Posts Tagged ‘telecommunications’

How Do Business Phone Systems Work?

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Whether you’re running a company or you’re one in a thousand cubicle workers, the phone system you use at work will be different than one from home. There are different functional requirements needed, and in recent years the technology underpinning even the most basic functions on business phones has changed.

New business phones no longer use traditional analogue dialing systems, the ones where you manually enter the number of the person you’re trying to call (or the auto-dial does the same). Replacing these is Voice Over IP (VOIP), which in a nutshell is the ability to send voice messages from one user to another by way of an internet connection. It works the same way online music does: a sound is recorded on a microphone and converted into a digital form on the soundcard. A coder/decoder (CODEC) on a standard PC computer with microphones, headset, a soundcard and an internet connection is all that’s needed.

It facilitates several other means of communication: it does video calls, video conferencing, instant messaging, and several other various features only conceivable utilizing the power of the internet. As well, because it’s using internet technology, long distance, and even local calling, can be significantly less expensive. Nobody likes to be counting the time they spend on the phone. This type of connection allows you to talk with impunity and be unconcerned with the ticking minutes. This is one example where spending money in the right way off the bat can lead to substantial savings down the road.

As well, new cordless technology called Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony (DECT) is gradually being used around the world. Basically, it is a reliable cordless platform that is interoperable-it works with traditional analogue systems, new digital and data phone networks, mobile phone networks, and others. As well, it works even with different manufacturers. For business users, the best systems have a wireless handset option and presence indication built in.

Advanced business phones also adopt the surrounding technologies like high resolution touch screens, blue tooth connectivity, and USB and Ethernet ports. Like building a computer, the price depends on your unique configuration. Options exist such as choosing the number of line displays, how many programmable soft keys you want, and whether you want a blue tooth connection. The other thing to take into account, of course, is the size of your company and the expected size it will reach; you want a system that is appropriate for today and tomorrow.

Buying business phone systems with the latest technology will be useful for years. Many older technologies aren’t compatible with the newest systems, and if you want to keep everybody in the loop you’ll need a system that can grow with your business. Because the newer systems are interoperable you don’t have to worry as much about staying current, as you’ll be current for the foreseeable future. Having modern technology in the core of your phone system is an essential component of keeping your company on the cutting edge, and looked at this way, it’s a necessary and unavoidable investment.

Offers business technology solutions, HDTV, cable TV, cell phones, wireless internet and business phone systems to residential and business customers in Canada.

The Nokia N8 – Great Features?

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Nokia, the company that connects people around the world has decided to hit the deck hard extending the challenge for contemporaries in the industry. It has gone strong into consumer hands with a superb invention named the Nokia N8. This device by the pioneer has not only tackled present communication barriers but also has succeeded in entertaining consumers a great deal! Moreover, it is important t state that the Nokia N8 is certainly opted to be a head turner!

Equipped with an AMOLED capacitive touch screen with 16 million colors, the Nokia N8 fights the challenge of bringing back the Symbian Operating System into operation. Furthermore, it has an internal memory of 16GB which is more than adequate for the current users. The operations of the N8 are supported by a RAM of 256MB and a ROM at 512MB. These features have simply proved the excellence of this device which is certainly a workhorse!

Surprisingly, the N8 has challenged digital cameras at their own game being studded with a magnificent 12 mega pixel camera with a large sensor which boasts of very high quality images. Furthermore, it is equipped with auto focus and xenon flash, geo tagging and detects faces and smiles. Its built in ND filter just makes images memorable for the user.

Apart from these features, the Nokia N8 is equipped with all modern requirements such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a 3.5mm stereo jack. It is also studded with a GPS receiver with A-GPS and is equipped with a microUSB port with USB host support. Apart from these main features the N8 consists with basic features of a new generation device such as compatibility of DivX, XviD, MP4, MP3, WMA and WAV formats, a digital compass, 3G, a secondary VGA camera and radio.

