The basic PBX phone, or private branch eXchange, is a privately owned phone system. You can have several lines and can easily route calls. The extra features you want can determine just how cheap or expensive this option is. Standard features include caller I.D., call forwarding, and call conferencing. This simpler system is being used less and less with the rise in popularity of VoIP business phones. They still remain a good choice for medium to large-sized businesses.

Growing in popularity is the hosted PBX system, also called the virtual PBX phone. The big difference between this phone and the former is that you can manage calls through the Internet. You also do not need to setup tons of extra hardware. Some of the basic features of these phones include redirecting calls to cell phones, home phones, or faxes, online call logs, online voicemail, and dial-by-name directories. The costs tend to be cheaper than the traditional PBX system and the phones are great for any size business.

With so many businesses switching to VoIP, there is now a VoIP hosted PBX system, or IP PBX. This type of phone brings the best of both systems together. Costs are low because you do not need to install new hardware. The phones can be connected to a computer rather than through landlines. You can also manage your system online just like the hosted PBX system. Simply install the software on your computer and you can begin making phone calls. Again, this is a great choice for all types of businesses.

The fourth and last type of PBX system is the virtual or hosted IP PBX system. This phone system is best for small to medium-sized businesses. All the equipment is held and maintained by the telephone provider. Therefore, there is nothing to install at your company. You still receive all the same great features, but without any installation hassle.

Cost and features are the most important factors to consider. Choose the right phone that can make your business run efficiently without soaring prices.
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First Look at ShoreTel Mobility Router - By: Drvoip


The ShoreTel Mobility Routers (aka SMR) is an exciting product that can make fixed/mobile convergence a reality! It builds heavily on inherent SIP functionality in call setup, call flow and Session Description Protocol. It acts as both a SIP client and as a SIP proxy server (e.g. B2BUA). If you are comfortable with SIP protocol, the SMR is a relatively simple device to understand. The products primary contribution to the state of the art is the ShoreTel Roam Anywhere Client (aka SRAC) and the fact that it is available now; it works and there are plenty of reference accounts.

The product demands a pervasive, voice enabled wireless network with a best practice recommendation of controller based access points. In my opiniion the product is optimized for Campus environments in which the same QOS requirements that you would expect for WAN connectivity are strictly adhered to. The Wireless environment requirements are for advanced network and power management strategies. The product is oriented toward a CISCO like Wireless networks “best practice” deployment. Clearly, you can make VoIP calls from StarBucks but you will not have the QOS that you would have on an enterprise Wireless Network.

The product can be integrated with most any PBX that supports SIP integraton including Microsoft Linx. When implemented as part of a ShoreTel deployment there are license requirements for both the SMR and the ShoreTel iPBX. For example, the SMR interconnects to the ShoreTel with both SIP extensions (Wifi connections) and Sip Trunks (Cellular connections). The number of paths, as you would assume, is calculated based on simultaneous conversation estimates. You are required to have two different ShoreTel PBX extensions if you are Mobility user. (My guess is the ShoreTel “twinning feature “was developed in part, primarily to support the SMR). It is not clear if the required SIP trunk, SIP extension and ShoreTel User licenses are bundled in the SMR acquisition cost but they are required. There are also extra SMR licenses required for presence and secure voice.

The best working model you might use for discussion purposes, is to envision a “tie-line” configuration between two pbx systems. In this case the SMR acts as a tie line between the iPBX and the Cellular network. You do a 10 – 4 Digit translation on the Cellular side of the tie line to reach ShoreTel extensions; and you do a 4 – 10 Digit translation on the PBX side of the tie line to reach Mobile phones. The SMR acts as a registration point and based on the SRAC calculations of WAP signal strength and active call can be handed off to the cellular network.

An incoming call to a ShoreTel users deskphone, also rings the associated SIP extension via the SMR. The Wireless SIP extension is the ShoreTel Roam Anywhere Client running on your faviorite smart phone. The SRAC is smart enought to register with the SMR either wirelessly or over the Cellular network depending on signal strenght. A call from the SIP extension displays the CID of the ShoreTel deskphone. The product is fully formed and is an exciting addition to the ShoreTel product family. Another Brilliantly Simple Solution!
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Cheap international calls

Cheap calls calling internationally as if free - By: Rajiv Thakur


Two offers and lot many more exciting features that are coming up that will be making every Indian in UK or every British having someone in India feel so close that the home land will not be felt to be far in fact just few seconds away. This is Mbuzzz getting us and all the crazy lovers’ cheap international phone calls to India.

