We live in a time when you can use your internet connection to make phone calls instead of the old fashioned phone lines in your house. After you sign on with an internet phone company, they give you a box that you plug your phone into that lets you make calls through the internet. A cable goes from that box to your broadband modem. But in every other respect, making a phone call works the same way. You pick up the phone, dial any number and you are connected as you are used to. There are even setups where your computer becomes the phone and you can make calls using a computer microphone and speakers or headphones.

Internet Calling: A Big Money Saver

It is surprisingly easy to set up an internet phone service. There are some pretty convincing reasons to learn how to use internet calling. But maybe the biggest reason is how much money it will save you. Just as you can chat with anyone around the world on the internet for free, aside from the base fee for the internet phone service, the calls are quite inexpensive and you can call anywhere for the same cost. Nonetheless, it pays to do some research on which internet calling services offer the best packages. For example, if you call your Aunt in Scotland every Thursday, you can find a service that makes calling there very affordable. And all of your other domestic calls are free. That is a good deal.

Now, cost is not always enough of a reason to make a switch to internet calling. But it is a good starter benefit that can take you into the modern age of communications where there are plenty of other benefits that can capture your imagination about internet communications.

Internet Calling: Pick Any Area Code

Because you are not tied to a local phone network, you don’t have one specific area code you are required to use. When you pick your internet calling phone number, it can stay with you wherever you move to or even if you travel around the country or abroad. Wherever your internet calling adapter is, you are home based there. You can even pick whatever area code you want when you set your interent phone service. You could live in a remote area of Oklahoma and have an area code for San Francisco if it suits you.

Another great benefit of the flexibility of internet calling is you can bring together your communications into one system. Check the service offerings of your internet phone provider but some of them allow you to route your voicemail to your email inbox and even make phone calls directly out of Microsoft Outlook. If your company decides to go with internet communications for their phone service, the ability to set up virtual satellite offices for all of the company’s branches easily and cheaply.

Internet Calling: The Negatives

To set up a phone in your house the old way, you just brought in your phones and plugged them into the spots in the wall where the phone jacks were already installed. Internet calling is a little more complicated to set up and maintain. It isn’t as complex as setting up a wireless network at home but it will take some effort to get a good VOIP system in place.

Quality is also a negative of interent communications. In many cases, you will not be able to tell the difference between internet communications and your old system through the phone company. But if internet traffic is intense through your ISP, you could get spotty quality with garbled words and delays as you talk through your internet phone, particularly if you are calling someone overseas. But even with these small negatives, internet calling is the wave of the future. So it makes good sense to at least check it out.

Sticking With Your Phone Company

Making any change is hard and most people will stay with what they know even if it costs more. If the internet service you use is still not broadband, then the conventional phone service may also be the best way to go because you need broadband to support the “voice over IP” or VoIP options. But if you have made the switch to broadband service, then you have some options. By looking into what various communications companies offer over VoIP, you can see if you can get all of the features, your current conventional phone service offers.

The old phone company services do have a lot of service offerings. Often they can bundle caller ID, answering services, wake up calls and other features people enjoy in a phone package and do so in a very reasonable fee. There are even plans to bring down the cost of long distance and other more costly functions. The phone company may be dealing with older technology but they are going to do all they can to compete.

The Magic Jack VoIP Option

There are many VoIP programs that are being offered currently. The technology for internet based voice communications has advanced tremendously. And with it, the ability of companies that can come up with very economical plans has exploded as well. One of the most economical plans currently getting a lot of attention is the Magic Jack service. Some users have gotten VoIP service through Magic Jack for as little as $20 a year.

The simplicity and economy of the Magic Jack system is what makes it so attractive. All that is needed to get started is a small adapter that can be purchased at Radio Shack or from many dealers online. The start up costs are less than $40. The device connects to the computer with a standard USB plug so that is simple. Once that is in place, you just plug any standard phone in and the hardware is ready. When you register with Magic Jack, you get a phone number and as soon as everything is in place, you will get a dial tone through that device you prepared.

