Wireless networks for home computers are becoming more and more popular but do you know how to protect your Wi-Fi network?
A recent survey from www.wi-fi.org shows that protecting your wireless network has become one of the top three issues in home security. According to the survey the top three concerns about home security was:
* Locking windows and doors
* Installing a home alarm system
* Securing your wireless network.
More than 40 percent of the survey respondents felt that a protected Wi-Fi network was an important part of creating a safe home.
Is your neighbor using your Wi-Fi network?
Did you know that 17 percent of Americans thinks it's ok to use someone else's network. The wast majority thinks using your neighbor's Wi-Fi is like stealing. They don't like their neighbors borrowing their signal without their knowledge.
Most new laptop computers have access to Wi-Fi networks as a standard feature. Try taking your laptop for a drive in the neighborhood and you'll probably discover that your computer can connect to several networks - especially if you live in the city. Some "Wi-Fi snatchers" even put small graffitti marks on walls indicating where your can find an open network.
Only seven out of 10 respondents in the survey had activated their Wi-Fi network security - that leaves 30% of networks wide open. Securing you network does require a little technical knowledge, but most systems come with an easy step-by-step guide for setting up the network security. When you have secured your network you can really enjoy the freedom of Wi-Fi without worrying about bandwidth theft.
Have you checked if your Wi-Fi network is secure?
Can you take your laptop computer across the street and still access your home network? Does using your network require you to logon to the network? If not your network is probably wide open so everyone in the neighborhood can use your network. Maybe it's time to find the manual to your system and start doing something about your Wi-Fi security before someone starts stealing your bandwidth or worse - gets access to you computer.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Honeywell Home Security Systems - An Overview
In this article, I'd like to try to help you figure out the size and scope of product solutions offered by Honeywell.
Let me say right up front that I'm not Honeywell rep. I do not make any money buying or selling Honeywell products. I'm just like you -- I'm a homeowner who wants to figure out what sorts of products Honeywell offers; the names that they're sold under and what they do. Once I've done that, I can make an informed decision about the best solution for me and my family.
By now, you probably know that Honeywell is (among other things) a global supplier and distributor of residential and commercial security systems. In addition, Honeywell monitors millions of private homes commercial businesses and government facilities all over the world.
Honeywell's residential security systems are installed through a network of local dealers.These dealers are trained to understand your needs and respond in a way that's appropriate. They'll discuss your lifestyle with you and build a system that meets your needs.
For example, some families have young children. If that describes your family then perhaps you want a system that alerts you when your kids come home from school. Your Honeywell dealer can design a home security system for you that meets that need.
On the other hand if you're business owner with an small office or home office, you might have an area that needs extra protection (expensive office equipment, valuable records, etc.). If that describes your situation, then your Honeywell dealer can discuss with you the installation of a system that includes motion detectors or cameras.
Ademco Home Security Systems: The Relationship To Honeywell
When considering the scope of possibilities, be aware that Honeywell offers a wide range of products marketed under many different labels. You probably are already aware of the Ademco line, but there are quite a few other brands in the Honeywell home security system family.
The Honeywell product family can be divided into broad categories of hardware including (but not limited to):
* Control Panels: Ademco, Apex, Omni, Lynx
* Keypads: Ademco, Apex, Omni
* Expansion Modules: Ademco, Apex, Omni
* DIY Kits: Ademco, Omni, Lynx
* Wireless Accessories: Apex, Street Smart, Life Safety
* Alarm Communications: Optiflex
* Sensors: Dual Tec, V-Plex
* Smoke Detectors: V-Plex
* ...and much more.
Who, Or What, Is AlarmNet?
One last thing that I found interesting: As you might know, most alarm systems communicate with the monitoring company using telephone lines. But for those of you who were concerned that the phone line might be cut during a burglary, Honeywell has a reliable alternative called AlarmNet.
AlarmNet is a radio network run by Honeywell that has extensive coverage in the United States and Canada. It gives you a second layer of protection -- beyond your phone line -- in the event of a home intrusion or other kind of emergency. This means peace of mind for you and your family. And isn't that what a home security system is all about?
Conclusion
Again, in closing: I am not a Honeywell representative, nor do I make any money by recommending their products. It's just that Honeywell offers a complete line of excellent products. When considering a security solution for your family and/or business, you should consider them when making an informed decision.
Let me say right up front that I'm not Honeywell rep. I do not make any money buying or selling Honeywell products. I'm just like you -- I'm a homeowner who wants to figure out what sorts of products Honeywell offers; the names that they're sold under and what they do. Once I've done that, I can make an informed decision about the best solution for me and my family.
By now, you probably know that Honeywell is (among other things) a global supplier and distributor of residential and commercial security systems. In addition, Honeywell monitors millions of private homes commercial businesses and government facilities all over the world.
Honeywell's residential security systems are installed through a network of local dealers.These dealers are trained to understand your needs and respond in a way that's appropriate. They'll discuss your lifestyle with you and build a system that meets your needs.
For example, some families have young children. If that describes your family then perhaps you want a system that alerts you when your kids come home from school. Your Honeywell dealer can design a home security system for you that meets that need.
On the other hand if you're business owner with an small office or home office, you might have an area that needs extra protection (expensive office equipment, valuable records, etc.). If that describes your situation, then your Honeywell dealer can discuss with you the installation of a system that includes motion detectors or cameras.
Ademco Home Security Systems: The Relationship To Honeywell
When considering the scope of possibilities, be aware that Honeywell offers a wide range of products marketed under many different labels. You probably are already aware of the Ademco line, but there are quite a few other brands in the Honeywell home security system family.
The Honeywell product family can be divided into broad categories of hardware including (but not limited to):
* Control Panels: Ademco, Apex, Omni, Lynx
* Keypads: Ademco, Apex, Omni
* Expansion Modules: Ademco, Apex, Omni
* DIY Kits: Ademco, Omni, Lynx
* Wireless Accessories: Apex, Street Smart, Life Safety
* Alarm Communications: Optiflex
* Sensors: Dual Tec, V-Plex
* Smoke Detectors: V-Plex
* ...and much more.
Who, Or What, Is AlarmNet?
One last thing that I found interesting: As you might know, most alarm systems communicate with the monitoring company using telephone lines. But for those of you who were concerned that the phone line might be cut during a burglary, Honeywell has a reliable alternative called AlarmNet.
AlarmNet is a radio network run by Honeywell that has extensive coverage in the United States and Canada. It gives you a second layer of protection -- beyond your phone line -- in the event of a home intrusion or other kind of emergency. This means peace of mind for you and your family. And isn't that what a home security system is all about?
Conclusion
Again, in closing: I am not a Honeywell representative, nor do I make any money by recommending their products. It's just that Honeywell offers a complete line of excellent products. When considering a security solution for your family and/or business, you should consider them when making an informed decision.
The Basics On T1 Line Solutions For Small Business
T1 Lines have been the primary source of mission critical bandwidth for companies of all sizes for nearly 20 years. With so much history, a basic understanding of the T1 line should be common knowledge among business owners who are looking for reliable bandwidth for Internet access, data communications, or multiple telephone lines. However, it was not until the late 1990s that the market for T1 lines became very competitive and prices began falling to more reasonable levels, causing the demand to rise sharply among small and medium sized businesses. Even today most small business owners and managers still do not know how a standard T1 line works or what it is capable of providing.
Each section below includes a description a T1 line solution and an example of what problems you could solve for your business with the solution described. There are 7 basic types of T1's explained, which include Full T1, Fractional, Voice (standard), PRI, Integrated Voice and Data, Voice Over IP(hosted), and Point-to-Point T1's.
Full T1 Line:
"Full T1 Line" is a term typically used to describe a circuit that provides 1.5 megabits per second of high speed Internet access, which is the most common type of T1. A Full T1 can also be used to carry telephone lines and/or VoIP calls, both of which are covered within the "Voice”, “PRI" and Voice Over IP sections here. Nearly all office-based and modern retail businesses require some type of Internet access in order to perform their daily operations, and many have mission critical Internet needs that allow them to continue business operations at all. There are many choices to fulfill this need for Internet access, including Dial-up connections, ISDN, DSL, Cable, Wireless applications, a T1 Line, or something larger like a DS3 or OC-3 (far less common due to high cost).
A T1 Line consists of 24 channels that transmit data at 64Kbps each, therefore giving a Full T1 Line the capacity to transmit 1.54Mbps of data synchronously (upstream and downstream). Using today's standard email applications and common Internet searching, this amount of bandwidth could support anywhere from 1 to approximately 75 users depending on their needs, preferences, and the company's budget. Most commonly Full T1 Lines are used in offices with 5 to 50 employees. A T1 circuit provides the most reliable bandwidth available when leased from a high quality T1 Provider, which is why businesses are willing to pay more for a T1 than for other services like DSL or Cable. In some applications, a T1 can save money for a company who uses a less reliable bandwidth connection. Since multiple services can be combined on a single T1, cost efficient solutions are often available if you know what service to ask for (see "Integrated T1" below) and which providers offer those services in your area.
Internet T1 pricing starts at approximately $400 per month, but can cost more than $1000 per month if the location of the installation requires a long loop to connect to the network of your local phone company to the network of the T1 provider. This is usually only the case in very small towns or rural areas where facilities are less dense. Most metropolitan areas have many choices of T1 providers, at least one of which will usually be closer and cheaper than the rest. Pricing will fluctuate dramatically depending on the Provider and the location of your business, which is why it is sometimes safer and easier to use an experienced Telecom Consultant such as DS3-Bandwidth.com to guide you in finding the best solution. For example some companies that do not require much bandwidth or have a small budget might need to opt for a Fractional T1 Line.
Fractional T1 Line:
A Fractional T1 line typically describes an Internet circuit that uses a "piece" or a "fraction" of a Full T1. Fractional T1's are also used for telephone lines or even integrated T1’s, but less often then for Internet access. A Fractional T1 can be sold in nearly any fraction of a 24 channel, 1.54Mbps circuit. For example, out of the 24 channels in a Full T1 line, 12 channels might be used in a Fractional T1 to provide a 768k connection, which is half of 1.54Mbps. Other Fractional sizes include 1.1Mbps, 512k, 384k, 256, 128k, and even 64k, although the smaller sizes are very uncommon. As T1 Providers have become more competitive, prices on Full T1s have come down so much that Fractional T1s have become less cost effective. For example, a Fractional T1 of 768k carries only half of the bandwidth of a Full T1, but usually saves only 5% to 15% of the price of a Full T1. This doesn't make much sense in applications where only 1 or 2 T1 lines are needed, unless the budget is extremely tight. However, this can add up to significant savings when using hundreds of T1's across a large company's multi-location VPN or frame relay network.
Voice T1:
Voice and PRI T1 lines are extremely common among businesses and call centers with multiple telephone lines and large call volumes. They are far less expensive and more efficient than installing dozens of POTS (plain old telephone service) lines. Each of the 24 channels on a T1 line is versatile, allowing it to be used for either bandwidth or for a single telephone line. So, a pure Voice T1 line will have 24 telephone lines with reliable service, good reception, good long distance rates (depending on the carrier), and a wide selection of calling features. Voice T1 lines use digital or analog transmission, so it is an excellent choice in situations where a company's equipment does not allow for the use of a PRI line, which is always digital.
PRI T1:
A PRI (Primary Rate Interface) line is somewhat different and more popular than a standard Voice T1 because it is true "digital trunking", which allows for even more advanced calling features. A PRI line provides 23 telephone lines per T1, because the 24th channel is used to carry useful data for signaling and other features like special caller ID information called ANI (Automatic Number Identification). Since the transmission is digital, the quality of a telephone connection over a PRI line is unsurpassed, providing crystal clear reception that is noticeable to the user. The use of DID (Digital Inward Dial) numbers, and calling features like hunting and rolling, allow you to use 23 digital telephone lines to provide service to potentially 30 to 40 employees, depending on how often they will need to use their phone. Instead of guessing on the number of DID's to put on a PRI line, it's important to figure out the maximum number of simultaneous calls that could be placed at any given time. Having too few telephone lines causes costs more in a loss of productivity than it would cost to simply add more phone lines to keep your employees busy. This is why it is important to figure out the proper balance of telephone lines vs. DID numbers. The cost of a PRI is also typically lower than other forms of telephone service (except Voice Over IP in some applications), with actual pricing depending on the Provider of the service and your business location. Between the features, price, and quality of a PRI, it is the primary choice for businesses large enough to take advantage of it's multiline functionality and benefits.
Integrated T1 Line:
An Integrated T1 Line is one of the most popular T1 solutions for small businesses because it provides local telephone service, long distance, and bandwidth all on a single connection and a single bill. The consolidation of these services with one company is more convenient and more cost effective than purchasing them from separate providers. Just as a Fractional T1 line only turns on a portion of a T1 Line for Internet access, special equipment allows some of the T1 channels to be allocated for telephone lines, while others are used for data transmission and Internet access. For example, a Full Integrated T1 line could be divided in half using special equipment, providing 12 high quality telephone lines and using the other 12 channels for 768k of bandwidth. Fractional Integrated T1 lines are also available, but most companies have minimum levels such as 4 phone lines and 512k of Internet access, which only uses 12 channels combined. Many offers even include "blocks" of free long distance, usually based on the number of telephone lines being installed. A typical offer might include 6 phone lines(6 channels), 512k (8 channels), and 600 minutes of free LD each month (100 per telephone line). This entire circuit could have a total cost as low as $400 to $500 per month, which is a tremendous "all inclusive" bargain for small businesses. This is a perfect total solution for literally thousands, if not millions, of small companies across the nation. One thing to keep in mind is that not all providers can offer Integrated T1 Lines, so the ones that do typically focus a great deal of their sales efforts on this service.
Voice Over IP (VoIP):
Voice Over IP is considered to be the “next big thing” in the telecommunications industry. It has already begun the powerful growth that has been expected for many years by experts and early adopters. Although VoIP services can and will be used across all types of high bandwidth connections, the business class services are primarily being offered on T1 lines. This is extremely important in the world of bandwidth and telecommunications, because it again validates the T1 line as the most cost efficient delivery method of the most reliable bandwidth. In other words, a company cannot afford to trust a volatile Internet connection like DSL or Cable to carry VOIP because they risk losing 100% of their communication capabilities.