When such features are put together with a casing of dark grey, silver white, green, blue or orange the N8 certainly becomes a market leader. This is already visible among consumers who consider this as a device that hits hard and plays tough in order to get their latest needs of an electronic device a success.

Take a look at: Nokia N8 on O2 and Nokia N8 on T-Mobile

Purchase Only Durable Products By Uniden

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Looking for that great reliable Cordless Phone? The Uniden Cordless Phones are the deal of the century. Never before has this kind of technology been released. One will marvel at how easy and convenient it is to use. The dependability of the digital answering service is something on can count on. Use it to monitor one’s incoming calls or retrieve awaited calls while on the road. Either way, this answering machine is by far one of the best ones around. With the no tape feature one saves money and the inconvenience of having to constantly replace tapes.

Get the modern conveniences such as a Uniden 5.8ghz cordless phone with a genuine Uniden handset. The answering service makes it a convenient way to retrieve important message. There are no messy tapes to deal with. The brand new and updated technology on these products have surpass even the latest products out there.

There are various Uniden two way radios, some with a range of up to twenty eight miles. This would be a great radio to have if one plans on visiting the great outdoors. Camping equipment should always include a pair of these.

One could fix it so there would be a group type of call. This feature allows a designated bunch to talk with each other only without interference from outsiders. In an work environment these two way radios would be a necessity for any type of disaster recovery. Imagine a six point plus earthquake where no phones are working. These two way radios would be the only source of communication.

Direct call allows a person to call another individual without anyone else being able to listen in or interfere. When there is a need for private conversation, this is the option one would want to enable. The beauty of all of this is one can have a direct call and a group type call all on one mechanism.

Uniden Scanners have some great features such as two hundred channels with ten banks. This enables the owner to have much variety and the ability to choose their own preferences. Whether one would like to listen in on a public channel or if one would like to set up private channels is up to the individual.

Then there is another feature called the frequency coverage. This enables one to hear police or ambulance or even fire and much more. This feature would come in handy while traveling on long trips. Once could listen in and see what blockage there might be.

Whatever the need may be, Uniden products are the best on the market. Get set up today with the much needed cordless telephones or the two way radios. Travel the world with constant communication intact. The Uniden name has been around for quite some time. Built with quality, durability and advanced technology. Nothing beats the Uniden name, on sale now, buy your Uniden product today.

When you’re looking for to cordless phones, you want design and technology to come together smoothly in one set. Uniden provides the latest features without looking dated or heavy.

How To Build Your Reseller Business Selling Otterbox Cell Phone Covers

Monday, September 27th, 2010

As a retailer, carrier, or reseller, you are always on the alert for excellent products to add to your stock. With all the brands of phones, and the multitude of accessories out there, it’s vital to find high-quality, alluring products to offer your customers to keep them coming back. Look for merchandise that offers the consumer a little extra something, an edge or quality that says Buy me. Take a look at Otterbox because their products will accomplish that goal. Their line of cell phone covers are outstanding.

Durable Otterbox cell phone covers come in three basic styles: the Defender, Commuter and the Impact series. The Commuter is sleek in style which is very appealing to the eye. It easily slips into a bag or pocket, yet the thin shell provides three full layers of protection to provide an excellent defense against bumps and scratches. A LCD screen protector is also included to keep the screen from being scratched or smeared.

The Defender is a rugged cover beloved of customers, especially men, who work in outdoor jobs like contracting and landscaping. Management and workers alike need a reliable phone on the job, and the Defender provides the ultimate protection against infiltrating debris. Dirt and dust have a hard time getting past the tough Defender. Silicon plugs allow easy access to all phone controls, but keep those delicate parts clean. Like the Commuter, the three layer protection system provide the utmost in fortification, and the inner layer includes a screen protector.

The Impact cover is for customers who own a specific group of smart phones including the iPhone, Blackberry, HTC models, and others. While there are differences in covers, depending on the phone model, each cover provides superb lightweight protection.