Getting cheap calls is like a dream come true, the day is always waited when the calls will become free. Might be that is not possible but one can always dream of that. So in these dreams the partial dream to be true that too the scale at this time is awesome that is cheap international calls.

But in this case the international is till now confined to India and UK. This is great because these two nations have been in touch with each other as the two nations are connected to each other like an egg in the cake, as those two are inseparable than the connection of these two nations is inseparable as well.

This has come up with cheap phone calls the giver or the lord to this is Mbuzzz a communication lord to the lovers and loved one who were away from communication due to monetary reasons.

These cheap phone calls to India are like that offer that those Indians who are far from their land can be connected in the better as well as the best way. No one who loves those who live away from them will leave any chance to grab the deals that are the Mbuzzz international calling deals.

The calling deals have come up as the cheapest calling deals to India and they are blessed by this, thereby one is getting all that was aspired at one point of time that is coming forward in real.

The medium for this to reach all is the most convenient one that is internet and there are other as well that is in the market. But while getting something from home, than why to move around the world in search of that as there is cooked food with no effort.

These cheapest phone calls to India are at the rate of 15.99 £ unlimited to any number and at the same time you can cut this down in case of selected choice that is 7.99 £ when there is one favourite number that you as the user wish to call at.

Getting cheap calls is like a dream come true, the day is always waited when the calls will become free. Might be that is not possible but one can always dream of that. So in these dreams the partial dream to be true that too the scale at this time is awesome that is cheap international calls.

But in this case the international is till now confined to India and UK. This is great because these two nations have been in touch with each other as the two nations are connected to each other like an egg in the cake, as those two are inseparable than the connection of these two nations is inseparable as well.
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Cheap international calls covering distance at least prices - By: Rajiv Thakur


Great is to be happy and that is there when there are cheap international calls to India, they have actually converted the myths in to real, feeling that the cheapest call rates for international calling do prevail and that is on the top when it is about India and UK as they have made this happen at the best scale and at the best prices those that have never came in to the network and communication market.

Making the nation be proud is the motto of every person and every government. This time achieving and connecting people of one nation and those who think alike is done Mbuzzz they master minds have created this new concept to cover up all the gaps which were never able to be recovered due to communication hassles.

The motive as always to spread love and when this time it is between India and UK than the first step is taken by India, by bringing cheapest call rates to India this was never thought or nether was a part of the wildest dreams. The concept or the schemes that lie here are above thought –

• The one is on the bases of unlimited cheap international calls to the UK people to India they can subscribe to this just in £ 15.99 per month this is a nothing to talking at a distance that is away by millions miles and cannot be covered so easily, will now be done in seconds. Above all the joy that will pass at every face will be awesome.

• As well as those who have just one special or can reach many just through one telephone number they can chose the favourite plan that is awesome as well that is more money saving. That is just at £ 7.99 per month that values nothing when it comes to cheap international calls to India as the distance is 100 times more than the call rates.

These two schemes are best and they are real fun for those who had been waiting for this good news since long. The rental that s prevailing here is much less than what is the per month rental of contract mobile phone deals those that prevail in UK as the daily usage and local usage. So this one has to be or rather they are best, this magic of Mbuzzz is spreading the cheap international telephone calls.

Making the nation be proud is the motto of every person and every government. This time achieving and connecting people of one nation and those who think alike is done Mbuzzz they master minds have created this new concept to cover up all the gaps which were never able to be recovered due to communication hassles.

The motive as always to spread love and when this time it is between India and UK than the first step is taken by India, by bringing cheapest call rates to India this was never thought or nether was a part of the wildest dreams.

So this one has to be or rather they are best, this magic of Mbuzzz is spreading the cheap international telephone calls.

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Food that help you look younger

