3 free softwares to turn your Webcam into video surveillance camera

There are many situations in which you require to monitor your work area or your home. Here we have few free softwares which can turn your Webcam into a surveillance camera .

1. Rise Sun:

Rise Sun is a free Windows based video security software. Which uses a webcam for motion detection. In case of any movement detection it automatically takes a snapshot and saves it on your hard disk. It can ring an alarm if any movement is detected.  You can read more about this software and download it from here.

2. TeboCam:

TeboCam does the same job as Rise Sun. But it can send you emails also in case of any activity. TeboCam can generate snapshots at regular intervals and if any movement is found it can create emails and send the snapshots to you via mail or it can directly upload it on the website. To know all the features of it just download it and use it . Here is the download link. TeboCam

3. Prog’z WebCamSpy:

Prog’z WebCamSpy is not as good as the previous two softwares mentioned here. But it can be used to make your webcam a spy cam. It is a lightweight software. Does not require much resources to work. It just sits silently and takes snapshots using webcam at regular interval and saves them on your computer. It also can zoom on particular portion while recording so you can use it for monitoring specific areas. Download Prog’z WebCamSpy

If you know any other good software which can be used for the same purpose then please share it with us using comments form below.

Read more »

WD Share Space Network Storage System

This high-speed network-attached storage system with capacities up to 8 TB and a space-saving footprint gives you all the benefits of a big time data center without the need for a big time IT department. Perfect for centralizing and sharing data and multimedia files on a small office or home network.

Key Features

Big capacity, small footprint - Offered in 2, 4 and 8 TB capacities, this small-footprint four-bay system takes up very little space and provides plenty of storage to go around.

RAID capability - Offers multiple RAID configurations for data protection and speed -- RAID 0 (Striped), RAID 1 (Mirrored) and RAID 5. The RAID 5 mode, only available on the fully-populated 4-drive system, is the recommended mode to achieve both high-performance and data protection through redundancy.

The 4 and 8 TB WD ShareSpace systems are shipped in RAID 5 mode for maximum reliability.

The 2 TB WD ShareSpace system is shipped in Spanning Mode for maximum capacity and the flexibility to add additional drives without reformatting the system.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

Find out more about RAID

High-speed access, Ethernet connectivity - Provides data transfer rates up to 1000 Mbit/s when used in a GigE network.

Gigabit networking and transfer rates are five to six times faster than other network storage systems. This performance is comparable to USB 2.0 direct-attached storage.

Easy setup and discovery - An intuitive set-up wizard and easy-to-use discovery tool makes installation a snap.

E-mail alert system - Monitors drive and system health and sends you an e-mail if a problem is detected.

Stream digital media anywhere in your home - Built-in media server for streaming music, photos and movies to any DLNA certified multimedia device such as Playstation® 3, Xbox 360®, wireless digital picture frames, and connected audio receivers. DLNA 1.5 & UPnP certified.

iTunes® server support - Centralize your music collection and stream to a Mac® or Windows® PC using iTunes software.

Build your collection - Centralize digital media from all your computers into one vast media library. Now anyone can enjoy your collection from anywhere in your home.

Microsoft Active Directory support - Will join an Active Directory domain to utilize AD users and groups.

Push-button transfer - Plug a USB drive into the front-mounted USB 2.0 port and push a button to automatically transfer all the data on the drive to the WD ShareSpace system.

Automatic network backup software - Set up continuous backup for the computers* in your network using the included automatic backup software. Select the files you want to back up, then set it and forget it; every time you save a change it's automatically backed up. *3 software licenses included.

Remote access software - Access your files anywhere, anytime using MioNet remote access services from WD.

Download manager - Supports scheduled download through FTP and HTTP. Simultaneously manage multiple download tasks.

Windows Vista™ certified - Works seamlessly with Windows Vista to provide easy setup and automatic discovery.

Built-in FTP server - Set up your own FTP server. Manage the access authority and share your files with your friends or customers easily.

Three USB 2.0 ports - Two USB ports on the back to connect additional USB hard drives for backup or additional network storage. One USB port on the front for push button transfer.

Cooler, quieter, eco-friendlier -
Equipped with WD drives using WD GreenPower Technology, this system, with its efficient cooling architecture, and power saving mode, consumes up to 33% less power**, is reliably cool, and remarkably quiet.
** Tests based on comparison between a 1 TB dual-drive system using 7200 RPM drives and a 1 TB dual-drive system using WD’s GreenPower drives.

Power failure protection - Connect this system to your Universal Power Supply (UPS). If a power failure occurs, the system will shut down gracefully, protecting you from data loss.

Easy maintenance - Add or swap out drives quickly and easily.

Network storage manager - Manage your system configuration, create user IDs, passwords, security permissions, and quotas.

Ideal For

For small workgroups of 5 to 10 this system offers compact, centralized storage, accessible from anywhere.