The inner core is specifically engineered to absorb the shock of bumps, jolts or falls itself, and keep it away from the fragile electronics of the phone. Otterbox manufactures each case to exacting standards, so you can assure your customers that they are getting a high-quality product and good value for their money.

Research your sources on-line to ensure that you are getting authentic Otterbox products. Don’t settle for cheap reproductions or ask your customers to purchase such inferior products either. Consumers are always looking for a bargain, and want a really cheap price.

However products that doesn’t last, or disappoint the customer by breaking or wearing out too fast isn’t good for keeping loyal customers to your business in the long run. By offering a much better product, even if the price is a little higher, is the smart move to build and keep those customer relationships loyal and to have repeat customers.

Develop business and a good reputation as a dependable accessories reseller by searching out a supplier that offers high quality products at a very competitive price. Fast shipping, and helpful customer service are two other qualities to look for too. So search out a company who is genuinely interested in servicing you and your business to help it succeed.

Leading cell phone accessories wholesaler offering exclusive pricing and discounts to resellers. MyCoolCell carries thousands of accessories such as: otterbox accessories, skins, chargers, Bluetooth headsets, covers, novelty items, batteries, licensed products and much more. So stop by thewholesale accessories Superstore today for top quality accessories at very competitive prices today.

Top Cell Phone Accessories

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

The best cell phone accessories combine style and function. There are continually new devices being released followed by new accessories. The following is a guide towards that end.

1. Jawbone: with legislation in many parts of the world outlawing talking on your cell phone while driving, it’s become necessary for people to buy blue tooth ear pieces. Perhaps none are better or more stylish than the Jawbone. It’s got noise reduction and terrific voice clarity, so communication is clear even in noisy environments. It integrates seamlessly with most functions on your phone including volume levels, answering or ending calls, and re-dial. Importantly, it can be hooked up to eight devices simultaneously! Very handy feature.

2. Leather I-phone case: Cell phones, especially smart phones, are important, expensive things that need a case. Leather is always a good professional or casual look, but don’t drop it out the window-it’s designed to protect against scratches and dirt. They are designed specifically to match a particular model, and the Iphone 4 has different leather cases to choose from. Make sure yours has a cradle to keep your phone in place. Also, many have covers that unlatch magnetically, making it easy to access your phone. This is important since phones are used for a lot more than calling and texting.

3. Blackberry Skins: Perhaps a little less protective than leather, but they’re cheap and they fend off dust and dirt. You’ll make your cell phone look distinct as long as you get a bolder colour than black, and there are lots of colours to choose from.

4. Touch Stylus Pens: For those whose find typing on touch screen phones awkward, or don’t like putting their fingers directly on the screen, there is a cheap solution in the Touch Pen. It’s a light, plastic pen with a rubber tip on the end so you can interact with your phone without worrying about leaving marks on it. It works for Apple, Blackberry, and pretty much all brands of touch screen. You can find them easily for under $20.

5. Armbands: With cell phones also providing your source of music it’s handy to be able to feel secure taking them running or biking. There are several good options out there which give you good access to the touch screen while being comfortable and securely fastened to your arm while you move. Nike has a line designed with material which wicks away sweat. Also, be careful to get an armband good enough to keep the sweat away from the smart phone itself or it can get damaged.

Bottom line: there’s always new accessories coming out, and the old ones are constantly being improved upon. The key is to buy something suitable for an expensive device that’s relied on so heavily. In the end it’s worth it to spend those extra dollars to ensure all of your cell phones are protected and you can utilize them to their full capabilities.

Looking for the latest selection of cell phones and wireless services? Visit Canada’s largest mobile communications company, offering home phone and long distance plans, high speed internet, HDTV, wireless services as well as a massive selection of the latest mobile phones.

Who Invented Cell Phones

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

There is no better symbol of the modern era of telecommunication than the cellular phone. They are small, lightweight, and capable of instantly transmitting your voice across the globe.

Despite the importance of his invention, the inventor of the cell phone isn’t a household name. This article will address this injustice and take a brief look at the history that led to the modern invention.