Voice over IP is revolutionizing telecommunications because it is cheaper for the user and the infrastructure requirements are better for the providers. Rather than requiring a telephone line and all of the switching on the back end to complete a call, VoIP uses equipment to break down a telephone call into packets of data, then sends those packets across the internet to be decoded where the receiver answers the call. This dramatically reduces the bandwidth that is necessary to complete a call because it eliminates “dead” times when no one is speaking into the receiver. Since the calls also bypass the normal telephone switching network, they also escape FCC charges (for now). Every major Provider and most small providers are starting to offer residential and business class VoIP services. If you're in the market for a business VoIP solution try the free consulting services of Business-VoIP-Solution.com.
Point to Point T1:
Point to point T1 lines do not provide T1 Internet access or telephone lines, but act as a “transport” for either or both. A point to point T1, often referred to as a "P2P", provides a very secure and reliable connection, usually from a corporate office to any number of satellite offices. Although a P2P does not actually "provide" Internet access or phone lines, corporations use P2P T1s to share these services. For example, a company’s home office in Los Angeles might have hundreds of telephone lines and huge Internet access pipes installed at one location to get the best available rates. This company can use a P2P T1 to transmit any combination of telephone lines, Internet access, and data between offices to share software systems, and provide in-office dialing from locations across the country! The variables are endless because there are no restrictions on how a point to point T1 can be used, assuming you have the right equipment and a source at one end of the P2P. This can be a great way to save money, because a satellite or branch office might have to pay huge prices to have telephone and bandwidth services installed directly, whereas the home office can get better rates because of bulk buying and location. Although it can sometimes be used to save money, a P2P network is usually not very cost efficient compared to other options. Frame Relay and VPN (Virtual Private Network) are other options to consider depending on a company's needs and business applications. The primary advantage of a P2P line is that it is truly private, making it top choice for those demanding a circuit with a dedicated connection to only their business, therefore offering the highest security available.
There is no question that the same type of T1 Line that was being used back in 1984 by the US Government and world leading technology companies like IBM is still the best source of reliable bandwidth for all sizes of companies today. Despite the competition of newer technologies, price reductions on T1’s plus the fact that these circuits are so trustworthy have allowed the number of T1 Lines being used in the United States to continue to grow at a rate of 15% per year, even in recent years. Since there are so many uses for the T1 Line, including the explosion of new technologies like VoIP, these circuits are poised to remain a key ingredient to the success of businesses who rely on Internet, Telecommunications, and Data Connectivity for years to come.
Each section below includes a description a T1 line solution and an example of what problems you could solve for your business with the solution described. There are 7 basic types of T1's explained, which include Full T1, Fractional, Voice (standard), PRI, Integrated Voice and Data, Voice Over IP(hosted), and Point-to-Point T1's.
Full T1 Line:
"Full T1 Line" is a term typically used to describe a circuit that provides 1.5 megabits per second of high speed Internet access, which is the most common type of T1. A Full T1 can also be used to carry telephone lines and/or VoIP calls, both of which are covered within the "Voice”, “PRI" and Voice Over IP sections here. Nearly all office-based and modern retail businesses require some type of Internet access in order to perform their daily operations, and many have mission critical Internet needs that allow them to continue business operations at all. There are many choices to fulfill this need for Internet access, including Dial-up connections, ISDN, DSL, Cable, Wireless applications, a T1 Line, or something larger like a DS3 or OC-3 (far less common due to high cost).
A T1 Line consists of 24 channels that transmit data at 64Kbps each, therefore giving a Full T1 Line the capacity to transmit 1.54Mbps of data synchronously (upstream and downstream). Using today's standard email applications and common Internet searching, this amount of bandwidth could support anywhere from 1 to approximately 75 users depending on their needs, preferences, and the company's budget. Most commonly Full T1 Lines are used in offices with 5 to 50 employees. A T1 circuit provides the most reliable bandwidth available when leased from a high quality T1 Provider, which is why businesses are willing to pay more for a T1 than for other services like DSL or Cable. In some applications, a T1 can save money for a company who uses a less reliable bandwidth connection. Since multiple services can be combined on a single T1, cost efficient solutions are often available if you know what service to ask for (see "Integrated T1" below) and which providers offer those services in your area.
Internet T1 pricing starts at approximately $400 per month, but can cost more than $1000 per month if the location of the installation requires a long loop to connect to the network of your local phone company to the network of the T1 provider. This is usually only the case in very small towns or rural areas where facilities are less dense. Most metropolitan areas have many choices of T1 providers, at least one of which will usually be closer and cheaper than the rest. Pricing will fluctuate dramatically depending on the Provider and the location of your business, which is why it is sometimes safer and easier to use an experienced Telecom Consultant such as DS3-Bandwidth.com to guide you in finding the best solution. For example some companies that do not require much bandwidth or have a small budget might need to opt for a Fractional T1 Line.
Fractional T1 Line:
A Fractional T1 line typically describes an Internet circuit that uses a "piece" or a "fraction" of a Full T1. Fractional T1's are also used for telephone lines or even integrated T1’s, but less often then for Internet access. A Fractional T1 can be sold in nearly any fraction of a 24 channel, 1.54Mbps circuit. For example, out of the 24 channels in a Full T1 line, 12 channels might be used in a Fractional T1 to provide a 768k connection, which is half of 1.54Mbps. Other Fractional sizes include 1.1Mbps, 512k, 384k, 256, 128k, and even 64k, although the smaller sizes are very uncommon. As T1 Providers have become more competitive, prices on Full T1s have come down so much that Fractional T1s have become less cost effective. For example, a Fractional T1 of 768k carries only half of the bandwidth of a Full T1, but usually saves only 5% to 15% of the price of a Full T1. This doesn't make much sense in applications where only 1 or 2 T1 lines are needed, unless the budget is extremely tight. However, this can add up to significant savings when using hundreds of T1's across a large company's multi-location VPN or frame relay network.
Voice T1:
Voice and PRI T1 lines are extremely common among businesses and call centers with multiple telephone lines and large call volumes. They are far less expensive and more efficient than installing dozens of POTS (plain old telephone service) lines. Each of the 24 channels on a T1 line is versatile, allowing it to be used for either bandwidth or for a single telephone line. So, a pure Voice T1 line will have 24 telephone lines with reliable service, good reception, good long distance rates (depending on the carrier), and a wide selection of calling features. Voice T1 lines use digital or analog transmission, so it is an excellent choice in situations where a company's equipment does not allow for the use of a PRI line, which is always digital.
PRI T1:
A PRI (Primary Rate Interface) line is somewhat different and more popular than a standard Voice T1 because it is true "digital trunking", which allows for even more advanced calling features. A PRI line provides 23 telephone lines per T1, because the 24th channel is used to carry useful data for signaling and other features like special caller ID information called ANI (Automatic Number Identification). Since the transmission is digital, the quality of a telephone connection over a PRI line is unsurpassed, providing crystal clear reception that is noticeable to the user. The use of DID (Digital Inward Dial) numbers, and calling features like hunting and rolling, allow you to use 23 digital telephone lines to provide service to potentially 30 to 40 employees, depending on how often they will need to use their phone. Instead of guessing on the number of DID's to put on a PRI line, it's important to figure out the maximum number of simultaneous calls that could be placed at any given time. Having too few telephone lines causes costs more in a loss of productivity than it would cost to simply add more phone lines to keep your employees busy. This is why it is important to figure out the proper balance of telephone lines vs. DID numbers. The cost of a PRI is also typically lower than other forms of telephone service (except Voice Over IP in some applications), with actual pricing depending on the Provider of the service and your business location. Between the features, price, and quality of a PRI, it is the primary choice for businesses large enough to take advantage of it's multiline functionality and benefits.
Integrated T1 Line:
An Integrated T1 Line is one of the most popular T1 solutions for small businesses because it provides local telephone service, long distance, and bandwidth all on a single connection and a single bill. The consolidation of these services with one company is more convenient and more cost effective than purchasing them from separate providers. Just as a Fractional T1 line only turns on a portion of a T1 Line for Internet access, special equipment allows some of the T1 channels to be allocated for telephone lines, while others are used for data transmission and Internet access. For example, a Full Integrated T1 line could be divided in half using special equipment, providing 12 high quality telephone lines and using the other 12 channels for 768k of bandwidth. Fractional Integrated T1 lines are also available, but most companies have minimum levels such as 4 phone lines and 512k of Internet access, which only uses 12 channels combined. Many offers even include "blocks" of free long distance, usually based on the number of telephone lines being installed. A typical offer might include 6 phone lines(6 channels), 512k (8 channels), and 600 minutes of free LD each month (100 per telephone line). This entire circuit could have a total cost as low as $400 to $500 per month, which is a tremendous "all inclusive" bargain for small businesses. This is a perfect total solution for literally thousands, if not millions, of small companies across the nation. One thing to keep in mind is that not all providers can offer Integrated T1 Lines, so the ones that do typically focus a great deal of their sales efforts on this service.
Voice Over IP (VoIP):
Voice Over IP is considered to be the “next big thing” in the telecommunications industry. It has already begun the powerful growth that has been expected for many years by experts and early adopters. Although VoIP services can and will be used across all types of high bandwidth connections, the business class services are primarily being offered on T1 lines. This is extremely important in the world of bandwidth and telecommunications, because it again validates the T1 line as the most cost efficient delivery method of the most reliable bandwidth. In other words, a company cannot afford to trust a volatile Internet connection like DSL or Cable to carry VOIP because they risk losing 100% of their communication capabilities.
Voice over IP is revolutionizing telecommunications because it is cheaper for the user and the infrastructure requirements are better for the providers. Rather than requiring a telephone line and all of the switching on the back end to complete a call, VoIP uses equipment to break down a telephone call into packets of data, then sends those packets across the internet to be decoded where the receiver answers the call. This dramatically reduces the bandwidth that is necessary to complete a call because it eliminates “dead” times when no one is speaking into the receiver. Since the calls also bypass the normal telephone switching network, they also escape FCC charges (for now). Every major Provider and most small providers are starting to offer residential and business class VoIP services. If you're in the market for a business VoIP solution try the free consulting services of Business-VoIP-Solution.com.
Point to Point T1:
Point to point T1 lines do not provide T1 Internet access or telephone lines, but act as a “transport” for either or both. A point to point T1, often referred to as a "P2P", provides a very secure and reliable connection, usually from a corporate office to any number of satellite offices. Although a P2P does not actually "provide" Internet access or phone lines, corporations use P2P T1s to share these services. For example, a company’s home office in Los Angeles might have hundreds of telephone lines and huge Internet access pipes installed at one location to get the best available rates. This company can use a P2P T1 to transmit any combination of telephone lines, Internet access, and data between offices to share software systems, and provide in-office dialing from locations across the country! The variables are endless because there are no restrictions on how a point to point T1 can be used, assuming you have the right equipment and a source at one end of the P2P. This can be a great way to save money, because a satellite or branch office might have to pay huge prices to have telephone and bandwidth services installed directly, whereas the home office can get better rates because of bulk buying and location. Although it can sometimes be used to save money, a P2P network is usually not very cost efficient compared to other options. Frame Relay and VPN (Virtual Private Network) are other options to consider depending on a company's needs and business applications. The primary advantage of a P2P line is that it is truly private, making it top choice for those demanding a circuit with a dedicated connection to only their business, therefore offering the highest security available.
There is no question that the same type of T1 Line that was being used back in 1984 by the US Government and world leading technology companies like IBM is still the best source of reliable bandwidth for all sizes of companies today. Despite the competition of newer technologies, price reductions on T1’s plus the fact that these circuits are so trustworthy have allowed the number of T1 Lines being used in the United States to continue to grow at a rate of 15% per year, even in recent years. Since there are so many uses for the T1 Line, including the explosion of new technologies like VoIP, these circuits are poised to remain a key ingredient to the success of businesses who rely on Internet, Telecommunications, and Data Connectivity for years to come.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
NetManage Bundles High-Performance Internet Business Tools Into Internet Chameleon 18 Applications for Accessing, Integrating and Managing Information
"NetManage was the first company to provide a comprehensive Internet package and the first to customize Internet tools for the business professional. The product's new management and integration features turn the PC into a powerful Internet office. "We are excited that our channel partners are working with us to bring NetManage's latest Internet technology to the street as fast as we release it," said Zvi Alon, President and CEO of NetManage.
Getting Connected
Getting connected to the Internet is easy with the Automatic Internet(TM) application. The application allows users to sign up for a new Internet access account and transparently configures the software for connection. Users can use an existing Internet account or choose from five national Internet access providers including: Advantis (the IBM Internet Connection), AlterNet, CERFNet, Portal Communications and PSI's InterRamp service. The user simply enters their name, address and credit card information to register for a new Internet account. After signing up for a new account, the user simply exits Automatic Internet and then connects directly to their new Internet account. A "Getting Connected" guide lists pricing for Automatic Internet accounts as well as information on how to contact several hundred worldwide providers.
Applications that Mean Business
According to Brent Heslop and David Angell, Co-authors of the Internet Business Companion, Addison-Wesley, "Internet Chameleon provides the most robust suite of integrated applications that truly turns the Internet into a business partner. Internet Chameleon applications are designed for the power Internet user that needs more than a browser to get the job done. Internet Chameleon is the package every small or large business should be using to stay ahead of the competition."
Internet Chameleon 4.5 is designed to integrate information in a manner that makes the Internet useful immediately. This means powerful information organizers, integration between applications, stronger communication tools, and smarter connection management. Included with the software package is a how-to booklet "Exploring the Internet: A Chameleon's Tale" which walks the user through a variety of ways to integrate Internet Chameleon into their business environment.
The ECCO Internet Address book lists over 2,000 Internet sites by subject and is based on the company's award winning ECCO personnel information management product. Users can customize this list by adding additional subject folders, Internet sites or notes. Combined with the integrated calendar and phone book, the application provides the user with greater efficiency in accessing key sites, business associates and potential clients.
Power users needing to have real-time business conversations can now use Inernet Chameleon's new TALK application. Users can carry on text conversations faster than using the telephone. In fact, Talk Supports ISDN speeds up to 128Kbps in addition to regular dial-up accounts, making Internet Chameleon Talk conversations the fastest on the Internet.
To reduce connection expenses users can save Internet information to their local hard drive using the WebSurfer, Gopher, Mail, and NEWTNews applications. Then the data can be reviewed off-line as needed.
Information Integration
Internet Chameleon's ability to integrate 18 applications with a click of a button is possible with the unique NEWTShooter technology. Once an Internet address is highlighted, NEWTShooter automatically launches to the correct viewer and jumps to that address. For example, NEWTShooter can be used in conjunction with the ECCO Internet Address Book to highlight a Web address to launch WebSurfer to that address. NEWTShooter can also be used to send highlighted text into a newly created email message from any application on the desktop. Overall NEWTShooter allows users to establish a seamless flow of information between all Internet applications and commonly used Windows packages.
