Making Phone Calls over Internet Connections.

With the advent of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Providers), you can now make phone calls over internet connections that sound just as good as if you were using your regular house phone and often even better. Due to the proliferation of fiber optic cables, satellite service and digital broadband access to high-speed internet service around the world, it is now possible to make quality phone calls over internet services such as Skype, Vonage, or several others that are just now entering the marketplace.

Using Skype is simple and you need to first download the software from their web page at www.skype.com. Once you have downloaded the software on your computer you just need to purchase a USB headset. You can get one of these pretty cheap at Radio Shack or Best Buy. One of the most reliable brands is Plantronics, but just about any of the $20 to $40 models serve just as well. Most have two foam padded speakers for listening that cover the ears and a band that goes over your head, along with a microphone that sticks out and is adjustable for talking into.

Make sure that the wire that connects to your USB input on your computer has a mute switch on it. Once you have these items you are ready to make calls.

Calls from one Skype user to another Skype user are free of charge, no matter where the two users are in the world. You can be calling from Costa Rica to Sweden and as long as both users are using their Skype software, then the call is free and they can talk as long as they want with no charges. If you are using Skype to call a phone number that is not a Skype number, for example if you are using Skype to call a friend’s cell phone in another country, that is alright also, but will cost you a bit. In order to do this you will need to go to the Skype website and purchase what are called Skype Out Credits. You can buy these in increments of $10 or $25 and then you can call anyone in the world. Rates to each country are shown when you attempt to place a call. Calls to a Nicaragua cell phone, for instance, cost 22 cents per minute and less for a house phone. This is a really low rate compared to buying a prepaid calling card, which normally run for $5 and give you only 20 minutes of talking time and are very unreliable as far as getting connected.

Call quality on Skype is usually excellent and really makes it easy to make phone calls over internet connections that are high speed. Skype does not really work on low speed connections such as dial-up. You really need to have some bandwidth and high speed cable, DSL, or satellite service in order to have a reasonable sounding call. After every call you make, Skype will ask you to rate the service by filling out a small survey which appears as an annoying pop-up window.

Skype and Vonage both work the same basic way and you can easily make phone calls over internet services with both of these great systems.

Refurbished Computer Systems are All I Buy.
It used to be that whenever it came time to buy a new computer, I would go to an electronics store, spend over a thousand dollars, and always wonder if I had made the right choice.

A few years ago, my brother introduced me to a web site that sells refurbished computer systems, and I have not bought a new computer since.
First and foremost, I can get refurbished computer systems for a fraction of the cost that a brand-new computer system would cost me. In this day and age, that is a very big thing.

If I am going to make an investment of over a thousand dollars on anything, I had better to be able to either live in it or drive in it and be able to pay it out over time.
The second benefit of refurbished computer systems, and for me really the most important point, is that with the refurbished systems you know that everything is going to work properly. The reason they are refurbished is because there was something wrong with them that has been fixed, so now they run properly and will probably do so for years to come.
I have purchased two refurbished computer systems and both have served me very well. I had one for five years and never had a problem with it at all. As a matter of fact, I decided to pass it on to my younger sister. She was starting college, and I wanted to make sure that she had a good computer to do her school work.

The second refurbished system that I purchased was about two years ago, and once again, it works like a charm. I do a heavy workload of assignments as a freelance writer, and the computer holds up nicely under constant use and never gives me any trouble.

I recommended refurbished computer systems to a couple of friends who use their computers most of the day every day, as well, and both were very happy with the results. One of them told me that before  he bought a refurbished system, he would actually have to save up in order to buy a new computer and said it would always break the bank for him. Now, he can easily afford a system and knows that it will work just as good as a new system, if not better.
I don’t think that I will ever buy a new computer again. I know that for some people, a new computer is very appealing, and they would much rather have that than something that has already been used. That is fine. As for me, however, refurbished computer systems are all that I will use from now on, and I feel perfectly confident in doing so.

A secure network for a small business is no small matter, so what’s to be done?

Small businesses normally have a small network staff, perhaps a well-rounded computer person who seems to know about every aspect of computing and networks, someone to whom you can entrust your system, and your network security. If you’re such a person, or in charge of such a person or small IT staff, you’ll want to be certain that your network is truly protected.