Compatibility

• Windows® Vista/XP/2000
• Mac OS X 10.4.11+, 10.5.2+

Compatibility may vary depending on user’s hardware configuration and operating system.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

Package Contents

• Network storage system with RAID (populated with 2 or 4 hard drives)
• Ethernet cable
• 2 hard drive mounting rails (for 2-drive models)
• AC adapter
• Software CD
• Quick Install Guide

Performance Specifications

Serial Transfer Rate

USB 2.0

Serial Bus Transfer Rate (USB 2.0)                 480 Mb/s (Max)

Transfer Rates

Ethernet                                         10/100/1000 Mb/s capable

Physical Specifications

Capacity                                                                      4 TB

Interface                                                               Ethernet

Physical Dimensions

English

Height                                                               7.73 Inches

Length                                                              7.84 Inches

Width                                                                6.30 Inches

Weight                                                           10.78 Pounds

Metric

Height                                                                 196.2 mm

Length                                                                199.2 mm

Width                                                                  160.1 mm
Weight                                                                      4.9 kg

Environmental Specifications

Temperature (English)

Operating                                                         41° F to 95° F

Non-operating                                                 -4° F to 149° F

Temperature (Metric)

Operating                                                        5° C to 35° C

Non-operating                                              -20° C to 65° C

Electrical Specifications

Current Requirements

Power Dissipation

AC Input Voltage                                            100-240 VAC

AC Input Frequency                                              47-63 Hz

As used for storage capacity, one megabyte (MB) = one million bytes, one gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes, and one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. As used for buffer or cache, one megabyte (MB) = 1,048,576 bytes. As used for transfer rate or interface, megabyte per second (MB/s) = one million bytes per second, megabit per second (Mb/s) = one million bits per second, and gigabit per second (Gb/s) = one billion bits per second.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

- JMD Computer India

Read more »

Verifying IP for Hard Disk Drives

A leading manufacturer of hard disk drives for enterprise, desktop, mobile computing and consumer electronics applications uses blocks of intellectual property (IP) in its next-generation disk controller application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Some of these IP blocks are used in several different products, making it an imperative that designs be exhaustively verified under all possible operating conditions prior to release.

In the past, the manufacturers' ASIC designers relied on digital simulation as their primary means of verifying IP blocks. They also employed automatic constrained pseudo-random testbench generation to construct thousands of different combinations of commands and data packets. Early in the design of a new compute-intensive IP block, the design architects calculated that it would take approximately 500 CPU-years to simulate all the test cases necessary to test this particular design. With a six month design schedule, it was clear that simulation alone would not be adequate. That's when the designers decided to evaluate several hardware-assisted verification platforms. This proved to be the ideal solution for delivering a quality product within the tight design schedule. In this case, the hard disk drive manufacturer selected EVE's ZeBu-ZV platform.

The IP design presented unique verification challenges. The block had a 32-bit interface, over which commands and data were loaded into the block using a packet-based protocol. Once set up, it then processed the data for about four seconds of real time, after which it presented the results over the same 32-bit interface. At an operating speed of 150 MHz, four seconds represented 600,000,000 cycles. The design team needed to run several hundred thousand of these test cases to fully verify the design.

On this project, a digital simulator/testbench generator combination was used for initial verification runs to prove basic functionality, using about 50 tests per command. Once this verification methodology was generally functional, the designers switched to the combination of the hardware-assisted verification platform and testbench generator, which enabled them to run thousands of tests for each command.

To maximize performance, synthesizable transactors were used as the interface between the testbench code on the PC and the emulated IP block in the verification platform. Transactors performed the conversion from high-level commands and data packets to bit-level signals using the hardware-assisted verification platform. The SCE-MI standard from Accellera defined how the transactors were written. They consist of an application program interface (API) on the software side to exchange high-level packets or messages, and a synthesizable bus-functional model (BFM) or state machine mapped onto the hardware platform.

To further accelerate simulation, the design team took advantage of a property of this particular IP block: The only interaction between the testbench and the IP block occurred during the initial setup of the test and the downloading of results at the end of the run. In between these two interactions, the design executed a large number of cycles with no external communication. The designers exploited this by making the verification platform run in lock-step mode with the testbench generator only during these interactions, and switching to a 15MHz clock supplied by the verification platform in between these accesses. To implement this solution, they changed the main clock of the design to switch between two inputs: the clock coming from testbench generation and a clock generated by the verification platform's on-board clock generator.

Using this hybrid approach, the testbench generator produced each new command and data combination, and then transferred the packet through a C function-call to the verification platform transactors. The testbench generator then switched the verification tool to the fast clock and initiated the test. It was able to run the tests at 15 MHz, equivalent to 1/10 of real time. In 40 seconds, the test would finish and it would signal the testbench generator that it was ready to present the result.

Meanwhile, the testbench generator was computing the expected results in software, using the same algorithms implemented in the IP block. Once the hardware-assisted verification platform and the testbench generator completed their respective runs, they would compare their results and flag any differences that occurred as errors.