Getting Connected
Getting connected to the Internet is easy with the Automatic Internet(TM) application. The application allows users to sign up for a new Internet access account and transparently configures the software for connection. Users can use an existing Internet account or choose from five national Internet access providers including: Advantis (the IBM Internet Connection), AlterNet, CERFNet, Portal Communications and PSI's InterRamp service. The user simply enters their name, address and credit card information to register for a new Internet account. After signing up for a new account, the user simply exits Automatic Internet and then connects directly to their new Internet account. A "Getting Connected" guide lists pricing for Automatic Internet accounts as well as information on how to contact several hundred worldwide providers.
Applications that Mean Business
According to Brent Heslop and David Angell, Co-authors of the Internet Business Companion, Addison-Wesley, "Internet Chameleon provides the most robust suite of integrated applications that truly turns the Internet into a business partner. Internet Chameleon applications are designed for the power Internet user that needs more than a browser to get the job done. Internet Chameleon is the package every small or large business should be using to stay ahead of the competition."
Internet Chameleon 4.5 is designed to integrate information in a manner that makes the Internet useful immediately. This means powerful information organizers, integration between applications, stronger communication tools, and smarter connection management. Included with the software package is a how-to booklet "Exploring the Internet: A Chameleon's Tale" which walks the user through a variety of ways to integrate Internet Chameleon into their business environment.
The ECCO Internet Address book lists over 2,000 Internet sites by subject and is based on the company's award winning ECCO personnel information management product. Users can customize this list by adding additional subject folders, Internet sites or notes. Combined with the integrated calendar and phone book, the application provides the user with greater efficiency in accessing key sites, business associates and potential clients.
Power users needing to have real-time business conversations can now use Inernet Chameleon's new TALK application. Users can carry on text conversations faster than using the telephone. In fact, Talk Supports ISDN speeds up to 128Kbps in addition to regular dial-up accounts, making Internet Chameleon Talk conversations the fastest on the Internet.
To reduce connection expenses users can save Internet information to their local hard drive using the WebSurfer, Gopher, Mail, and NEWTNews applications. Then the data can be reviewed off-line as needed.
Information Integration
Internet Chameleon's ability to integrate 18 applications with a click of a button is possible with the unique NEWTShooter technology. Once an Internet address is highlighted, NEWTShooter automatically launches to the correct viewer and jumps to that address. For example, NEWTShooter can be used in conjunction with the ECCO Internet Address Book to highlight a Web address to launch WebSurfer to that address. NEWTShooter can also be used to send highlighted text into a newly created email message from any application on the desktop. Overall NEWTShooter allows users to establish a seamless flow of information between all Internet applications and commonly used Windows packages.
Monday, October 08, 2007
America Online and E-Stamp to Offer Breakthrough Online Postage Services
E-Stamp Internet Postage offers consumers and small businesses the value and convenience of securely purchasing postage online and printing "digital stamps" anytime on envelopes, labels or onto a document using their personal computer and standard printer.
Here's how it works: Once E-Stamp Internet Postage has been installed, AOL members or other Internet users can buy and print postage anytime from the Web or directly from leading desktop software applications, such as Microsoft Word.
The E-Stamp Internet Postage software automatically verifies the address and prints the correct postage onto an envelope or directly onto a document, simultaneously deducting the postage amount from the customer's account.
E-Stamp has been approved by the U.S. Postal Service to provide consumers and small businesses with its online postage services in limited test markets. E-Stamp expects to have national approval in early 1999 and at that time will make the service available nationwide.
E-Stamp will be a partner in AOL's new Postage Services Center, scheduled to launch in early 1999. As part of the agreement, E- Stamp will extend special, exclusive offers and promotions available only to AOL members.
The E-Stamp Internet Postage service will also be available to CompuServe members and visitors to AOL.COM and Digital City through new Postage Centers soon to be available on each brand.
These Postage Centers will feature direct links to E-Stamp's Website, e-stamp.com(TM), where members and Web-based consumers can purchase postage using a major credit card, transferring funds electronically or pre-paying by check, the value of which will be stored in the customer's account.
Barry Schuler, President of AOL Interactive Services, said "E- Stamp's easy-to-use services are a great match with our goal of offering more convenient ways to handle the things that are important in our members' everyday lives. We believe E-Stamp's services will be very appealing to our members and Web-based users -- saving them trips to the post office."
"We think there's a great market for this service on AOL," continued Schuler. "30% of the 2.6 million small businesses online in the U.S. are on AOL(a). That market share, on top of the hundreds of thousands of business-minded consumers who rely on the CompuServe service, provides our new online Postage Services Centers and E-Stamp an audience that we think will be very receptive to time-saving services like this."
Sunir Kapoor, president and CEO of E-Stamp Corporation, said "AOL and CompuServe members and Web-based users know that AOL brands offer safe and secure communities where consumers have become increasingly comfortable conducting electronic commerce. Those trusted brands are the perfect place for people to try and use E-Stamp Internet Postage and eliminate the hassle of going to the post office."
Within AOL, the new Postage Services Center will be available through the popular WorkPlace Channel. Designed for people seeking to advance in their careers, the AOL WorkPlace Channel has emerged as a leading professional and career site in cyberspace.
The WorkPlace Channel features Professions areas, where professionals can meet clients, suppliers, and partners in more than 80 industries; Business Research where members can quickly gather data on companies, people, and industry trends; and Classifieds, offering one of the largest consolidations of job and business opportunities online.
About E-Stamp
E-Stamp Corporation is committed to transforming the way people purchase and use postage by making online postal services convenient and hassle-free. E-Stamp is the first company to develop and market a secure Internet-based software solution that enables customers to generate online postage from their existing PCs and printers.
E-Stamp Internet Postage is an online service for small businesses that want an easy and convenient way to buy and use postage. Unlike stamps and meters, E-Stamp Internet Postage allows people to buy and print postage anytime directly from the Web or leading desktop software applications such as Microsoft Word.
Here's how it works: Once E-Stamp Internet Postage has been installed, AOL members or other Internet users can buy and print postage anytime from the Web or directly from leading desktop software applications, such as Microsoft Word.
The E-Stamp Internet Postage software automatically verifies the address and prints the correct postage onto an envelope or directly onto a document, simultaneously deducting the postage amount from the customer's account.
E-Stamp has been approved by the U.S. Postal Service to provide consumers and small businesses with its online postage services in limited test markets. E-Stamp expects to have national approval in early 1999 and at that time will make the service available nationwide.
E-Stamp will be a partner in AOL's new Postage Services Center, scheduled to launch in early 1999. As part of the agreement, E- Stamp will extend special, exclusive offers and promotions available only to AOL members.
The E-Stamp Internet Postage service will also be available to CompuServe members and visitors to AOL.COM and Digital City through new Postage Centers soon to be available on each brand.
These Postage Centers will feature direct links to E-Stamp's Website, e-stamp.com(TM), where members and Web-based consumers can purchase postage using a major credit card, transferring funds electronically or pre-paying by check, the value of which will be stored in the customer's account.
Barry Schuler, President of AOL Interactive Services, said "E- Stamp's easy-to-use services are a great match with our goal of offering more convenient ways to handle the things that are important in our members' everyday lives. We believe E-Stamp's services will be very appealing to our members and Web-based users -- saving them trips to the post office."
"We think there's a great market for this service on AOL," continued Schuler. "30% of the 2.6 million small businesses online in the U.S. are on AOL(a). That market share, on top of the hundreds of thousands of business-minded consumers who rely on the CompuServe service, provides our new online Postage Services Centers and E-Stamp an audience that we think will be very receptive to time-saving services like this."
Sunir Kapoor, president and CEO of E-Stamp Corporation, said "AOL and CompuServe members and Web-based users know that AOL brands offer safe and secure communities where consumers have become increasingly comfortable conducting electronic commerce. Those trusted brands are the perfect place for people to try and use E-Stamp Internet Postage and eliminate the hassle of going to the post office."
Within AOL, the new Postage Services Center will be available through the popular WorkPlace Channel. Designed for people seeking to advance in their careers, the AOL WorkPlace Channel has emerged as a leading professional and career site in cyberspace.
The WorkPlace Channel features Professions areas, where professionals can meet clients, suppliers, and partners in more than 80 industries; Business Research where members can quickly gather data on companies, people, and industry trends; and Classifieds, offering one of the largest consolidations of job and business opportunities online.
About E-Stamp
E-Stamp Corporation is committed to transforming the way people purchase and use postage by making online postal services convenient and hassle-free. E-Stamp is the first company to develop and market a secure Internet-based software solution that enables customers to generate online postage from their existing PCs and printers.
E-Stamp Internet Postage is an online service for small businesses that want an easy and convenient way to buy and use postage. Unlike stamps and meters, E-Stamp Internet Postage allows people to buy and print postage anytime directly from the Web or leading desktop software applications such as Microsoft Word.
America Online and Stamps.com Announce Distribution and Marketing Agreement for Innovative Postage Service Across AOL Brands
As part of the agreement, AOL members and Web-based visitors will receive exclusive Member Perks packages, including free postage and postage supplies.
Under the agreement, Stamps.com, formerly known as StampMaster, Inc., will offer AOL and CompuServe members, as well as visitors to AOL.COM and Digital City, free, highly secure postage software to enable AOL's millions of members and Web-based visitors to print a new form of postage directly onto envelopes, labels and business documents using ordinary laser or inkjet printers.
More cost-effective and convenient than stamps or traditional postage meters, Stamps.com's Internet Postage service will give small business, home and corporate users the ability to generate professional- looking first class, priority and express mail twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Stamps.com will be prominently featured in the online Postage Services Center anticipated to launch early next year, and will also be featured in the Software Download area of the AOL Computing Channel.
As part of the agreement, Stamps.com will sponsor an online educational area on AOL to inform interested AOL members and users about Internet Postage and U.S. Postal Service rules regarding its use. As one part of the distribution agreement, Stamps.com installation CDs will also be bundled and mailed, free of charge, with purchases made by AOL members in the AOL Store.
Stamps.com is currently approved by the U.S. Postal Service for Beta and market testing, and expects approval from the USPS for a national rollout in the first half of 1999. Currently, Stamps.com provides the only downloadable Internet Postage solution approved by the USPS for market testing, and does not require installation of a hardware device on each PC to achieve the acceptable level of security.
"Stamps.com provides a convenient and valuable alternative to traditional postage," said Bob Pittman, AOL's President and COO. "We think Stamps.com will be a terrific resource for our business- oriented members and visitors."
"We're excited to be able to offer some unique programs for AOL users," said John M. Payne, Stamps.com President and CEO. "Because our Postage Server(TM) architecture requires no hardware on the user's PC, we can provide a high value Internet Postage package at very low costs to AOL members and visitors."
About the U.S.P.S. Information Based Indicia Program
The Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) is a regulated, multi-vendor program operated by the US Postal Service. All IBIP product offerings and distribution channels require submission and approval under the IBI Program, which operates within the USPS office of Metering Technology Management to assure the highest levels of security and operational integrity for all IBI systems.
Under the agreement, Stamps.com, formerly known as StampMaster, Inc., will offer AOL and CompuServe members, as well as visitors to AOL.COM and Digital City, free, highly secure postage software to enable AOL's millions of members and Web-based visitors to print a new form of postage directly onto envelopes, labels and business documents using ordinary laser or inkjet printers.
More cost-effective and convenient than stamps or traditional postage meters, Stamps.com's Internet Postage service will give small business, home and corporate users the ability to generate professional- looking first class, priority and express mail twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Stamps.com will be prominently featured in the online Postage Services Center anticipated to launch early next year, and will also be featured in the Software Download area of the AOL Computing Channel.
As part of the agreement, Stamps.com will sponsor an online educational area on AOL to inform interested AOL members and users about Internet Postage and U.S. Postal Service rules regarding its use. As one part of the distribution agreement, Stamps.com installation CDs will also be bundled and mailed, free of charge, with purchases made by AOL members in the AOL Store.
Stamps.com is currently approved by the U.S. Postal Service for Beta and market testing, and expects approval from the USPS for a national rollout in the first half of 1999. Currently, Stamps.com provides the only downloadable Internet Postage solution approved by the USPS for market testing, and does not require installation of a hardware device on each PC to achieve the acceptable level of security.
"Stamps.com provides a convenient and valuable alternative to traditional postage," said Bob Pittman, AOL's President and COO. "We think Stamps.com will be a terrific resource for our business- oriented members and visitors."
"We're excited to be able to offer some unique programs for AOL users," said John M. Payne, Stamps.com President and CEO. "Because our Postage Server(TM) architecture requires no hardware on the user's PC, we can provide a high value Internet Postage package at very low costs to AOL members and visitors."
About the U.S.P.S. Information Based Indicia Program
The Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) is a regulated, multi-vendor program operated by the US Postal Service. All IBIP product offerings and distribution channels require submission and approval under the IBI Program, which operates within the USPS office of Metering Technology Management to assure the highest levels of security and operational integrity for all IBI systems.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Office Depot Caters to Small Business Owners with Free in-Store Marketing Strategies Seminars
BOSTON -- Company Partners with H-P and Marketing Expert Nancy Michaels to Launch "Ten Steps to Growing Your Business Without Busting Your Budget" Tour in MA
Office Depot (NYSE:ODP) is showing small business owners that the office supply company not only carries the products businesses need in order to succeed, but it can offer them essential knowledge and tips as well. One of the world's leading resellers of office products and services, Office Depot is pairing up with author, small business columnist and marketing expert Nancy Michaels to headline a series of free, small business-focused seminars at Office Depot stores in the Boston area.
The seminars, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard and titled, "Ten Steps to Growing Your Business Without Busting Your Budget: The Proven How-To Guide for Small Business," will tour four Office Depot Massachusetts locations, including N. Attleboro, Peabody, Framingham and Woburn.
The specific date, time and location of each event is as follows:
--Tuesday, November 30, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 1190 South Washington Street, N. Attleboro, MA 02761, 508-695-1088
--Wednesday, December 1, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 210 Andover Street, Peabody, MA 01960, 978-532-0021
--Tuesday, December 7, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 1 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701, 508-620-5570
--Wednesday, December 8, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 299 Mishawum Road, Woburn, MA 01801, 781-933-3946
Customers interested in attending a seminar should contact their local store to register for the event.