Foods that help you look younger

I've heard there are certain foods that can help hold onto the years. Please elaborate on those that I should incorporate and avoid.…
Posted By Prevention, Friday 1 April 2011 2:46 PM IST
Ask Ishi
I've heard there are certain foods that can help hold onto the years. Please elaborate on those that I should incorporate and avoid.
Most of us want to look young and great, don't we? The truth is that ageing not only affects the way we look, but also our overall health. The process has an impact on all vital body functions. But diseases like osteoporosis and atherosclerosis that commonly accompany old age are not an inevitable part of ageing.
Interestingly, the process of ageing is still a mystery. One theory is that when we are young, we produce plenty of active cells to meet our needs. But, during late adolescence and adulthood, cells inevitably age and die. In fact, free radical cell damage has been significantly associated with ageing.
There's abundant evidence in favour of the theory that the fountain of youth emanates from a proper diet. While no diet can stop ageing, research proves that calorie restriction can greatly slow it down. Studies have shown that animals on lean rations live about 50% longer and show much lower rates of cancer than control groups that are allowed to feed freely.
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While the exact mechanisms to explain the relation between calorie restriction and anti-ageing are not yet clear, it's believed that hormonal and immune system changes may be involved. Calorie restriction reduces metabolic rate, oxidative damage and improves markers of age-related diseases, such as insulin resistance in case of diabetes.
Must read on health: 6 questions you would ask your gynaec if she was your friend
Research shows that regular intake of anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and good fat is critical for protection from diseases and increasing lifespan. Also, following a mild restriction (say 10%) on your present calorie intake helps.
• Your diet should be/have:Low in calories and high in nutrients.
• Particularly rich in phyto-chemicals (anti-oxidants), Vitamin B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, calcium, iron, chromium, vitamin D & E and Omega-3 fatty acids.
• Include plenty of whole-grains, brightly coloured (red, yellow and green) fruits and vegetables. Choose fresh, seasonal and organic foods.
• Protein sources like fish, soya, peas and beans, seeds, nuts, fermented milk and food products.
• Natural sources of fats such as seeds, nuts, coconut, fish and cold pressed oils.
• Functional foods like barley, oats, soya, garlic, onion, mushrooms, berries, yoghurt, etc.
• Probiotic foods like kefir (fermented milk) and yoghurt.
• Prebiotic foods like whole-grains, soya, vegetables, fruits and seeds.
• Minimal, or better still, no processed or refined foods, sugars, hydrogenated fats, preservatives, chemicals, etc.
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Also incorporate these lifestyle changes:
• Ensure a deep and restful sleep through the night.
• Have meals in pleasant surroundings and in enjoyable company.
• Have confectionary and desserts only occasionally.
• Do not skip breakfast, have smaller, frequent meals and early dinner.
• Do not smoke and indulge in substance abuse.
• Make sure you maintain regular physical activity.
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When it comes to health and longevity, the sum of the dietary components is significantly greater than its individual elements. So try to keep all of this in mind and you will stay young and look lovely!
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Sunday, April 3, 2011

HTML

XQuery: The Search Language For A Multi-Platform Future - By: Jim Pretin


The advent of wireless internet access has made web design a very complicated matter. Previously, all web browsers were created equal. HTML was the only language used to create web sites, and it was only possible to go online with a desktop PC.

Since the turn of the century, cyberspace has changed. It is now possible to surf the world wide web using a wide variety of wireless gadgets, such as cell phones, palm tops, laptops, computer screens in automobiles, etc. As a result, new programming languages and specifications that are more versatile than HTML have evolved to create websites that can be displayed on the new web browsers utilized by these various devices.

Languages such as XML, XHTML, XSL, and a host of other programming innovations were developed because web sites coded in basic HTML were not being displayed properly on the browsers installed on all these neat gadgets. XML is a language that enables data to be displayed across all platforms because XML is a simple text file that merely defines data, it does not tell the web browser how to display the data. XSL and XHTML were created so that XML could be transformed into a web page.

Now that you have a basic understanding of how and why programming has changed, you are ready for a brief introduction to the main topic of this article, XQuery. XQuery was invented so that there was a way to query data stored in an XML document, much the same way SQL is used to query a database.

XQuery uses simple functions to query a document. An XQuery function looks a little like a javascript function in that it uses parentheses containing an element that is to be the object of the function. With XQuery, the element in parentheses is typically the name of the document or file to be queried.

To find what it is looking for within that file, XQuery narrows its search by using path expressions that look a lot like the path for an ordinary file stored on your computer, with the various subsets of data within the XML file separated by backslashes. The predicate is the final component of an XQuery function. The predicate tells the function exactly what information, data, or range of data within a particular subset is to be extracted and returned to the user.

For example, an XML file for a dating website would contain a list of men and women who have posted their profiles on the website. Some of the people in the XML file might be classified as single, while others might classified as divorced. The XML file would also contain the age of each man and woman.

If a woman were to visit that dating website and perform a search for profiles of only single men who are over the age of 30, that search request would be converted into an XQuery function that would contain a path that would tell the function to search through the list of men who are classified as single, and the predicate would instruct the function to return only the profiles of the single men who are older than 30.

Learning how to use XML, XHTML, and XQuery is of critical importance to every web designer or programmer. There are now so many ways to connect to the internet using computers that run on different platforms that are no longer compatible with many elements of the HTML programming language. Web designers need to be conscious of this and start designing web sites that utilize XML and XQuery.
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