The man recognized for developing the modern cellular phone is Dr. Martin Cooper. At the time, he was the head of research and development at Motorola. Fittingly, he is also credited with making the first call on a cell phone which took place in New York in the year 1973. Prior to this, “mobile phones” required a backpack type of support to power the phone, and wasn’t really mobile in the true sense. They were mostly designed for wealthy individuals, businesses and the military, which had an obvious need for instant communication.

Even though Dr. Martin’s invention was still large and expensive it was the first real phone that was truly portable. Still, because of the size and expense the industry took its time in expanding. Most importantly, the invention had to wait until the networks could sufficiently grow. In the mid 80s this was beginning to happen, and the cost of cell phones diminished a bit, but it wasn’t until the early to mid 90s that cell phones became affordable for the average consumer. Millions of people in countries around the world were using Dr. Martin’s invention for casual, every day use.

But the underlying technology for cell phones was invented back in 1947. It wasn’t only the phone itself that needed to undergo evolution but the network required to connect each phone to its mobile base. This was accomplished in what’s known as “hexagonal cells,” a technology that was only used until a few years later in the 50s, but is still being used today. It was invented by the combined effort of Bell Labs and AT & T. In conjunction with this piece of technology was the final ingredient, a technology known as “handover” which allowed for cell phones to move seamlessly in and out of hexagonal cells. Hexagonal cells and handover technology put Dr. Cooper in a position where inventing the cell phone meant simply making it smaller and portable (without being powered by a cumbersome backpack charger). Of course this was a great accomplishment, and his praise and recognition should in no way be diminished, but it serves justice to history to recognize precisely what aspect of the phone he invented, IE, the phone itself and not the network behind it. Still, all phones that came out after Dr. Cooper’s were considered to be evolutions of his invention, not a different product in and of itself. His was the first of the ever shrinking cellular phone, and he deserves to be celebrated for bringing society into today’s modern era of telecommunications.

Looking for the latest selection of cell phones and wireless internet services? Then visit Canada’s largest telecommunications company, offering other services including high speed internet, mobile phones, cable TV and telephone services.

The Invention Of Cell Phones

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

Images of old cell phones from the 90s are a surefire way to spark laughter-they are big, cumbersome, and look ridiculously outdated compared to the small gizmos we have today. So it should be surprising to learn that the first conception of crude, mobile phones actually dates all the way back to 1947. Researchers tried to evolve the technology used in walkie talkies. They realized that by using small cells instead of relying on single frequencies they could reuse the same frequencies, and thereby dramatically increase the traffic capacity. In other words, the initial kernel of invention was present, but unfortunately its potential was halted.

The FCC (the organization in the U.S which regulates anything to do with broadcasting or sending television or radio waves) blocked AT & T’s request to allocate a large number of radio spectrum frequencies. This would have provided the groundwork for widespread cell phone use and would have given AT & T incentive to further develop the technology. Under the strict FCC regulations of the time, airwaves only allowed for twenty-three phone conversations to take place at any given time. This mentality was symbolic of the limited understanding of cell phone technology’s potential. In hindsight it looks like a boneheaded decision, but it should be remembered that this was 1947, so the FCC should be at least partially excused for not understanding the full implications of modern communications technology. Still though, the idea lay buried for decades.

It wasn’t until 1973 when Dr. Martin Cooper, former general manager of the Systems division at Motorola, was credited with making the first ever call on a portable cell phone-a privilege he enjoyed as its chief creator. Ironically, the first call was made to the head of research labs at Bell, their chief competitor. Perhaps this was actually fitting since Bell was responsible for inventing the crude mobile phone that was designed to be used in police cars in the 40s. Four years later, Bell created a prototype that was used on trial in Chicago by up to two thousand people. Two years after that, in a completely unrelated venture, a separate operation was undertaken in Tokyo. There was considerable international buzz about the new technology as it went from being something existing only in science fiction to something that would appear imminently.