Now, Magic Jack does make more money if you add extra features. You can get a package that will provide voice mail, call waiting, caller id and conferencing but at a fee that may be as much as $1 a call or more. The device you get to set up your Magic Jack VoIP is portable which is a real value to this kind of system. You can take it on the road and with the ease of a USB connection, hook it to a computer that has broadband and use your free phone services.

The negative of VoIP services set up in this way is that in order for your phone service to work, your computer must be on. You have to disable any power saver or automated shut down functions that you have set up because if you do that, your phone service will shut down as well. Because your computer has to stay on all the time, your power usage could raise your annual electricity usage by anywhere from $15 to $50.

Other services offer VoIP services but the set up is more complex. You get a box like you do with the Magic Jack system but it one that is integrated through your home wiring system to reroute all of the phones in the house through your VoIP service. A technician will come and disconnect the feed that is coming from the phone company at the box outside your home. That will close the system so when you connect your VoIP box to the wall jack, it takes over the phone communications for all of your phones and routes them through the VoIP router.

One downside of a system like the Magic Jack VoIP system is that most of these kinds of communications devices must have electricity to work. That means if your power goes out, you are cut off in terms of communication. So it pays to invest in a batter backup to plug your computer and your VoIP equipment into. If you get a battery backup that can sustain your power for a half hour or more, that gives you some leverage when the power goes out.

There are services that will allow you to bring your own phone number with you to the new VoIP system. This option is not available with the Magic Jack system. So you will get a new phone number when you sign up for this service. Support is also highly limited with the Magic Jack system. There is an online chat support function on the website. But because the biggest advantage of the Magic Jack system is their low cost, they do not offer phone support, which is pretty odd for a phone service. But we must be honest that the power support has been one of the major drawbacks of the Magic Jack system.

The biggest advantage of Magic Jack is it is quite inexpensive to try out. But for the total answer to your landline phone needs, it might not be adequate. Even the name implies that it is more for entertainment and for people to “play” with VoIP services. It is a step up from just using a chat web microphone because it is internet telephone service. It might be a good secondary phone line to use the way some people set up a Gmail or Yahoo mailbox to use instead of their primary email account. If you approach it knowledgeable of the limitations, there are some ways that Magic Jack and be a nice next step for you into the world of VoIP communications.

]]> http://www.iphones.com/blog/2009/05/06/the-magic-jack-option-for-saving-with-voip/feed/ http://www.iphones.com/blog/2009/05/06/it-looks-like-the-iphone-will-be-a-legacy-in-the-brave-new-world-of-internet-nomads/ http://www.iphones.com/blog/2009/05/06/it-looks-like-the-iphone-will-be-a-legacy-in-the-brave-new-world-of-internet-nomads/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 19:13:03 +0000 JerryM http://www.iphones.com/blog/?p=31 There are some very well informed people who know what they are talking about when it comes to the internet that predict that there will be a huge move away from the wired internet in the next few years as people dump their home computers for online access in favor of mobile communications.

If this prediction has any validity, then where the iPhone that Apple produces will fit into that internet landscape is worth considering. Right now about one out of every seven people have disconnected from their landlines and only use cell phones for their communication needs. When you focus just on the younger generations, that percentage goes way up. It won’t be long before a house with phones on the wall will be the stuff of ancient history. And when it comes to eliminating wired interent, the precedent of dropping land-lined phones will pave the way for sending wired interent into the history books too. The iPhone just moves that process along more quickly than before.

“Internet nomads” is a new phrase for those who already are completely mobile in their access to cyberspace. For that group, there may come a time when even the iPhone will seem like ancient technology to them that will sit in museums next to the early versions of Windows and the first Intel chips. It could be that Apple’s closed development policy may be what pushes the iPhone into the history books.

There are three big advantages that make it possible for the iPhone to dominate the market. The low $200 price to get that first iPhone combined with a very easy to use interface for customers and a huge App store all work together to make the iPhone an attractive product. The help of Microsoft to integrate the PARC mouse based interface for users with no royalty helps too. The result is the user interface for the iPhone will continue that momentum of innovation in a nonproprietary setting.

It is a question whether the impressive iPhone App Store will become something that sustains the iPhone in the market or whether it too will pass into history to be studied by future business and computer arts school students. What makes the iPhone applications brilliant is that current mobile broadband services offer inconsistent throughput. What makes the iPhone App Store brilliant is that it offers applications for download that are safe from spyware of viruses.