"Offering marketing strategies and tips to help our customers run their businesses better is an important part of our goal to ensure that they are successful," said Dick Levesque, District 44 Manager.
Michaels, President of marketing company Impression Impact and producer of Office Depot's Web Cafe series, will spend each of the 90-minute in-store presentations focusing on Office Depot's small business customer.
Some of the topics covered will include:
--Develop Your Major Selling Advantage (MSA)
--Create Memorable Marketing Materials (No more brochures, please!)
--Perfect Your Sales Pitch - Every Time
--Develop an Effective and Professional Web Site
--Utilize Creative, Off the Wall Marketing Techniques that Drive Business
H-P representatives will be present at all four events to provide hands on demonstrations for those products relevant to Michaels' discussion topics.
Michaels recommends following 10 specific steps to help grow your business without busting your budget. The list, dubbed, "A Proven How-To Guide for Your Small Business" can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/marketingstrategies/10Steps.pdf.
About Office Depot
With annual sales of more than $12 billion, no one sells more office supplies to more customers in more countries than Office Depot. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., the company conducts business in 23 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide.
Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. The company is the world's number three online retailer - on track to generate $3B in sales for FY'04. In North America, Office Depot has 923 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and 13 regional call centers.
Nancy Michaels is the author of five books on marketing for small businesses, including Perfecting Your Pitch (Career Press 2005), Off The Wall Marketing Ideas (Adams Media 2000), How To Be A Big Fish In Any Pond, Media Madness, and A to Z to Visibility. She has spoken in 42 states to more than 30,000 entrepreneurs on behalf of such clients as Office Depot, Xerox, JP Morgan Chase, among many others. Michaels is the first recipient to win the Tom Peters WOW! Project Personified Award (2002) that hails individuals who take on WOW! Projects. She is also the Small Business Editor for US News & World Report and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Home Office Computing, Success, among numerous small business publications.
Office Depot (NYSE:ODP) is showing small business owners that the office supply company not only carries the products businesses need in order to succeed, but it can offer them essential knowledge and tips as well. One of the world's leading resellers of office products and services, Office Depot is pairing up with author, small business columnist and marketing expert Nancy Michaels to headline a series of free, small business-focused seminars at Office Depot stores in the Boston area.
The seminars, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard and titled, "Ten Steps to Growing Your Business Without Busting Your Budget: The Proven How-To Guide for Small Business," will tour four Office Depot Massachusetts locations, including N. Attleboro, Peabody, Framingham and Woburn.
The specific date, time and location of each event is as follows:
--Tuesday, November 30, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 1190 South Washington Street, N. Attleboro, MA 02761, 508-695-1088
--Wednesday, December 1, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 210 Andover Street, Peabody, MA 01960, 978-532-0021
--Tuesday, December 7, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 1 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701, 508-620-5570
--Wednesday, December 8, 6:00 to 7:30 PM -- 299 Mishawum Road, Woburn, MA 01801, 781-933-3946
Customers interested in attending a seminar should contact their local store to register for the event.
"Offering marketing strategies and tips to help our customers run their businesses better is an important part of our goal to ensure that they are successful," said Dick Levesque, District 44 Manager.
Michaels, President of marketing company Impression Impact and producer of Office Depot's Web Cafe series, will spend each of the 90-minute in-store presentations focusing on Office Depot's small business customer.
Some of the topics covered will include:
--Develop Your Major Selling Advantage (MSA)
--Create Memorable Marketing Materials (No more brochures, please!)
--Perfect Your Sales Pitch - Every Time
--Develop an Effective and Professional Web Site
--Utilize Creative, Off the Wall Marketing Techniques that Drive Business
H-P representatives will be present at all four events to provide hands on demonstrations for those products relevant to Michaels' discussion topics.
Michaels recommends following 10 specific steps to help grow your business without busting your budget. The list, dubbed, "A Proven How-To Guide for Your Small Business" can be found at: http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/marketingstrategies/10Steps.pdf.
About Office Depot
With annual sales of more than $12 billion, no one sells more office supplies to more customers in more countries than Office Depot. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., the company conducts business in 23 countries and employs nearly 50,000 people worldwide.
Office Depot is a leader in every distribution channel - from retail stores and contract delivery to catalogs and e-commerce. The company is the world's number three online retailer - on track to generate $3B in sales for FY'04. In North America, Office Depot has 923 retail stores in addition to a national business-to-business delivery network supported by 22 delivery centers, more than 60 local sales offices and 13 regional call centers.
Nancy Michaels is the author of five books on marketing for small businesses, including Perfecting Your Pitch (Career Press 2005), Off The Wall Marketing Ideas (Adams Media 2000), How To Be A Big Fish In Any Pond, Media Madness, and A to Z to Visibility. She has spoken in 42 states to more than 30,000 entrepreneurs on behalf of such clients as Office Depot, Xerox, JP Morgan Chase, among many others. Michaels is the first recipient to win the Tom Peters WOW! Project Personified Award (2002) that hails individuals who take on WOW! Projects. She is also the Small Business Editor for US News & World Report and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Home Office Computing, Success, among numerous small business publications.
The latest tools for the job - personal computers and peripherals for small businesses - includes a glossary of computer terms
As with most entrepreneurs, the success of Nina Renaud and Bill Bryan depends in part on their ability to perform a wide variety of business tasks. On any given day, their year-old, home-based business may require Renaud and Bryan to carry out the duties usually performed by executives, salespeople, accountants, or shipping clerks.
No wonder the husband and-wife entrepreneurs expect versatility and reliability from the computer and related equipment at their Danville, Calif., firm, Corporate Golf. The firm provides custom-imprinted golf apparel and equipment and golf-related services to corporate customers in the San Francisco area.
In fact, Renaud says, technology has become indispensable at the company. "It's almost impossible to run a business without a computer," she says. "How would you do that"
Almost immediately upon founding the company, Renaud and Bryan purchased an IBM-compatible personal computer for accounting and correspondence with customers, suppliers, and vendors. But even with the PC, they struggled to manage the information going into and out of their office.
Part of the problem was that their phone line was often tied up, making it difficult for customers and suppliers to get in touch with them. Moreover, their fax machine was relegated to the same phone line as the answering machine. Incoming callers who wished to send a fax had to listen to an instructional message and press the start button on their fax machines at the proper time; callers who wished to leave voice mail had to wait through an inordinately long message.
This situation was inconvenient and irritating to customers and suppliers, and it conveyed the impression that Corporate Golf was a shoestring operation.
Renaud and Bryan also were having trouble keeping track of the information that made it to the office. Lacking a copier, they couldn't make copies of purchase orders, bills, and other important documents. This past spring, Renaud and Bryan found a technological solution to their organizational woes in a desktop device called the WorkCenter 250. This versatile product, from Xerox Corp., includes document printing, faxing, copying, and scanning capabilities in one small machine. The combination of the couple's computer and the aptly name WorkCenter quickly became the nerve center of Corporate Golf's operation. Renaud says she is now better able to produce and manage documents, and that the WorkCenter's fax capability makes it easier to do business with suppliers in different parts of the country - and in different time zone - because faxes can be sent as well as received automatically any time of the day or night.
And the integration of the answering machine and the fax, says Renaud, "makes us sound more professional to people calling in. I don't think most of our clients realize that we're [still working out of our house."
As the experience of Renaud and Bryan illustrates, one of the most important considerations for entrepreneurs is not how fast and how powerful computer technology has become but how technology can make them more professional and productive.
Today's computers are advertised as being "multitasking," which simply means that the PCs are powerful enough to run several software programs at once. But small-business owners expect more: They want the computers to include greater capabilities such as fax, data, and voice communications; multimedia; scanning; and printing functions. And they are unwilling to spend much more than they had been spending on computers to get this versatility.
Computer manufacturers are trying to meet small-business and home-office demands with full-featured yet reasonably priced computers. This special report is designed to help you make sense of today's wide variety of these exceptional machines and peripheral equipment. The sections that follow highlight:
* Desktop systems, the workhorses of small offices.
* Portable systems, including notebooks, subnotebooks, and personal digital assistants, all of which are especially hot this year.
* Imaging devices, including printers and scanners.
* Finishing-touches hardware, including color monitors, keyboards and mice, and CD-ROM drives.
Desktop Computers
State of-the-art desktop computers, some of which feature the blazing new 200Mhz Pentium processor by Intel Corp., can ably perform business tasks ranging from crunching numbers in a spreadsheet to sending a fax, answering the telephone, or downloading information from the Internet. Each of these new desktop systems is loaded with features that make it highly useful, well-connected, and trouble-free: Apple Power Macintosh 8500/150, Apple Computer Inc., 1-800-538-9696: Don't be misled by the fact that Macs now account for less than 10 percent of desktop-computer sales. These computers are technically advanced and provide outstanding performance, especially for those running graphics-processing and other multimedia software. The new Power Macintosh 8500/150, for example, includes a 4X CD-ROM drive, sound integrated on the mother-board, and extraordinary video capabilities in the form of a port that can connect to a television, videocassette recorder, or other source for importing or exporting videos.
No wonder the husband and-wife entrepreneurs expect versatility and reliability from the computer and related equipment at their Danville, Calif., firm, Corporate Golf. The firm provides custom-imprinted golf apparel and equipment and golf-related services to corporate customers in the San Francisco area.
In fact, Renaud says, technology has become indispensable at the company. "It's almost impossible to run a business without a computer," she says. "How would you do that"
Almost immediately upon founding the company, Renaud and Bryan purchased an IBM-compatible personal computer for accounting and correspondence with customers, suppliers, and vendors. But even with the PC, they struggled to manage the information going into and out of their office.
Part of the problem was that their phone line was often tied up, making it difficult for customers and suppliers to get in touch with them. Moreover, their fax machine was relegated to the same phone line as the answering machine. Incoming callers who wished to send a fax had to listen to an instructional message and press the start button on their fax machines at the proper time; callers who wished to leave voice mail had to wait through an inordinately long message.
This situation was inconvenient and irritating to customers and suppliers, and it conveyed the impression that Corporate Golf was a shoestring operation.
Renaud and Bryan also were having trouble keeping track of the information that made it to the office. Lacking a copier, they couldn't make copies of purchase orders, bills, and other important documents. This past spring, Renaud and Bryan found a technological solution to their organizational woes in a desktop device called the WorkCenter 250. This versatile product, from Xerox Corp., includes document printing, faxing, copying, and scanning capabilities in one small machine. The combination of the couple's computer and the aptly name WorkCenter quickly became the nerve center of Corporate Golf's operation. Renaud says she is now better able to produce and manage documents, and that the WorkCenter's fax capability makes it easier to do business with suppliers in different parts of the country - and in different time zone - because faxes can be sent as well as received automatically any time of the day or night.
And the integration of the answering machine and the fax, says Renaud, "makes us sound more professional to people calling in. I don't think most of our clients realize that we're [still working out of our house."
As the experience of Renaud and Bryan illustrates, one of the most important considerations for entrepreneurs is not how fast and how powerful computer technology has become but how technology can make them more professional and productive.
Today's computers are advertised as being "multitasking," which simply means that the PCs are powerful enough to run several software programs at once. But small-business owners expect more: They want the computers to include greater capabilities such as fax, data, and voice communications; multimedia; scanning; and printing functions. And they are unwilling to spend much more than they had been spending on computers to get this versatility.
Computer manufacturers are trying to meet small-business and home-office demands with full-featured yet reasonably priced computers. This special report is designed to help you make sense of today's wide variety of these exceptional machines and peripheral equipment. The sections that follow highlight:
* Desktop systems, the workhorses of small offices.
* Portable systems, including notebooks, subnotebooks, and personal digital assistants, all of which are especially hot this year.
* Imaging devices, including printers and scanners.
* Finishing-touches hardware, including color monitors, keyboards and mice, and CD-ROM drives.
Desktop Computers
State of-the-art desktop computers, some of which feature the blazing new 200Mhz Pentium processor by Intel Corp., can ably perform business tasks ranging from crunching numbers in a spreadsheet to sending a fax, answering the telephone, or downloading information from the Internet. Each of these new desktop systems is loaded with features that make it highly useful, well-connected, and trouble-free: Apple Power Macintosh 8500/150, Apple Computer Inc., 1-800-538-9696: Don't be misled by the fact that Macs now account for less than 10 percent of desktop-computer sales. These computers are technically advanced and provide outstanding performance, especially for those running graphics-processing and other multimedia software. The new Power Macintosh 8500/150, for example, includes a 4X CD-ROM drive, sound integrated on the mother-board, and extraordinary video capabilities in the form of a port that can connect to a television, videocassette recorder, or other source for importing or exporting videos.
Friday, October 05, 2007
HP's New Ink Jets to Challenge Laser Printers
Hewlett-Packard has announced three lines of ink jet printers and all-in-ones (AIOs) that HP claims (in the case of its two Officejet Pro lines) will outperform most comparable laser printers in speed and cost-effectiveness while providing high-quality output using HP's Vivera inks. The new lines include the HP Officejet Pro L7000 series of AIOs for small and home businesses, the HP Officejet Pro K5400 series of printers for small and home businesses, and the HP Officejet J5700 line of AIOs for homes and home offices.
The L7000 series consists of three models, the L7500, to sell at an estimated street price of $299; the $399 L7600; and the $499 L7700. HP's stated speed for the L7000 series is up to 35 pages per minute (ppm) black and up to 34 ppm color, and "laser quality" speeds (in default mode rather than draft) are up to 12 ppm black and 10 ppm color, which HP states are faster than most color laser all-in-ones. The company claims printing costs per page as low as 1.5 cents per black-and-white page and 6 cents per color page, which it states is up to a 25 percent savings over comparable color laser AIOs.
The K5400 series is a line of business color ink jet printers based on HP's Scalable Print Technology, with which the company can build printheads with higher nozzle density. HP claims print speeds up to 36 ppm for black and white and 35 ppm for color at draft speed, and Laser Quality speeds of up to 12 ppm for black and white and 10 ppm for color, and a cost per page of as low as 1.5 cents per black-and-white page and 6 cents per color page. The base model, the K5400, will sell at an estimated street price of $149; it includes a 250-sheet paper tray. The K5400tn, which will cost $199, adds networking capabilities to share the printer with up to 5 PCs, and an additional 350-sheet paper tray. The K5400dtn contains all the D5400tn's features plus standard two-sided printing (duplexing). The K5400 series is expected to go on sale March 19.