The reasons are obvious: information theft and software corruption. This is especially important if your systems are exposed to the internet, which, of course, most are. There is an abundance of infiltrators out there trying to get into your data, maybe into your accounting system or bank accounts. Then there’s the possibility of identity theft, the theft of your employees social security numbers, for instance. These infiltrators are ingenious and are constantly seeking new ways to get in.

They know that a small business, probably not having a person or unit solely dedicated to network security, is the easier target among businesses. They know that most small businesses buy ready-made network systems, systems that you or your staff may be competent to install, but not necessarily competent to secure. A small business is prime pickings.

Networked systems out-of-the-box will claim security is guaranteed because getting into the system requires a password. Did you know that there are programs that can figure out your passwords?

These run at terrific speeds, trying every possible combination of characters, starting with those most often used. Your best bet is to enforce a password policy that requires some odd combination of characters. For instance, you could require all passwords to have at least one numeral in them.

You could also require lengthy passwords. These take a lot longer to crack. There is also the normal protection of allowing a user only three tries before breaking connection. The cracker has to keep re-connecting to try new combinations. It’s a good policy if you want passwords an be and effective network security technique.

A common security hole in small businesses is the trust you must place in your employees. Sure, they’re okay when you’re paying them, but after they leave, well, watch out for some of them at least. Security is constantly compromised by ex-employees who have taken passwords with them. They are able to get into your systems in a variety of ways, or they can simply let others know how to get into them. When an employee leaves, as that employee is walking out the door, this access should be stopped, his passwords changed, or his account(s) removed. Don’t forget to cut off email access as well.

Small business network security also means that you’ve configured your systems when they are installed. Most out-of-the-package systems come with all doors open, especially firewalls. Be forward-looking: to hire a systems person who has a good knowledge of firewalls. Don’t trust the vendors assurance. Close those doors.

Also, make sure you, or your staff, is doing everything to prevent virus infection. It’s an epidemic! About 1200 new ones come up every month; your installed anti-virus software may not recognize them. Keep anti-virus software up to date, limit downloading, and layer your security so that each layer, network and LAN, email and individual workstations, have anti-virus software.

Because network security is so important to your business, and there are other considerations, strategies, and techniques to secure your network, perhaps the best approach is to find a good network security consultant, have them study out your systems, and provide recommendations. They may be worth the cost, but if they’re any good, you’ll never know it, because you wont have a security breach. Ironic.

The Migration to VoIP calling.

Communication is important to everyone and especially to businesses. The need for a cheap and easy form of communication has brought about the integration of fax, email and recently use of VoIP calls. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) works just like your normal landline.

VoIP uses the internet to transmit voice, data and video traffic. Thus, VoIP calls have brought about a new revolution in cheap communication methods over long distances and in some cases, these calls can be made at absolutely no cost. As you can see, this form of communication is not only ideal for businesses, but for anyone looking for alternatives to a cheaper mode of communication.

However, VoIP calls offer more than just a cheap means of communication. With VoIP, you can conduct meetings and presentations with a number of people or even close deals with customers much faster than before. In addition, via a webcam or a videophone, you get to see who you are talking to.

VoIP calls can also be made and received anywhere on the planet as long as there is an internet connection. This allows for important business opportunities and emergencies to take place despite long distances. In almost all ways, VoIP calls prove to be superior to traditional phone calls.

Effective VoIP calls require that your internet connection be both stable and fast. When one of these is missing, any calls made via the internet will have delays or will result in dropped calls. This is an important consideration, especially when you are trying to make a sale. While a one-second delay may not seem like much, it can make a difference as to whether you get a ëyesí or a ënoí from the other party when it comes to a business transaction.

One of the best VoIP calls services is the one that is relayed over the 3G data network. This type of connection requires no PC, no WiFi connection or any additional kit. Some mobile operators have also integrated a VoIP element to their services that allows them to offer cheaper calling rates in addition to introducing new revenue streams. All in all, VoIP calling is transforming the global communications matrix by creating a single converged network that carries both voice and data on the same protocol. Many companies are rushing to migrate and many more are helping make the move. VoIP calls will continue to get cheaper and better. Have you made the move yet?