There are a huge array of communications alternatives with the iPhone, which includes UMTS/HSDP, GSM/EDGE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. With that much communications strength, the concept of the Internet nomad should be a reality. But at this time, the infrastructure for data communications is way behind voice communications. This where iPhone covers the slack by removing many of the inconsistencies in data service. As such, the apps are a real value to AT&T and its customers and those apps are one way that so many mobile users justify paying for an iPhone and budgeting the monthly costs of service.

The relationship of AT&T to Apple as their exclusive cell phone network provider has all the makings of the basis for a strong and diverse community of developers for mobile data applications, which in turn would create a big customer base for the Apple App Store. However, despite the impressive strength and support abilities of AT&T, even they cannot man enough customer service desks with trained reps to support the many problems customers have with downloading and installing this huge library of independently developed apps. Thankfully, the App Store has high standards for their independent developers, which keeps AT&T’s staff of customer service reps from being even more overwhelmed.

Now, if we look down the road a bit to a time when the data networks for mobile devices catches up and to at time when designers of mobile devices begin to utilize more sophisticated electronics, better batteries and faster processors and that presents a much different picture. In a setting where App Store offerings run on a secure browser, they would perform much better. When the time comes that browser technology uses better personal privacy standards, that will go a long way toward resolving the issues with personal privacy for those using the iPhone.

A time is coming very soon when over the majority of App Store applications will become obsolete because already 80% of Java, Flash and XML programs run on mobile devices without too much trouble. The only thing needed for mobile device applications to explode with the same richness and diverse of the wired interent, is the development of a standard software developers kit which will facilitate the control of the hardware of mobile devices.

At this time, it is not clear what the legacy of the iPhone will be when the mobile Internet begins to take over. It could be the App Store will continue to be popular because it does offer a great business model for advertisers as well as developers. But it is just as likely that the increased competition combined with better bandwidth for mobile devices and new generations of mobile communications will cause the App Store to become a dinosaur in the market.

The one thing we can count on is the future where Internet nomads rule cyberspace is coming. It is only a question about how much of the technology that these nomads use will be branded and open source technology. Time will tell.

Real time videoconferencing using internet phones has been made possible for less than $200 a year thanks to technology made available from Cisco Systems Inc. Cisco has combined the power of the CallManager 4.0 software, which is made for providing IP voice server functionality, with the client software, Video Telephony Advantage, 1.0. Video Telephony Advantage makes real-time video sessions to be possible on a person-to-person basis and for that functionality to happen transparently.

The management of Cisco describes how this technology makes it possible to connect to another person in the company with voice. But then if both PCs are configured with an internet camera, you will automatically be able to establish a video connection PC to PC. It used to be this kind of technology was only possible in futuristic movies. Leave it to Cisco to take a futuristic idea and make it a today reality.

Even though the call turns into a video conference, all of the features of a regular phone call still can be used. You can put the call on hold or transfer the call to another associate. When you do that, the video transfers with the call. You can even pull in a conference call and all of the other people will be added to the call with video. This can turn a phone conference into a virtual meeting quickly and easily.

Any business that has already invested in CallManager along with a service agreement and the proper Cisco Internet phones can easily add the upgraded version at no cost and then get the PC package from Cisco, which includes the video software and a web camera. That will cost under $200 per user, which is not too costly for such an effective tool.

All of this technology including CallManager and the newest releases of the Cisco VT Advantage package with necessary video equipment is being shipping this spring. The CallManager package is also adaptable because it can work well with other videoconferencing systems including Tandberg ASA and Polycom Inc.

In another announcement, Cisco will be integrating with global standards for Ethernet driven network devices. This step will open up Cisco networks to be accessible by third party products including sensors and wireless access points, which are not driven by a conventional wall socket for power.

That global standard has a formal name of IEEE 802.3af and it is the default on many of the most popular Cisco switching equipment. Cisco offered a privately developed power-over-Ethernet product that was designed in 2000. This was before the standard was put in place. Both the previous equipment and the new 802.3af compliant equipment will be fully supported by Cisco indefinitely.