The J5700 all-in-one series, to sell at an estimated street price of $150, is an AIO that combines printer, scanner, copier, and fax functions for home or micro business users. Its stated print and copy speeds are up to 30 ppm in black and white and 24 ppm in color. It scans at 2,400-by-4,800-dpi optical resolution in 48-bit color.
The L7000 series consists of three models, the L7500, to sell at an estimated street price of $299; the $399 L7600; and the $499 L7700. HP's stated speed for the L7000 series is up to 35 pages per minute (ppm) black and up to 34 ppm color, and "laser quality" speeds (in default mode rather than draft) are up to 12 ppm black and 10 ppm color, which HP states are faster than most color laser all-in-ones. The company claims printing costs per page as low as 1.5 cents per black-and-white page and 6 cents per color page, which it states is up to a 25 percent savings over comparable color laser AIOs.
The K5400 series is a line of business color ink jet printers based on HP's Scalable Print Technology, with which the company can build printheads with higher nozzle density. HP claims print speeds up to 36 ppm for black and white and 35 ppm for color at draft speed, and Laser Quality speeds of up to 12 ppm for black and white and 10 ppm for color, and a cost per page of as low as 1.5 cents per black-and-white page and 6 cents per color page. The base model, the K5400, will sell at an estimated street price of $149; it includes a 250-sheet paper tray. The K5400tn, which will cost $199, adds networking capabilities to share the printer with up to 5 PCs, and an additional 350-sheet paper tray. The K5400dtn contains all the D5400tn's features plus standard two-sided printing (duplexing). The K5400 series is expected to go on sale March 19.
The J5700 all-in-one series, to sell at an estimated street price of $150, is an AIO that combines printer, scanner, copier, and fax functions for home or micro business users. Its stated print and copy speeds are up to 30 ppm in black and white and 24 ppm in color. It scans at 2,400-by-4,800-dpi optical resolution in 48-bit color.
The right stuff: race ahead of the competition with the smartest software to help build and better your business
When it comes to the software you need to run your business, the focus this year--more than ever--is on security. With hackers trying to steal your private data and your identity, you need to protect yourself. With that in mind, our 2005 Complete Guide to Software includes the applications you'll need to protect yourself and your computers against this new generation of smarter, blended threats. And this year, we've added a new category: web browsers. Internet Explorer may be everywhere, but it's not your only choice. As our guide proves, you have plenty of choices--in every category.
The Inkjet Set - inkjet printers - Buyers Guide
Laser printer prices got you down? Ink your next printer deal.
When it comes to versatility in a printer, inkjets are able and affordable. Anything from brochures to photos to memos is in reach. There is a bewildering variety of inkjets: thermal inkjets, piezoelectric inkjets, networkable inkjets and more. Your needs will dictate which kind of printer you should get.
Although personal monochrome laser printers have dropped in price, it hasn't been enough to overpower the allure of even cheaper color inkjets. Not just for home use anymore, inkjets are proliferating as convenient personal printers in offices everywhere. If you can tame the materials costs, inkjets can be a wise purchase.
Before you buy, look at print samples from your prospective printer. Local stores are a good place to try this. Look at both text and graphics performance. Printers that put out wonderful graphics may not be so sharp on text and vice versa. If you don't have access to a store that sells the printer you want, contact the manufacturer for print samples and seek out impartial reviews online. Deja.com is a good starting point for practical reviews and helpful user opinions.
If you travel, whether on extended business trips or short visits to clients, note that both Brother and Canon make portable inkjet printers. These tiny printers accommodate letter- and legal-sized paper and fit in laptop cases. The BJC-85 is Canon's latest mobile offering. It weighs in at 3.1 pounds and offers wireless infrared printing, a feature most laptops have built-in. A battery pack is optional, but it's a necessity for true "anywhere" printing.
The Brother MP-2lCdx weighs only 2.2 pounds and is built specifically for use with notebook computers. Connections are made directly through laptops' PCMCIA ports. That's convenient if weight is your concern or if your laptop isn't infrared equipped. If your PCMCIA slots are full, you'll have to either hook up to a built-in parallel connection or pull a card to use this printer.
One area where inkjets excel is in digital photography. Hewlett-Packard and Epson are leaders in this area, offering printers designed to turn out high-quality digital photos. The Epson Stylus Photo 1270 sports extremely fine ink-droplet sizes and six-color technology to achieve photo output. Remember, however, that photo printers tend to work best with their prescribed photo papers. Be sure to figure the extra cost of premium paper into the equation.
For text-heavy usage, inkjets make good individual-workstation printers. They are generally slower than their laser counterparts, but they are more affordable. Most will handle envelopes and odd-sized paper easily. Check a printer's paper-handling capability if you have specific needs.
Making sense of printers' spec sheets should help guide your purchase in the right direction. Do you need thermal or piezoelectric? Does it matter? Thermal involves heating the ink and piezoelectric involves crystals. Neither method is unequivocally superior. As with any hardware, performance and quality can vary greatly within any given product line.
One basic consideration is the connection type. All the printers in our chart have at least a parallel port for connecting to PCs. If you have a Mac, a USB printer, like the Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 970Cxi, is your best bet. The Xerox DocuPrint C20 has an optional serial-port adaptor available for older Mac systems. For newer PCs equipped with USB ports, a USB connection is often preferable to parallel for ease of use and faster speeds.
A wide-format printer, such as the Epson Stylus Photo 1270, can accommodate prints of up to 13 by 19 inches as well as banners on special banner paper. This is handy for making large brochures, 11-by-14-inch prints and small posters. If you don't think you'll need that much space, you can save by. buying a letter- and legal-sized printer like the Epson Stylus Photo 870.
When it comes to versatility in a printer, inkjets are able and affordable. Anything from brochures to photos to memos is in reach. There is a bewildering variety of inkjets: thermal inkjets, piezoelectric inkjets, networkable inkjets and more. Your needs will dictate which kind of printer you should get.
Although personal monochrome laser printers have dropped in price, it hasn't been enough to overpower the allure of even cheaper color inkjets. Not just for home use anymore, inkjets are proliferating as convenient personal printers in offices everywhere. If you can tame the materials costs, inkjets can be a wise purchase.
Before you buy, look at print samples from your prospective printer. Local stores are a good place to try this. Look at both text and graphics performance. Printers that put out wonderful graphics may not be so sharp on text and vice versa. If you don't have access to a store that sells the printer you want, contact the manufacturer for print samples and seek out impartial reviews online. Deja.com is a good starting point for practical reviews and helpful user opinions.
If you travel, whether on extended business trips or short visits to clients, note that both Brother and Canon make portable inkjet printers. These tiny printers accommodate letter- and legal-sized paper and fit in laptop cases. The BJC-85 is Canon's latest mobile offering. It weighs in at 3.1 pounds and offers wireless infrared printing, a feature most laptops have built-in. A battery pack is optional, but it's a necessity for true "anywhere" printing.
The Brother MP-2lCdx weighs only 2.2 pounds and is built specifically for use with notebook computers. Connections are made directly through laptops' PCMCIA ports. That's convenient if weight is your concern or if your laptop isn't infrared equipped. If your PCMCIA slots are full, you'll have to either hook up to a built-in parallel connection or pull a card to use this printer.
One area where inkjets excel is in digital photography. Hewlett-Packard and Epson are leaders in this area, offering printers designed to turn out high-quality digital photos. The Epson Stylus Photo 1270 sports extremely fine ink-droplet sizes and six-color technology to achieve photo output. Remember, however, that photo printers tend to work best with their prescribed photo papers. Be sure to figure the extra cost of premium paper into the equation.
For text-heavy usage, inkjets make good individual-workstation printers. They are generally slower than their laser counterparts, but they are more affordable. Most will handle envelopes and odd-sized paper easily. Check a printer's paper-handling capability if you have specific needs.
Making sense of printers' spec sheets should help guide your purchase in the right direction. Do you need thermal or piezoelectric? Does it matter? Thermal involves heating the ink and piezoelectric involves crystals. Neither method is unequivocally superior. As with any hardware, performance and quality can vary greatly within any given product line.
One basic consideration is the connection type. All the printers in our chart have at least a parallel port for connecting to PCs. If you have a Mac, a USB printer, like the Hewlett-Packard HP DeskJet 970Cxi, is your best bet. The Xerox DocuPrint C20 has an optional serial-port adaptor available for older Mac systems. For newer PCs equipped with USB ports, a USB connection is often preferable to parallel for ease of use and faster speeds.
A wide-format printer, such as the Epson Stylus Photo 1270, can accommodate prints of up to 13 by 19 inches as well as banners on special banner paper. This is handy for making large brochures, 11-by-14-inch prints and small posters. If you don't think you'll need that much space, you can save by. buying a letter- and legal-sized printer like the Epson Stylus Photo 870.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Carterfone Changes Our World
The FCC's June, 1968 "Carterfone Decision" was one of the most important and far-reaching in its consequences of any that body has made in its history. The "Carterfone Decision" clearly signaled the FCC's commitment to the "competition in the marketplace" philosphy which, just a year later, gave a green light to the specialized common carrier and, still later proclaimed an "open skies" policy for domestic satellite applicants.
In its "Carterfone Decision" in June, 1968 the FCC declared that the Carterfone could be attached to the telephone network and ordered the Bell System (and other telcos) to revise their tariffs to make such attachment possible.
In their decision, the FCC cited their earlier (1956) "Hush-A-Phone" decision and clearly stated that a subscriber's right to use the network in ways which are "privately beneficial without being public detrimental" extended to all types of equipment, including telephone terminal equipment.
The Bell System h ad filed a tariff in 1957 which provided that: "No equipment, apparatus, circuit or device not furnished by the Telephone Company shall be attached to or connected with the facilities furnished by the Telephone Company, whether physically, by induction or otherwise. . ."
"I started working on the Carterfone device as early as 1949," says Carter, "back in the days of the vacuum tube. I worked on it in my spare moments but ended up shelving it until 1958. By then it was easy, with the benefit of transistors. And there was a ready market and no need for elaborate promotion. We just showed up at oil company shows and started selling.
"I had followed the old Hush-A-Phone case for the seven years they fought that case. I had really thought that decision in 1956 had cleared the air. What I didn't know was that the FCC had merely shelved the court-ordered tariffs subsequently filed by AT&T. The commission had neither rejected nor accepted those tariffs when I filed with the FCC three years later. I just didn't believe anyone I wasn't harming had the right to tell me I couldn't be in business. As long as they failed to prove I was harming them, I knew I was still in the fight.
"While we could visualize what should be possible and how it could change the shape of the communications industry, our first thought, however, was for self preservation. We just were determined not to be driven out of business. Our support in the case was not broad at all. I approached a number of communications equipment manufacturers for financial support, but they were all afraid of jeopardizing current or potential Bell contracts."
But Carter continued his fight, virtually alone, and finally won. And the shock waves set off by this regulatory "bomb-shell" sent a numbing chill thru telephone people all across the nation even as it brought a glow of warmth to telephone equipment manufacturers both domestic and, especially, foreign.
Interconnection as we know it today did not truly become a reality until January 1969, when the Bell System revised its tariffs to allow the interconnection of privately owned equipment to the telephone network through "connecting arrangements." The Bell-required connecting arrangements . . . or "couplers" . . . Consisted of equipment only available from the telephone company at a substantial monthly charge. The telephone companies maintained that these arrangements technically were necessary for "network protection".
This telco foot-dragging continued for several years . . . in and out of the courts . . . and it was not until end of 1977 that the consumer's right to freely connect privately-owned and manufactured terminal equipment anywhere in the United States was firmly established.
The appeal of "interconnect", as the option to be called, was three-fold: first, communications cost savings; second, possible improvements in communications service (more features and more options); and third, greater compactness in equipment.
Early in the "interconnect" game, consultants suggested two "rules of thumb" for prospective buyers or leasers. "Your dollar savings over telephone company charges," they said, "must be 17 to 19 percent and you must see a return on your investment within five years."
A major reason many businesses, large and small, were anxious to "go interconnect" in the early seventies was to get system features not offered in equipment available from local telephone companies. Early in the game Communications News published a "Guide to the Interconnect Market" which contained a shopping list of 60 different service features . . . from "Abbreviated Dialing" to Wake-Up Service" . . . which were available in telephone systems offered by interconnect equipment suppliers. Stored program technology has made most of the exotic new services possible. And this "Guide" went through several reprintings.
In its "Carterfone Decision" in June, 1968 the FCC declared that the Carterfone could be attached to the telephone network and ordered the Bell System (and other telcos) to revise their tariffs to make such attachment possible.
In their decision, the FCC cited their earlier (1956) "Hush-A-Phone" decision and clearly stated that a subscriber's right to use the network in ways which are "privately beneficial without being public detrimental" extended to all types of equipment, including telephone terminal equipment.
The Bell System h ad filed a tariff in 1957 which provided that: "No equipment, apparatus, circuit or device not furnished by the Telephone Company shall be attached to or connected with the facilities furnished by the Telephone Company, whether physically, by induction or otherwise. . ."
"I started working on the Carterfone device as early as 1949," says Carter, "back in the days of the vacuum tube. I worked on it in my spare moments but ended up shelving it until 1958. By then it was easy, with the benefit of transistors. And there was a ready market and no need for elaborate promotion. We just showed up at oil company shows and started selling.
"I had followed the old Hush-A-Phone case for the seven years they fought that case. I had really thought that decision in 1956 had cleared the air. What I didn't know was that the FCC had merely shelved the court-ordered tariffs subsequently filed by AT&T. The commission had neither rejected nor accepted those tariffs when I filed with the FCC three years later. I just didn't believe anyone I wasn't harming had the right to tell me I couldn't be in business. As long as they failed to prove I was harming them, I knew I was still in the fight.
"While we could visualize what should be possible and how it could change the shape of the communications industry, our first thought, however, was for self preservation. We just were determined not to be driven out of business. Our support in the case was not broad at all. I approached a number of communications equipment manufacturers for financial support, but they were all afraid of jeopardizing current or potential Bell contracts."
But Carter continued his fight, virtually alone, and finally won. And the shock waves set off by this regulatory "bomb-shell" sent a numbing chill thru telephone people all across the nation even as it brought a glow of warmth to telephone equipment manufacturers both domestic and, especially, foreign.
Interconnection as we know it today did not truly become a reality until January 1969, when the Bell System revised its tariffs to allow the interconnection of privately owned equipment to the telephone network through "connecting arrangements." The Bell-required connecting arrangements . . . or "couplers" . . . Consisted of equipment only available from the telephone company at a substantial monthly charge. The telephone companies maintained that these arrangements technically were necessary for "network protection".