In 1981 Motorola joined with American Radio Telephone to start a second U.S. cellular telephone system test in Washington and Buffalo. The movement was gaining momentum, and by 1982 the FCC finally authorized commercial cellular services for the United States. Ameritech made the first American commercial analog cellular service available in Chicago. Still, the technology was expensive and it was far from being as accessible as cell phones are today. But by 1987 cellular phone subscribers exceeded one million and airways were crowded.

The 90s brought on a new wave of cell phone technology that ushered in the modern era where one belongs to the average person. Yes, those big 90s clunkers look old, but who would have believed that the cell phone was actually conceived of so many decades ago?

Looking for the latest selection of cell phones and wireless services? Then visit Canada’s largest telecommunications company, offering other services including high speed internet, cable TV and services for telephones and mobile phones.

Say Goodbye To Old Phones And Hello To New Voice Services

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

There are many new terms being bandied about that have to do with the latest phone technology, or telephony. There are so many that sometimes it seems there are more terms than products, services and online customer service representatives. There are hosted services and networked services, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and plain old IP telephony, plus plenty of terms, plans and service packages with facts, figures and claims about scalability, reliability, service quality, security, privacy and storage. It is a lot to digest.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may have taken the lead in implementing the new voice services, but large enterprises are finding rationales and reasons to follow the SMBs down this digital pathway. Because defining and explaining the advantage of the new voice services initially took a back seat to the hype-and-buzz machine, companies supplying these services have made the value proposition hard to grasp. There are a number of major issues you need to consider before you start deciding what new digital voice services are best for your firm.

In-house IT expertise

When you start using VoIP or IP phone technology, for all or part of your voice services solution, you are heading down the path of that oft-misused term, convergence. If you do not have top IT people with state-of-the-art expertise, you will need to add personnel or go for a hosted solution. It will take a leading-edge business communications firm to meet you wherever your firm happens to be on that convergence path, and offer services and support to get the job done the way you want it.

If you firm’s IT is able to manage VoIP and other new voice services, you still need to apportion your in-house expertise to handle all your other work. You may discover that the economic argument for handling new voice services wholly in-house, or even partly, is no longer a slam dunk (if it ever was). Whether it is matter of budgets or of higher strategic priorities for your IT team, if you have one, the move to a new service model may include some hosted features, leaving your IT resources focused more important functions.

What is your motivation?

Many SMBs were motivated to look into new telephony services by the wide-ranging need to reduce costs across the board. If the economic argument is a winner, that may be all it takes to tip the decision in favor of starting down that road to convergence. Businesses with long-term phone company accounts are keenly aware of the high costs as opposed to IP-based voice services, so this is a key consideration or any size or type of firm. Alternatively, some businesses would reap limited economic benefit with new services, hosted or otherwise, but may have a clear strategic justification for outsourcing operations that do not yield a competitive advantage. This brings the consideration out of the accounting department, so to speak, and looks at the big picture, the firm’s mission and position.

New voice services, however deployed, will likely be the way many companies do get on the convergence path for the first time. Once on, only going out of business will take them off the path. When they first implement their new voice services, it will become clear that communication is not solely, or even mainly, about voice. So, in addition to having hosted solutions or customized la carte ones, these businesses will be rewarded with richer telephony experiences. These are likely to spur even more wide-ranging integrated communications, and bring voice, other audio, video and data together in ways that were impossible just a decade ago.

Bottom line

Do you trust the cloud? The extent to which you do is good indicator of how quickly your firm will buy into some parts of the new voice services model, which can include a greater or lesser degree of hosting in the cloud. There are always considerations of trust for outsourcing any job or service, but clearly the cloud model can offer both complementary services as well as an alternative to hosted services. Every company’s situation is unique, so you need to review the foregoing considerations, add more of your own and decide what is right in your particular situation.

It may be that you want to dip your toe in the water before diving all the way in. Be assured that there are plenty of business communications firms with the expertise to chart you a course through the always-choppy waters of technological change. Finding a great vendor you can trust, of course, is of primary importance.