Free Software is better than whatever!
What’s better than free? Free love, free food, free land, and, best of all, free software. There’s free and then there’s the best free. That’s what you’re after when bringing software into your system, the best free software possible.
This software will simply and perfectly perform the functions you expect it to perform, what it claims it will perform. These functions might be part of the critical operations of your system as used by you, functions you often have to perform to get your work done. If free software cannot realize the functions you expected from it, it’s really free junkware and should be avoided.

Of course, if it’s free, you save money. The nice thing about free software is that you can test it without purchasing and discarded it if it fails to work without feeling the bite because, well, it’s free. For you, a positive indicator that the software will prove reliable is the availability and extent of software support. The best free software will always provide product support. This is good news for engineers, programmers, data base managers, all who fear free software will take away their jobs: all will continue to have valid roles in the method of intelligent human control of automated systems. The ship will require its crew.

Justly reciprocating, the free software creator will give it a life of it’s own; it will become, like an Adobe, or a Firefox, that is, an honorable, free, standards-based software package with pride of position, first in support, dedicated to solving the problem rather than fixing the blame. If it’s that good, maybe the provider might ask for voluntary donations.

The best source for information on free software is the world renown PC Magazine. This magazine has been the premier source for all things PC since the PC hit the markets. In one of their compilations of best free software, they determined that if you bought the same software they listed as free, you would be paying about $5,183 for the complete set. That’s a couple of new desktops at today’s prices, and some fancy laptops too. The smart money is on seeking the best free software before paying for what might in fact be the worst.

The all time greatest free software packages are well known and ubiquitous. You can expect to find Adobe Reader, for instance, on nearly ever PC you come across. It’s PDF format is a standard web document format, and with the plugin, you can use the reader in your browser and take Adobe to new heights.
Of course, for top quality, best free software for the office, no other can compete with OpenOffice. Many prefer it to Microsoft’s equivalent office suite. It has a professional word processor with all the capabilities you expect out of a commercially viable writer, a sophisticated spreadsheet, a graphics designer, a presentation tool to rival Microsoft’s ìPowerpointî, and a data base package to rival its ìMS Accessî database. There’s everything there for a new or small business and the savings are astounding.

That’s just a few of the free software out there. PC Magazine can tell you all about it.

The Benefits of Custom Built Computers.

I was in the market for a new computer a few months ago. At first, I was all set to buy one of the pre-packaged versions that every electronics store sells, mostly because that’s what I’ve always done. But a friend of mine convinced me that I was wasting my money that way. He went over the list of features that are typically included in a pre-packaged PC, and showed me that I could get even better specs at a lower price if I purchased everything separately. In fact, many people have custom built computers these days and will never go back to the store-bought models.

In the beginning, I was under the impression that in order to get one of those custom built computers, I would actually have to build it myself. I wouldn’t be able to do that in a million years, not even with a step-by-step manual to guide my every move. I just don’t know enough about the inner workings of a computer to put one together properly. But I should have realized that these days I can simply pay someone else to do the manual labor for me, which means I can still enjoy the benefits of custom built computers.

And what are the specific benefits of custom built computers? As I mentioned above, one of the biggest benefits is that you might be able to save money on the individual components. Pre-packaged PCs often come with name-brand parts that are attractive to consumers for no other reason than recognition. People feel more comfortable buying something if they’ve at least heard of the manufacturer before. But there are plenty of high-quality components from manufacturers that the general public probably has never heard of. These parts can deliver the same performance for less money.

Another benefit of custom built computers is that you can beef up the specs you’re most interested in. For instance, if you’re a gamer, then you can make sure you have a state-of-the-art video card that can process the latest graphics. If you’re a pack rat and need to keep every single document, photo, and email that crosses your desktop, then you can make sure you get a bigger hard drive. Want to compute at lightning speeds? Make sure you have the best processor available. There are very few ready-made machines on the market that offer all top-grade components, so doing it yourself would definitely be the way to go.
A third benefit of custom built computers is that you don’t have to pay for pre-installed software programs like Microsoft Office. With the prevalence of free alternatives, you could end up saving a couple hundred bucks on this alone.
I can’t believe it took me this long to figure out that custom built computers are superior to mass-produced models in nearly every way. But at least I’ve finally come to my senses and won’t make the same mistakes anymore!