This telco foot-dragging continued for several years . . . in and out of the courts . . . and it was not until end of 1977 that the consumer's right to freely connect privately-owned and manufactured terminal equipment anywhere in the United States was firmly established.
The appeal of "interconnect", as the option to be called, was three-fold: first, communications cost savings; second, possible improvements in communications service (more features and more options); and third, greater compactness in equipment.
Early in the "interconnect" game, consultants suggested two "rules of thumb" for prospective buyers or leasers. "Your dollar savings over telephone company charges," they said, "must be 17 to 19 percent and you must see a return on your investment within five years."
A major reason many businesses, large and small, were anxious to "go interconnect" in the early seventies was to get system features not offered in equipment available from local telephone companies. Early in the game Communications News published a "Guide to the Interconnect Market" which contained a shopping list of 60 different service features . . . from "Abbreviated Dialing" to Wake-Up Service" . . . which were available in telephone systems offered by interconnect equipment suppliers. Stored program technology has made most of the exotic new services possible. And this "Guide" went through several reprintings.
Trash or treasure?
Every week. sometimes a couple times a week. San Jose teacher Nick Leon dutifully unloads his mailbox and begins sifting through a pile of free curricular materials that have just arrived from corporations and interest groups.
A few he'll keep, but most he'll pitch. Some of the materials may have educational value, Leon explains, but their main motive is to sell something--a product or a point of view--and he's not buying.
Going after students' hearts, minds, and pocketbooks isn't a new phenomenon. What's new is the volume of free materials, the increasingly sophisticated ways they're packaged as instructional tools, and tight budget times. The combination has some parents and educators groups uneasy.
Among the most blatantly one-sided handouts:
* "Decision Earth," a packet from Procter & Gamble (discontinued in the United States but still available in Canada), teaches that disposable diapers are better for the environment than cloth--and that clear-cut logging "mimics nature's way of getting rid of trees."
* The "Prego Thickness Experiment" asks students to prove Campbell Soup's claim that its spaghetti sauce is thicker than Ragu's. This exercise supposedly teaches "scientific thinking."
* "Puerto Rico: The More You Look, the More You See" is a curriculum guide financed by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the island's governor's office, written and distributed by Scholastic magazines. Some 219,000 teachers got the guide--and an incentive to use it. Twenty teachers who used the materials "the most creatively" won free vacations to the island.
* "Scientists and the Alaska Oil Spill," a videotape produced by Exxon, claims that the company's cleanup of the Valdez oil spill in Alaska was flawless. The tape shows workers spray-cleaning the rocks along the shoreline but neglects to mention that the technique causes severe damage by killing essential bacteria and flora.
* "Soft Drinks and Nutrition," a colorful poster produced by the National Soft Drink Association, compares soft drinks to more nutritious foods. "A diet of milk alone would result in dietary deficiencies." the poster says. "Likewise, soft drink consumption alone would be unhealthy."
Helping corporations and other interest groups get to you is an entire industry of producers and distributors of in-school materials. Lifetime Learning Systems, which bills itself as the industry leader, boasts that its school materials can help corporate sponsors reach up to 63 million students and their parents.
Firms like Lifetime offer sponsors a unique opportunity to "imprint" brand loyalty in children, market their message in schools without "clutter or competition," and influence the buying decisions of students' families through the "pester factor" and take-home materials.
"Children ages 4-12 influence more than $131 billion of their parents' spending power each year," the Lifetime sales brochure reminds customers.
"Coming from schools," Lifetime adds, "all these materials create an extra measure of credibility and give your message extra weight." Even more so when they reach the "invaluable marketing resource" known as the school teacher.
School systems can only contend with this marketing onslaught through a "concerted effort from the school board down to the classroom teacher," says Charlotte Baecher, education services director for Consumers Union.
Baecher calls for a "dynamic" review procedure in each district--similar to that for textbooks--and "mutual support throughout" the process.
Review or no review, many NEA members see nothing wrong with using materials from non-traditional sources.
Sandra Hopkins, who teaches second grade at Peters Elementary School in Slatington, Pennsylvania, supplements her nutrition lessons with materials from the American Dairy Council.
A few he'll keep, but most he'll pitch. Some of the materials may have educational value, Leon explains, but their main motive is to sell something--a product or a point of view--and he's not buying.
Going after students' hearts, minds, and pocketbooks isn't a new phenomenon. What's new is the volume of free materials, the increasingly sophisticated ways they're packaged as instructional tools, and tight budget times. The combination has some parents and educators groups uneasy.
Among the most blatantly one-sided handouts:
* "Decision Earth," a packet from Procter & Gamble (discontinued in the United States but still available in Canada), teaches that disposable diapers are better for the environment than cloth--and that clear-cut logging "mimics nature's way of getting rid of trees."
* The "Prego Thickness Experiment" asks students to prove Campbell Soup's claim that its spaghetti sauce is thicker than Ragu's. This exercise supposedly teaches "scientific thinking."
* "Puerto Rico: The More You Look, the More You See" is a curriculum guide financed by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the island's governor's office, written and distributed by Scholastic magazines. Some 219,000 teachers got the guide--and an incentive to use it. Twenty teachers who used the materials "the most creatively" won free vacations to the island.
* "Scientists and the Alaska Oil Spill," a videotape produced by Exxon, claims that the company's cleanup of the Valdez oil spill in Alaska was flawless. The tape shows workers spray-cleaning the rocks along the shoreline but neglects to mention that the technique causes severe damage by killing essential bacteria and flora.
* "Soft Drinks and Nutrition," a colorful poster produced by the National Soft Drink Association, compares soft drinks to more nutritious foods. "A diet of milk alone would result in dietary deficiencies." the poster says. "Likewise, soft drink consumption alone would be unhealthy."
Helping corporations and other interest groups get to you is an entire industry of producers and distributors of in-school materials. Lifetime Learning Systems, which bills itself as the industry leader, boasts that its school materials can help corporate sponsors reach up to 63 million students and their parents.
Firms like Lifetime offer sponsors a unique opportunity to "imprint" brand loyalty in children, market their message in schools without "clutter or competition," and influence the buying decisions of students' families through the "pester factor" and take-home materials.
"Children ages 4-12 influence more than $131 billion of their parents' spending power each year," the Lifetime sales brochure reminds customers.
"Coming from schools," Lifetime adds, "all these materials create an extra measure of credibility and give your message extra weight." Even more so when they reach the "invaluable marketing resource" known as the school teacher.
School systems can only contend with this marketing onslaught through a "concerted effort from the school board down to the classroom teacher," says Charlotte Baecher, education services director for Consumers Union.
Baecher calls for a "dynamic" review procedure in each district--similar to that for textbooks--and "mutual support throughout" the process.
Review or no review, many NEA members see nothing wrong with using materials from non-traditional sources.
Sandra Hopkins, who teaches second grade at Peters Elementary School in Slatington, Pennsylvania, supplements her nutrition lessons with materials from the American Dairy Council.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Philips New Lifestyle Solutions Create Unique Experiences for Consumers
Philips Electronics is providing consumers with unique product solutions that further connect their homes and their environments this holiday season. Today at the 2003 Holidays in June/Consumer Electronics Line Show, Philips demonstrated state of the art technologies and exciting new lifestyle products including FlatTV(TM) systems featuring Pixel Plus(TM) technology, wireless products and the latest in DVD recording. In addition, Philips showcased its complete line of audio, video, television, business solutions and baby care products.
"Our 2003/2004 line of products showcases our deep understanding of people's lifestyles and how that leads to new experiences and enjoyment," said Larry Blanford, president and chief executive officer, Philips Consumer Electronics, North America. "From our new portable Infotainment products, to Cineos(TM) televisions, to our wireless products including DesXcape(TM) detachable monitors and Streamium(TM) audio products, we are exceeding consumer needs and delighting them with exciting designs featuring the latest technologies."
Connecting Consumers' Lives: Philips Range of 802.11b Products
Philips features a range of wireless products allowing consumers to experience more freedom and a better entertainment experience whether looking for a total home theater control, the latest music via Internet Audio or to wirelessly connect to a PC from another part of the house.
The Philips iPronto remote control panel offers consumers the ultimate wireless home theater control. The sleek and stylish remote features Internet connectivity, which provides consumers not only the latest home theater control, but also the ability to access the web or utilize the internal electronic program guide (EPG) to ensure they don't miss their favorite show. The product can be completely customized to the comfort level of the end user. By employing wireless technology WiFi (IEEE 802.11b), iPronto remote control panel able to control devices out of their line of sight and has an always-on Internet connection by which new features and software can be sent to the unit by customer request.
Philips' Streamium MC-i250 system offers consumers a tremendous assortment of music through wireless Internet Audio connectivity. Developed for simple and easy control, with the touch of a button and a broadband Internet connection, users can easily connect their home to radio stations and multiple online music services around the world. The Streamium MC-i250 system connects easily to a Wireless LAN (WLAN) thanks to an integrated WiFi (802.11b) card inside.
Philips' DesXcape 150DM (pronounced 'Desk Escape') detachable monitor offers users the freedom to access PC applications and data in their office or home using wireless network (802.11b) connectivity - eliminating the constraints of the PC's fixed desktop location. Featuring an elegant design, the DesXcape monitor is a multifunctional "smart display" that is based on Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP technology and uses Intel's highly scalable platform for smart displays based on Intel(R) XScale(TM) technology-based processors.
Brightening the Future in Viewing: Philips Newest Display Technologies
Philips' complete television line offers consumers a variety of innovative entertainment solutions. Philips' proprietary Pixel Plus technology has taken consumers and critics by storm. With Pixel Plus technology, the televisions are HDTV Monitors and provide HD-like picture charteristics from any conventional source like VCR or DVD. Pixel Plus technology is now available in an extended line of products including the new Cineos televisions and the new FTR9965 e-box for the FlatTV systems.
Cineos HDTV monitors are Philips' first venture into the micro-display market and one within which the company expects to create substantial ownership. These slim, lightweight tabletop televisions produce unbelievable picture quality thanks to Philips' single panel LCOS technology. In addition, the new 17-, 23- and 30-inch widescreen FlatTV LCDs will be launched later this year and join the widest selection of flat TVs available from any one manufacturer.
As part of Philips' commitment to enhancing the U.S. consumer entertainment experience, Philips has developed a unique partnership with Lane Furniture. Together, Philips and Lane have accepted the challenge to create a fully integrated home entertainment experience within the traditional American furniture genre.
Redefining Lifestyle Entertainment: Infotainment
Philips Electronics line of Infotainment products offers consumers the latest technological solutions in small, hip designs. Philips' new line of Infotainment devices brings a completely new level of style and mobility to portable electronics. Featuring KeyRing MP3 Players and Digital Cameras, as well as a new 15GB hard disc audio jukebox, the Infotainment products are lightweight and extremely portable.
"Our 2003/2004 line of products showcases our deep understanding of people's lifestyles and how that leads to new experiences and enjoyment," said Larry Blanford, president and chief executive officer, Philips Consumer Electronics, North America. "From our new portable Infotainment products, to Cineos(TM) televisions, to our wireless products including DesXcape(TM) detachable monitors and Streamium(TM) audio products, we are exceeding consumer needs and delighting them with exciting designs featuring the latest technologies."
Connecting Consumers' Lives: Philips Range of 802.11b Products
Philips features a range of wireless products allowing consumers to experience more freedom and a better entertainment experience whether looking for a total home theater control, the latest music via Internet Audio or to wirelessly connect to a PC from another part of the house.
The Philips iPronto remote control panel offers consumers the ultimate wireless home theater control. The sleek and stylish remote features Internet connectivity, which provides consumers not only the latest home theater control, but also the ability to access the web or utilize the internal electronic program guide (EPG) to ensure they don't miss their favorite show. The product can be completely customized to the comfort level of the end user. By employing wireless technology WiFi (IEEE 802.11b), iPronto remote control panel able to control devices out of their line of sight and has an always-on Internet connection by which new features and software can be sent to the unit by customer request.
Philips' Streamium MC-i250 system offers consumers a tremendous assortment of music through wireless Internet Audio connectivity. Developed for simple and easy control, with the touch of a button and a broadband Internet connection, users can easily connect their home to radio stations and multiple online music services around the world. The Streamium MC-i250 system connects easily to a Wireless LAN (WLAN) thanks to an integrated WiFi (802.11b) card inside.
Philips' DesXcape 150DM (pronounced 'Desk Escape') detachable monitor offers users the freedom to access PC applications and data in their office or home using wireless network (802.11b) connectivity - eliminating the constraints of the PC's fixed desktop location. Featuring an elegant design, the DesXcape monitor is a multifunctional "smart display" that is based on Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP technology and uses Intel's highly scalable platform for smart displays based on Intel(R) XScale(TM) technology-based processors.
Brightening the Future in Viewing: Philips Newest Display Technologies
Philips' complete television line offers consumers a variety of innovative entertainment solutions. Philips' proprietary Pixel Plus technology has taken consumers and critics by storm. With Pixel Plus technology, the televisions are HDTV Monitors and provide HD-like picture charteristics from any conventional source like VCR or DVD. Pixel Plus technology is now available in an extended line of products including the new Cineos televisions and the new FTR9965 e-box for the FlatTV systems.
Cineos HDTV monitors are Philips' first venture into the micro-display market and one within which the company expects to create substantial ownership. These slim, lightweight tabletop televisions produce unbelievable picture quality thanks to Philips' single panel LCOS technology. In addition, the new 17-, 23- and 30-inch widescreen FlatTV LCDs will be launched later this year and join the widest selection of flat TVs available from any one manufacturer.
As part of Philips' commitment to enhancing the U.S. consumer entertainment experience, Philips has developed a unique partnership with Lane Furniture. Together, Philips and Lane have accepted the challenge to create a fully integrated home entertainment experience within the traditional American furniture genre.
Redefining Lifestyle Entertainment: Infotainment
Philips Electronics line of Infotainment products offers consumers the latest technological solutions in small, hip designs. Philips' new line of Infotainment devices brings a completely new level of style and mobility to portable electronics. Featuring KeyRing MP3 Players and Digital Cameras, as well as a new 15GB hard disc audio jukebox, the Infotainment products are lightweight and extremely portable.
Philips Electronics Connects Consumers to the Future This Holiday Season with Stylish and Innovative Gift Ideas
Offering consumers a glimpse into the future, Philips Electronics displayed the latest technologies and trends of tomorrow with its complete line of holiday gift ideas at the 2003 Holidays in June/Consumer Electronics Line Show event. Showcased in an experiential and futuristic environment of music, style and electronics, Philips' annual event featured innovative and forward-thinking gift solutions that spanned across all product lines, including audio, video, television, business solutions, lighting, medical, personal care and kitchen appliances.