]]> http://www.iphones.com/blog/2009/05/06/internet-phones-with-a-video-system-now-available-from-cisco/feed/ http://www.iphones.com/blog/2009/05/06/coming-soon-for-the-iphone-3g-the-mophie-juice-pack-air/ http://www.iphones.com/blog/2009/05/06/coming-soon-for-the-iphone-3g-the-mophie-juice-pack-air/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 19:01:46 +0000 JerryM http://www.iphones.com/blog/?p=17

It was not long ago that the rumors started that the Mophie Juice Pack Air would be available for the iPhone 3G. Now it seems users will get their chances to check it out. And it is none too soon for anyone who uses an external battery for their iPhone.

The cool thing about the Mophie unit is it doubles as battery and a durable casing for the iPhone 3G protecting it and keeping it constantly charged up. The Mophie marketing claims it can extend your talk and data time on your iPhone by 4.5 hours. That claims goes up to 20 hours if you are using the phone to listen to music and 270 hours if the unit is idle.

When the Mophie Juice Pack Air hits the market to support the iPhone 3G accessory selection, there will be a nice selection of colors including purple, black and white. Currently the projected pricing on the unit will be under $80. Pre-orders for the Mophie unit should be starting up in the next month or so.

1. Do you pay by the download on just once for the membership?

The downside of a membership site that lets you in free is then they hit you with a fee for each song you download. If you use the service a lot, that can run into quite a tab. A one-time fee membership site is a far better value.

2. How Much Music Do They Have?

Before you plunk down your credit card to sign up for a download site, go through their inventory to make sure they have lots of variety. Also, confirm that they get new music frequently. If they do well with their inventory, you can stay with that kind of site for a long time.

3. Look For a Big File Selection and Media Diversity Including Downloadable Movies And TV Shows.

To get what you pay for, the download site should give you access to thousands of files of every music genre imaginable. Along with all kinds of music, the site should offer cool movies, games, software utilities and TV shows all downloadable under your membership agreement.

4. Does the download site have a good internet interface?

It is a lot easier to find the songs you want to download using the website than browsing using your iPhone. So use the nonmember area of the website to get a feel for how well the website performs to make sure you can use it well to find all the music you love.

5. Does the Download Site Provide Software for File Conversion and Compatibility?

The whole idea of getting a download site membership is to easily convert music to play on your iPhone. So the download site should have all of the software utilities for downloading music as well as video. If files need to go through a conversion software package to play on the iPhone system, they should provide that software too at no charge.

6. Are the Download Speeds Fast?

Make sure that the download site doesn’t set a limit on download speeds. Small download operations will do that because their servers are limited. This can be a real frustration when you want your music fast.

7. The Files Your Download Must be 100% Safe.

The problem of using file sharing sites like Limewire of BitTorrent is that it is easy to download a nasty virus filled with spyware, adware or something worse. The idea of using a paid site is to be able to download music legally and safely. Make sure the download site has some tools to get rid of dangerous files from their system. But don’t stop there. Get some good security software to scan your computer for adware, spyware and viruses regularly. Those two levels of security can go a long way to keep bad files off of your computer and your phones.

8. Who Likes Them?

One great way to find a download site that you know will work great is to ask your friends. If they have a strong reputation with people you know, that means a lot. You can also look at how many customers they have and any testimonials are listed on their website to see if they are well regarded by their customers.

9. What Does Their Customer Service Look Like?

When you pay good money for a download site, you want service if anything goes wrong. You can tell if they have put some effort into customer support by looking at their FAQ section of the website. But ask some questions of people who use them or using their online inquiry resource to find out if customer support is 24/7 and fast. Anytime you put in a service request, you should get an answer within 24 hours or they are not living up to their part of the bargain.

10. Can You Pay Them With Confidence?

If you are going to pay with PayPal or using your credit card, that must be a secure transaction. Research to make sure how the download site accepts payment is safe and that they will not abuse the privilege of taking money from you.

]]> http://www.iphones.com/blog/2009/05/06/iphone-downloads-10-secrets-to-finding-some-very-cool-download-sites/feed/