No matter your size, we’ve got you covered. For over a decade, our High-Performance Network has internet business solutions from coast-to-coast. Because we own and operate a continent-wide fiber optic network, wherever you are, we’re there too!

Samsung Galaxy S Review

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Samsung came out with its new full touch screen phone Galaxy S in the month of June 2010. The Samsung Galaxy S is a light weight and stylish phone weighing just 121 grams and has physical dimensions of 122.4 x 64.2 x 9.9 mm. The new Samsung Galaxy S is available only in black colour.

This phone has 4 inches super AMOLED capacitive touch screen with 16 million colors and 480×800 pixels. The touch screen used here uses a TouchWiz 3.0 user interface. Multi-touch input method, accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, touch-sensitive controls, proximity sensor for auto turn-off and swype text input are some of its other features.

The new Galaxy S comes packed with a 5 MP Auto Focus camera with amazing picture quality. All necessary features like Geo-tagging, face detection, smile detection and touch focus are also present in its camera. A secondary camera is also present on the front side which supports VGA resolution.

Memory storage of this phone is also very good with 2 GB system storage and 14 GB user available storage. It uses a microSD memory slot and has an expandable memory up to 32 GB. The 3G phone has Wi-Fi technology as well. The phone makes use of class 12 GPRS and EDGE technology. For connectivity purpose it has Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP but no infrared port is provided. It uses a microUSB.

The Samsung Galaxy S has an impressive battery back up with a talk time of 7.5 hrs and 15.5 hrs in 3G and 2G networks respectively and a standby time of 590 hrs and 490 hrs for 2G and 3G networks respectively. The device is powered by ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor and works on Android OS. The phone also has GPS facility to track your location and supports almost all major audio/video formats. The Galaxy S also has some preinstalled applications on its Android OS which are fun to use. If you are looking for a great touch screen phone with a crisp display and an alternative to the iPhone 4, then this phone may be your best choice. It is well worth looking at.

You can find Samsung Galaxy S deals by looking for the best phone contracts.

The IPhone 4 – Too Expensive Or Worth Its Price?

Monday, July 19th, 2010

The most talked about recent smart phone, the iPhone 4 is an improvement from the past three versions of the iPhone from Apple. Apple has renovated its design, bringing out a purely beautiful and sleek design. With flat and thinner than ever body and corners which have been perfectly radiused the phone has a shape that sounds out. Add to it, the steel buttons and mute toggles. The glass front and black panel brings glamour to the device, though may confuse you as to which is the front side and which is the back side. A steel band with satin finish is like the cherry on the cake. Furthermore, this steel band notched into three parts, also plays the role of an antenna.

The phone has a large 3.5 inch capacitive touch screen (Retina, as marketed by Apple) with a resolution of 640 X 960 pixels. The retina display of iPhone 4 is one of the best outputs available in the GSM market. The screen supports 16 Million colors and is capable of producing sharp and vibrant images. The screen works perfectly in all light conditions ranging from bright sunlight to moonless dark.

The still camera has a 5MP sensor and also features AutoFocus and Touch AutoFocus. The Touch autofocus feature allows the user to track moving objects and the AutoFocus feature focuses objects placed at different distances. Talking about the video camera, one can produce High Definition videos with resolution of 720 p and at a frame rate of 30 per second.

The phone uses the ions software. This enables it to fast task switching, multitasking, home screen folders. It also has spell checking and support for Bluetooth keyboard. Unified email and message threads integrate user with the outer world.

The iPhone 4 has a special feature called the Face Time which allows its user to make video calls between two iPhones 4s placed in a Wi-Fi area. This is a fantastic addition and is very simple to use and get to grips with. Overall the iPhone 4 is a superb handset with outstanding features and performance but it may not be liked by everyone because of its drawbacks and high price.

Learn more about iPhone SIM Only deals and bad credit mobile phone deals now.