Providing a sneak peak to holiday gift ideas, Philips showcased a variety of innovative technologies and sleek products that allow consumers to connect their homes and provide extraordinary experiences that enhance their lives.
Philips Lifestyle - Experience Better Together
Focusing on the home, Philips lifestyle products provide consumers easy access to innovative and useful digital technology that enhances daily activities. From the kitchen to the home theater room, Philips offers home entertainment and portable products that provide consumers with unique and stylish ways to start their day, watch their favorite DVD and listen to the hottest band.
Warm up this holiday season with convenient, easy ways to prepare traditional comfort foods. Start the day off right with a steamy mug of tea made in Philips' Cordless Kettle. And, after a long day of shopping and errands, the Philips' 3-in-1 Waffle/Sandwich/Grill can help whip together tasty treats from Belgian Waffles to grilled cheese sandwiches, for a delicious quick meal that is guaranteed to satisfy the whole family. Philips has a full family of beautifully designed kitchen appliances available at Target stores nationwide for this holiday season.
Philips' complete television line offers consumers a variety of innovative entertainment solutions. Philips' proprietary technology, Pixel Plus, has taken consumers and critics by storm. With Pixel Plus, the televisions are HD ready and provide HD quality images from any conventional source like VCR or DVD. Pixel Plus is now available in an extended line of products including the new Cineos televisions and the new FTR9965 e-box for the FlatTVs.
Cineos is Philips first venture into the micro-display market and one within which the company expects to create substantial ownership. These slim, lightweight table top televisions produce unbelievable picture quality thanks to Philips single panel LCoS technology. In addition, the new 17-, 23- and 30-inch widescreen FlatTV(TM) LCDs will be launched later this year and join the widest selection of FlatTVs available from any one manufacturer.
Offering consumers the latest technological solutions in small sophisticated designs, Philips new line of Infotainment devices brings a completely new level of style and sophistication to portable electronics. The new HDD100 features 15GB (more than 3000 songs) of capacity. Featuring MP3 and WMA playback, the Audio Jukebox includes Philips' patented SuperScroll(TM) providing fast and precise navigation. Philips also allows consumers to connect their living room with the rest of the world with Philips Streamium MC-i250 Wireless Internet Audio system. With the touch of a button and a broadband Internet connection, users can access radio stations and multiple online music services around the world.
To capture all the cherished holiday moments, the DVDR80 provides consumers the ultimate in DVD Recording with high quality picture and sound performance, as well as ease-of-use. Point and click programming through an on-screen TV guide allows the consumer to never miss another of their favorite TV programs.
For the ultimate in personalization, the fully programmable iPronto provides a versatile solution to control home theater, as well as the increasing number of electronic home automation products available. The iPronto gives the consumer the ability to configure the touch screen with the help of iPronto edit, the included PC editing software.
Providing consumers with full control of their holiday programming, including pausing live TV, rewinding, watching in slow motion or creating instant replays, the Philips DSR708 DIRECTV(R) DVR powered by TiVo, allows consumers to combine access to more than 225 digital-quality channels of DIRECTV(R) programming with the convenience and control of the DIRECTV DVR.
Providing a sneak peak to holiday gift ideas, Philips showcased a variety of innovative technologies and sleek products that allow consumers to connect their homes and provide extraordinary experiences that enhance their lives.
Philips Lifestyle - Experience Better Together
Focusing on the home, Philips lifestyle products provide consumers easy access to innovative and useful digital technology that enhances daily activities. From the kitchen to the home theater room, Philips offers home entertainment and portable products that provide consumers with unique and stylish ways to start their day, watch their favorite DVD and listen to the hottest band.
Warm up this holiday season with convenient, easy ways to prepare traditional comfort foods. Start the day off right with a steamy mug of tea made in Philips' Cordless Kettle. And, after a long day of shopping and errands, the Philips' 3-in-1 Waffle/Sandwich/Grill can help whip together tasty treats from Belgian Waffles to grilled cheese sandwiches, for a delicious quick meal that is guaranteed to satisfy the whole family. Philips has a full family of beautifully designed kitchen appliances available at Target stores nationwide for this holiday season.
Philips' complete television line offers consumers a variety of innovative entertainment solutions. Philips' proprietary technology, Pixel Plus, has taken consumers and critics by storm. With Pixel Plus, the televisions are HD ready and provide HD quality images from any conventional source like VCR or DVD. Pixel Plus is now available in an extended line of products including the new Cineos televisions and the new FTR9965 e-box for the FlatTVs.
Cineos is Philips first venture into the micro-display market and one within which the company expects to create substantial ownership. These slim, lightweight table top televisions produce unbelievable picture quality thanks to Philips single panel LCoS technology. In addition, the new 17-, 23- and 30-inch widescreen FlatTV(TM) LCDs will be launched later this year and join the widest selection of FlatTVs available from any one manufacturer.
Offering consumers the latest technological solutions in small sophisticated designs, Philips new line of Infotainment devices brings a completely new level of style and sophistication to portable electronics. The new HDD100 features 15GB (more than 3000 songs) of capacity. Featuring MP3 and WMA playback, the Audio Jukebox includes Philips' patented SuperScroll(TM) providing fast and precise navigation. Philips also allows consumers to connect their living room with the rest of the world with Philips Streamium MC-i250 Wireless Internet Audio system. With the touch of a button and a broadband Internet connection, users can access radio stations and multiple online music services around the world.
To capture all the cherished holiday moments, the DVDR80 provides consumers the ultimate in DVD Recording with high quality picture and sound performance, as well as ease-of-use. Point and click programming through an on-screen TV guide allows the consumer to never miss another of their favorite TV programs.
For the ultimate in personalization, the fully programmable iPronto provides a versatile solution to control home theater, as well as the increasing number of electronic home automation products available. The iPronto gives the consumer the ability to configure the touch screen with the help of iPronto edit, the included PC editing software.
Providing consumers with full control of their holiday programming, including pausing live TV, rewinding, watching in slow motion or creating instant replays, the Philips DSR708 DIRECTV(R) DVR powered by TiVo, allows consumers to combine access to more than 225 digital-quality channels of DIRECTV(R) programming with the convenience and control of the DIRECTV DVR.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Will Your Daughter Be Okay? Five Easy Ways to Tell
Parents of daughters have always been concerned about who and what their daughters see as they grow up. These parents wonder if their children will manage to survive the preteen and adolescent years without getting caught up with the wrong crowd, hurting her reputation with any wild or crazy antics, and most importantly by simply staying true to herself and her upbringing.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to tell if your child is on the right track.
1. Her Friends
One of the most obvious ways to check up on your daughter is to see what sort of friends she has. If her friends show a rather disturbing lack of control or a vocabulary fraught with terms you had hoped your child would never hear, there may be a problem.
Hanging around with lots of different people is just as typical as a tight group of girlfriends, but see who exactly your daughter spends most of her time with and then very discreetly check up on them and their parents. Peer pressure is rampart at this age, so it’s crucial that you be playing with all the knowledge you can.
2. Her Shows
Some shows will be popular with teens and preteens regardless of content. However, you as the parent should be monitoring what exactly she is watching and what message she is getting out of it. Is your ten year old more tuned into Desperate Housewives than Miley Cyrus? If so, perhaps you need to invest in blocking software or at the very least watch some episodes together to see exactly what messages your offspring may be receiving.
3. Her Heroes
We all look up to someone, even if we do it unconsciously. Who is your daughter most interested in? Does she try to dress like her friends? Is she interested in carrying the latest bag Paris was spotted with? Does she seem to want to follow in her mother’s footsteps? The person leading your child may not be the best role model.
Quality role models like Miley Cyrus are harder to find, but they are out there. Discourage interest in young stars that seem to have a hard time holding it together or who encourage wild partying and other activities you’d be uncomfortable with your own daughter participating in. Discreetly help her find someone to copy who is more palatable.
4. Her Grades
The age old stereotype of girls not being as bright in school is still alive and well. Dumb and ditzy seems to get boys on television and movies, so your daughter may be buying into that myth. If her grades are slipping it might be something as simple as needing a tutor in math (which you should provide, but you might avoid letting her pick her own if he is under the age of fifty) or it could be a symptom of something much more serious. It is worth investigating, regardless.
5. Her Clothing
It may seem trivial, but if your daughter is dressing up more like a club regular than a preteen school girl, you need to step in. Fashion is very important to young ladies, but certain fashions are simply not appropriate for school or girls under the age of eighteen. The wrong clothing can send and reinforce the wrong message. When shopping look for fashionable yet age appropriate outfits like the clothing worn by the Olsen twins or Miley Cyrus.
Above all, just remember, that all of the signs above may be pointing one way, when your daughter is heading another. Very little is permanent or long lasting at her age, so do all you can to help guide her in the right direction, then sit back and enjoy the ride.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to tell if your child is on the right track.
1. Her Friends
One of the most obvious ways to check up on your daughter is to see what sort of friends she has. If her friends show a rather disturbing lack of control or a vocabulary fraught with terms you had hoped your child would never hear, there may be a problem.
Hanging around with lots of different people is just as typical as a tight group of girlfriends, but see who exactly your daughter spends most of her time with and then very discreetly check up on them and their parents. Peer pressure is rampart at this age, so it’s crucial that you be playing with all the knowledge you can.
2. Her Shows
Some shows will be popular with teens and preteens regardless of content. However, you as the parent should be monitoring what exactly she is watching and what message she is getting out of it. Is your ten year old more tuned into Desperate Housewives than Miley Cyrus? If so, perhaps you need to invest in blocking software or at the very least watch some episodes together to see exactly what messages your offspring may be receiving.
3. Her Heroes
We all look up to someone, even if we do it unconsciously. Who is your daughter most interested in? Does she try to dress like her friends? Is she interested in carrying the latest bag Paris was spotted with? Does she seem to want to follow in her mother’s footsteps? The person leading your child may not be the best role model.
Quality role models like Miley Cyrus are harder to find, but they are out there. Discourage interest in young stars that seem to have a hard time holding it together or who encourage wild partying and other activities you’d be uncomfortable with your own daughter participating in. Discreetly help her find someone to copy who is more palatable.
4. Her Grades
The age old stereotype of girls not being as bright in school is still alive and well. Dumb and ditzy seems to get boys on television and movies, so your daughter may be buying into that myth. If her grades are slipping it might be something as simple as needing a tutor in math (which you should provide, but you might avoid letting her pick her own if he is under the age of fifty) or it could be a symptom of something much more serious. It is worth investigating, regardless.
5. Her Clothing
It may seem trivial, but if your daughter is dressing up more like a club regular than a preteen school girl, you need to step in. Fashion is very important to young ladies, but certain fashions are simply not appropriate for school or girls under the age of eighteen. The wrong clothing can send and reinforce the wrong message. When shopping look for fashionable yet age appropriate outfits like the clothing worn by the Olsen twins or Miley Cyrus.
Above all, just remember, that all of the signs above may be pointing one way, when your daughter is heading another. Very little is permanent or long lasting at her age, so do all you can to help guide her in the right direction, then sit back and enjoy the ride.
Is Cheap Gas And Electricity Available Where You Live?
One of the growing phrases being used by the average consumer is that of the ‘postcode lottery’ but who would have thought that this phrase would be used when talking about gas and electricity prices. When deciding on buying a house, the last thing you think about is ‘How much is my gas and electricity going to cost in this area?’ but unfortunately it’s a question we may have to start to ask ourselves and the eager estate agents.
A study by independent consumer advice service Which? has found that living in East Anglia should be high up on your list when looking at moving or buying your first home.
Their studies have shown that a medium sized family house in East Anglia on a dual tariff (gas and electricity combined) would pay £895 to Scottish Power if on their standard pricing plan; compared to if they set up home in South Wales where their costs would increase by around £78.
It’d be wrong to simply put this down to the area where you live though. Where as the likes of car and home insurance companies choose to quote based on the risks attached to the areas they live in, quotes from utility providers are very different.
Before the deregulation of utilities within the UK, energy companies had a large dominance in certain regions. It was then decided that the market should be opened up to allow more competitiveness and help reduce prices for consumers. Since this happened, companies from outside the originally dominated areas have become to be quite successful, offering cheap gas and electricity prices and have ultimately become the winners.
A study by independent consumer advice service Which? has found that living in East Anglia should be high up on your list when looking at moving or buying your first home.
Their studies have shown that a medium sized family house in East Anglia on a dual tariff (gas and electricity combined) would pay £895 to Scottish Power if on their standard pricing plan; compared to if they set up home in South Wales where their costs would increase by around £78.
It’d be wrong to simply put this down to the area where you live though. Where as the likes of car and home insurance companies choose to quote based on the risks attached to the areas they live in, quotes from utility providers are very different.
Before the deregulation of utilities within the UK, energy companies had a large dominance in certain regions. It was then decided that the market should be opened up to allow more competitiveness and help reduce prices for consumers. Since this happened, companies from outside the originally dominated areas have become to be quite successful, offering cheap gas and electricity prices and have ultimately become the winners.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Is Cheap Gas And Electricity Available Where You Live?
One of the growing phrases being used by the average consumer is that of the ‘postcode lottery’ but who would have thought that this phrase would be used when talking about gas and electricity prices. When deciding on buying a house, the last thing you think about is ‘How much is my gas and electricity going to cost in this area?’ but unfortunately it’s a question we may have to start to ask ourselves and the eager estate agents.
A study by independent consumer advice service Which? has found that living in East Anglia should be high up on your list when looking at moving or buying your first home.
Their studies have shown that a medium sized family house in East Anglia on a dual tariff (gas and electricity combined) would pay £895 to Scottish Power if on their standard pricing plan; compared to if they set up home in South Wales where their costs would increase by around £78.
It’d be wrong to simply put this down to the area where you live though. Where as the likes of car and home insurance companies choose to quote based on the risks attached to the areas they live in, quotes from utility providers are very different.
Before the deregulation of utilities within the UK, energy companies had a large dominance in certain regions. It was then decided that the market should be opened up to allow more competitiveness and help reduce prices for consumers. Since this happened, companies from outside the originally dominated areas have become to be quite successful, offering cheap gas and electricity prices and have ultimately become the winners.
The previously dominant suppliers have often been proved to be the most expensive amongst suppliers and have had to work on their quality of services to compensate this.
A study by independent consumer advice service Which? has found that living in East Anglia should be high up on your list when looking at moving or buying your first home.
Their studies have shown that a medium sized family house in East Anglia on a dual tariff (gas and electricity combined) would pay £895 to Scottish Power if on their standard pricing plan; compared to if they set up home in South Wales where their costs would increase by around £78.
It’d be wrong to simply put this down to the area where you live though. Where as the likes of car and home insurance companies choose to quote based on the risks attached to the areas they live in, quotes from utility providers are very different.
Before the deregulation of utilities within the UK, energy companies had a large dominance in certain regions. It was then decided that the market should be opened up to allow more competitiveness and help reduce prices for consumers. Since this happened, companies from outside the originally dominated areas have become to be quite successful, offering cheap gas and electricity prices and have ultimately become the winners.
The previously dominant suppliers have often been proved to be the most expensive amongst suppliers and have had to work on their quality of services to compensate this.
Raksha Bandhan Festival in India
Raksha Bandhan festival is always celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month Shraavana in all parts of India. According to English calendar, it usually falls in the month of August. Rakhi is being celebrated since ancient time and its popularity seems to be increasing with every passing year in all parts of India. The festival spells its magic on brothers and sister of all ages and creed. The Hindi word 'raksha' signifies protection and 'bandhan' means bond. Hence, Raksha Bandhan signifies that the strong must protect the weak from all that is evil.
Rakhi is celebrated with great excitement and joy across India and other parts of the world too, where Indians reside. From early morning everybody starts getting ready for this special occasion. On this Special Rakhi Day people generally prefer to wear traditional attires. Men mostly wear kurta pyjama on this occasion whereas women prefer to wear sari or salwar suits, which is mainly Indian tradition.
Raksha Bandhan is a special festival in Hindu religion that celebrates the bond between brother and sister by tying a holy thread around the wrist of brother. This thread is known as 'Rakhi.' The sister conducts aarti before her brother and put tilak of roli and rice on his forehead, so that he is blessed by God. It is believed that the thread tied by the sister has the power of protecting the brother.
After the ceremony is over, the sister feed the brother with sweets. The brother in return bestows gifts upon her, usually in the form of a small sum of money or gifts and he vows to look after or take care of his sister for her entire life.
With time, the Rakhi thread has become more fashionable and more trendy. It has become a fusion of tradition and modern lifestyle of people. The following are few of the types of rakhi available in the online Indian market: Gold Rakhi, Zardosi Rakhi, Pearl Rakhi, Silver Rakhi, Kids Rakhi and Fancy Rakhi.
The online sweet shop has different delicious sweets and gift shops have diverse range of rakhis and gifts to attract the buyers, young and old. Nowadays, chocolates and cookies are being looked as other options to the sweets that are exchanged. It is a much-awaited festival for the siblings. Not just a thread tying ceremony, it is the reunion and the awe-inspiring sentiments that call for the celebration.
Rakhi is celebrated with great excitement and joy across India and other parts of the world too, where Indians reside. From early morning everybody starts getting ready for this special occasion. On this Special Rakhi Day people generally prefer to wear traditional attires. Men mostly wear kurta pyjama on this occasion whereas women prefer to wear sari or salwar suits, which is mainly Indian tradition.
Raksha Bandhan is a special festival in Hindu religion that celebrates the bond between brother and sister by tying a holy thread around the wrist of brother. This thread is known as 'Rakhi.' The sister conducts aarti before her brother and put tilak of roli and rice on his forehead, so that he is blessed by God. It is believed that the thread tied by the sister has the power of protecting the brother.
After the ceremony is over, the sister feed the brother with sweets. The brother in return bestows gifts upon her, usually in the form of a small sum of money or gifts and he vows to look after or take care of his sister for her entire life.
With time, the Rakhi thread has become more fashionable and more trendy. It has become a fusion of tradition and modern lifestyle of people. The following are few of the types of rakhi available in the online Indian market: Gold Rakhi, Zardosi Rakhi, Pearl Rakhi, Silver Rakhi, Kids Rakhi and Fancy Rakhi.
The online sweet shop has different delicious sweets and gift shops have diverse range of rakhis and gifts to attract the buyers, young and old. Nowadays, chocolates and cookies are being looked as other options to the sweets that are exchanged. It is a much-awaited festival for the siblings. Not just a thread tying ceremony, it is the reunion and the awe-inspiring sentiments that call for the celebration.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Accounting for small businesses
The difficulty of successfully running a business is borne out by statistics showing that half of all start-up businesses will fold within five years.
Notably, the number of black-owned companies, which increased by 37.3% throughout the '80s, grew more rapidly than the U.S. population as a whole. And sales and receipts from black-owned firms grew even faster, more than doubling during that time. Unfortunately. black-owned firms fail at a higher rate {57,7%) than companies owned by any other ethnic group, Majority-owned businesses fail at a rate of 49.7%.
The reasons for business failure are myriad: poor marketing, undercapitalization and the lack of managerial skills-- namely the inability to keep accurate and current financial records.
Too often, careful accounting is the last thing small business owners think about, when in fact it should be the first. Yes, the small business owner is plagued with a host of worries--making payroll, acquiring products and selling goods. But business owners put themselves at a competitive disadvantage when they are not accounting-oriented from the very begining.
Many small companies fail to hire an accountant right away, says Wayne O. Leevy, managing partner in the Philadelphia office of Mitchell/Titus & Co. "You don't want to be in a situation where even the business structure (S Corporation, partnership or proprietorship) is not beneficial to the owners."
Leevy believes every business should start out with three basic advisers: banker, accountant and insurance agent. Before one even starts a business, a visit to an accountant is advised. This way, if nothing else, the business person understands the financial reporting responsibilities. An accountant will be helpful in formulating the business plan.
There is some fear of accountants, mostly in terms of cost. But getting it right the first time costs less than making up for mistakes the second time around. Besides, there are accounting firms that specialize in small businesses at reasonable prices--less than $100 a visit.
After about a year in business, Miami-based Apricot Office Supplies and Stationery Inc. found Watson & Co., an accounting firm that also was just starting out. This situation was ideal "because the accountants on staff were formerly CPAs at many of the major accounting firms," says Apricot's CEO Basil Bernard. "Since we were one of their first customers, we got top-class advice and recordkeeping at lower rates."
As a business owner who is just starting out, you need to review all the books yourself, says Bernard. "Keeping track of when the bills come in and when they get paid is part common sense. But after a while, you have to concentrate on just running the business." Getting Your Act Together
Accounting is fairly consistent across all business types. Every company needs to maintain a basic recording system, including a bank account that is used for all money transactions.
There are five things every business owner should do when dealing with a bank account, says Robyn T. Elliott, a Culver City, Calif., CPA who teaches a free course entitled "Recordkeeping for Small Business Owners" at the Entrepreneurial Institute in Los Angeles. They are:
* Maintain separate business and personal checking accounts.
* Don't have an automatic teller machine (ATM) card on the business account.
* Write checks instead of paying for items with cash. They serve as an accurate form of recordkeeping.
* Reconcile bank accounts monthly and make sure that all errors are corrected.
* Record all money that is dispersed.
"Many small businesspeople have a problem just understanding what they need to use the bank account for," says Ralph J. Grant, a partner in Oakland, Calif.-based Grant & Smith. Grant adds that businesspeople tend to spend cash. Or they do not deposit all money received. They also tend to write checks for expenditures. "It is the basics that people don't get."
One mistake that a lot of small businesses make is to include their sales tax as part of their bank accounts, notes Bernard. "At the end of the month, they're in dire straits to pay the IRS because they thought they had $1,000 in the account when they actually have $900."
Elliott adds a caveat. If a business owner writes 15 to 20 checks a month, he or she can probably maintain the company's recordkeeping on ledger books bought from the local office supply store. But if the business is writing 30 checks a month, "the volume is getting more complicated, and the small business person is going to need to see an accountant more than once a year," says Elliott.
Outside of balancing a bank account, another basic necessity is to keep files of all important documents. These would include invoices, receipts and contracts. "The filing system can be a problem," says Grant, especially when documents are not filed systematically or timely. "Putting a rubber band around a bunch of receipts and putting them in a box is not an ideal file."
Computerization is making it easier for small businesses to keep track of financial records and to stay current on accounts. Apricot keeps track of some 17,000 products-- from copiers to pencils-via a computer network and inventory software.
Using accounting software is just one step. "A software package is helpful, but it's not sufficient enough in and of itself to avoid using an accountant," says Joseph Mancuso, president of the Center for Entrepreneurial Management in New York.
Good software doesn't solve problems, warns Mancuso. Using a computer to keep accurate records may save time and money, by making it easier on a consultant, who won't have to rummage through poorly kept records.
"We're meticulous with our recordkeeping," says Apricot's Bernard, whose wife, Marlene, is the operations manager and handles the 6'year.old company's books. Last year, the company did a little over $2 million in sales.
CPA Elliott says small businesses should have checklists. Every week, a business should review accounts receivables and take action on slow payers; review accounts payable; keep current on taxes and reports to state and federal government; and stay up to date on payroll.
On a monthly basis, a business should scrutinize daily and weekly journals, post numbers to a general ledger; create a profit-and-loss statement; reconcile bank accounts; balance petty cash accounts; date accounts receivables to see what payments are late; and perform inventory control to reduce stock that moves slowly and increase items that move quickly.
While all of this looks daunting, it really isn't. Aside from that, "accountants aren't miracle workers," says Bernard. "If you give them garbage, you'll get garbage back."
Notably, the number of black-owned companies, which increased by 37.3% throughout the '80s, grew more rapidly than the U.S. population as a whole. And sales and receipts from black-owned firms grew even faster, more than doubling during that time. Unfortunately. black-owned firms fail at a higher rate {57,7%) than companies owned by any other ethnic group, Majority-owned businesses fail at a rate of 49.7%.
The reasons for business failure are myriad: poor marketing, undercapitalization and the lack of managerial skills-- namely the inability to keep accurate and current financial records.
Too often, careful accounting is the last thing small business owners think about, when in fact it should be the first. Yes, the small business owner is plagued with a host of worries--making payroll, acquiring products and selling goods. But business owners put themselves at a competitive disadvantage when they are not accounting-oriented from the very begining.
Many small companies fail to hire an accountant right away, says Wayne O. Leevy, managing partner in the Philadelphia office of Mitchell/Titus & Co. "You don't want to be in a situation where even the business structure (S Corporation, partnership or proprietorship) is not beneficial to the owners."
Leevy believes every business should start out with three basic advisers: banker, accountant and insurance agent. Before one even starts a business, a visit to an accountant is advised. This way, if nothing else, the business person understands the financial reporting responsibilities. An accountant will be helpful in formulating the business plan.
There is some fear of accountants, mostly in terms of cost. But getting it right the first time costs less than making up for mistakes the second time around. Besides, there are accounting firms that specialize in small businesses at reasonable prices--less than $100 a visit.
After about a year in business, Miami-based Apricot Office Supplies and Stationery Inc. found Watson & Co., an accounting firm that also was just starting out. This situation was ideal "because the accountants on staff were formerly CPAs at many of the major accounting firms," says Apricot's CEO Basil Bernard. "Since we were one of their first customers, we got top-class advice and recordkeeping at lower rates."
As a business owner who is just starting out, you need to review all the books yourself, says Bernard. "Keeping track of when the bills come in and when they get paid is part common sense. But after a while, you have to concentrate on just running the business." Getting Your Act Together
Accounting is fairly consistent across all business types. Every company needs to maintain a basic recording system, including a bank account that is used for all money transactions.
There are five things every business owner should do when dealing with a bank account, says Robyn T. Elliott, a Culver City, Calif., CPA who teaches a free course entitled "Recordkeeping for Small Business Owners" at the Entrepreneurial Institute in Los Angeles. They are:
* Maintain separate business and personal checking accounts.
* Don't have an automatic teller machine (ATM) card on the business account.
* Write checks instead of paying for items with cash. They serve as an accurate form of recordkeeping.
* Reconcile bank accounts monthly and make sure that all errors are corrected.
* Record all money that is dispersed.
"Many small businesspeople have a problem just understanding what they need to use the bank account for," says Ralph J. Grant, a partner in Oakland, Calif.-based Grant & Smith. Grant adds that businesspeople tend to spend cash. Or they do not deposit all money received. They also tend to write checks for expenditures. "It is the basics that people don't get."
One mistake that a lot of small businesses make is to include their sales tax as part of their bank accounts, notes Bernard. "At the end of the month, they're in dire straits to pay the IRS because they thought they had $1,000 in the account when they actually have $900."
Elliott adds a caveat. If a business owner writes 15 to 20 checks a month, he or she can probably maintain the company's recordkeeping on ledger books bought from the local office supply store. But if the business is writing 30 checks a month, "the volume is getting more complicated, and the small business person is going to need to see an accountant more than once a year," says Elliott.
Outside of balancing a bank account, another basic necessity is to keep files of all important documents. These would include invoices, receipts and contracts. "The filing system can be a problem," says Grant, especially when documents are not filed systematically or timely. "Putting a rubber band around a bunch of receipts and putting them in a box is not an ideal file."
Computerization is making it easier for small businesses to keep track of financial records and to stay current on accounts. Apricot keeps track of some 17,000 products-- from copiers to pencils-via a computer network and inventory software.
Using accounting software is just one step. "A software package is helpful, but it's not sufficient enough in and of itself to avoid using an accountant," says Joseph Mancuso, president of the Center for Entrepreneurial Management in New York.
Good software doesn't solve problems, warns Mancuso. Using a computer to keep accurate records may save time and money, by making it easier on a consultant, who won't have to rummage through poorly kept records.
"We're meticulous with our recordkeeping," says Apricot's Bernard, whose wife, Marlene, is the operations manager and handles the 6'year.old company's books. Last year, the company did a little over $2 million in sales.
CPA Elliott says small businesses should have checklists. Every week, a business should review accounts receivables and take action on slow payers; review accounts payable; keep current on taxes and reports to state and federal government; and stay up to date on payroll.
On a monthly basis, a business should scrutinize daily and weekly journals, post numbers to a general ledger; create a profit-and-loss statement; reconcile bank accounts; balance petty cash accounts; date accounts receivables to see what payments are late; and perform inventory control to reduce stock that moves slowly and increase items that move quickly.
While all of this looks daunting, it really isn't. Aside from that, "accountants aren't miracle workers," says Bernard. "If you give them garbage, you'll get garbage back."
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