The design team was surprised that with the first exposure to the system it took them only two hours to get their IP block compiled into the verification platform and running correctly. With a few more weeks of effort, the team had implemented and debugged the transactor interface and had the system running at 15 MHz.

In the first few days, the designers identified 25-30 new bugs in the design, which had escaped detection using simulation without hardware-assistance. In the five weeks to follow, they ran the hardware-assisted verification platform 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, generating hundreds of thousands of additional test cases. Through these runs, they found four additional bugs that were obscure corner cases related to specific sequences of commands. These bugs would have surfaced during product testing, but would have necessitated ASIC respins at a cost of $500,000 or more.

The designers of this hard disk drive manufacturer plans to continue running additional test cases on their hardware-assisted verification platform 24x7 until the resource is needed for another project. Since it takes only one hour per week to kick off new jobs and check the results of the previous runs, there is little reason not to run the additional tests for added confidence. Their hardware-assisted verification platform has become the keystone of their design strategy.

Article Source:- http://www.edadesignline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192200261

Read more »

Top 6 Tips on Using Bluetooth Enabled Printers

Wireless connectivity just got a whole new meaning with the advent of Bluetooth technology. It enables you to achieve hassle-free mobility and so doesn’t restrict you geographically. Best of all, you don’t need to worry about printing issues – no matter where you are.
Tips on printing using Bluetooth

Using a Bluetooth adapter can convert any printer into a Bluetooth enabled one. However while using any Bluetooth enabled printers, it is important to know a few basics. In this section we elaborate on these.

1. Limited range: With Bluetooth enabled printers, you’ll find that range is an issue. The range of distance within which printing is possible is from about 30 to 330 feet. This of course would depend on the hardware configuration. The higher the range the more the power needed, which could drain out your battery in the long run.

2. Printing from the mobile: There are times when you just have to print that gorgeous picture or that document from your hand-held PDA to a Bluetooth enabled printer. In such cases, what you need to do is: search for your Bluetooth enabled printer on your mobile phone. You might find it in the option called BT (Bluetooth) Discovery. On clicking this, it will show all the available Bluetooth devices. Then you can select the printer and hit on “Print”. However be careful, as the Discovery stage makes your phone or handheld device accessible to anyone and everyone within your vicinity. Therefore it can be susceptible to hacking. Be sure to switch off the Bluetooth mode once you’re done printing.

3. USB ports: Some printers have what is called the Pictbridge USB port which is compatible with any Bluetooth adapter. This makes printing from any Bluetooth device easier. Pictbridge is a hardware interface technology that enables your printer to access and print images and files from your mobile or PDA. To perform Pictbridge printing you need to:

a. Connect the USB device

b. Wait till both the devices recognize each other

c. Select from the menu that appears, the set of images or files you want printed

d. The menu also offers options to change the size, layout and resolution of the images

e. Select ‘Print’

4. Hacking: Make sure you avoid setting your Bluetooth enabled device to a ‘discoverable mode’. This makes it possible for your IP address to be known by any person with malicious intent. Often such attacks are directed at mobile phones, PDAs and computers. Hackers usually connect to your PDA or mobile by using fictitious names that are familiar to you. Therefore if you connect even once to their device, chances are, the hackers can keep connecting to your device and use it for malicious purposes – like sending a virus, crashing your operating system or even deleting important files.

5. Enable encryption: For security reasons, it’s best to always enable encryption for any Bluetooth transfer that you may make. In order to enable encryption in any Bluetooth enabled device, you need to use the Bluetooth connection Wizard (usually present on Windows XP operating systems).

6. Keep firmware updated: It is also essential to ensure speed and agility in your mobile phone while printing through your wireless printers. To do this, ensure your mobile phone’s firmware is always kept updated.

This Article is written by James Kara Murat from PrintCountry.com, the contributor of PrintCountry Printer Ink Saving Tips. A longer version of this article is located at Top 6 Tips on Using Buletooth Enabled Printers, and some related resources can be found at PrintCountry Articles such as History of Epson Printers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Kara_Murat

Read more »

Using a Mobile Phone As a Modem For Accessing the Internet

What features and functionality should you understand in order to fully take advantage of accessing the internet via a mobile phone? Although this can appear complicated and involved ... a little information goes a long way to "keep it simple".
For the sake of discussion .... let's say you have a mobile handset with the following specifications:
Networks...
2G Network-GSM 900/1800/1900
3G Network-UMTS 2100
Data...
GPRS- Clause 10(4+1/3+2 slots),32-48 Kbps
3G-384 Kbps
You have configured the software application given with the phone on your laptop .... and once you connect the phone to the laptop using the USB connection you can access Internet. The settings used in the software application includes "call type=GPRS". The connection speed (downlink) is around 375 Kbps when checked through a freely available tool on the Internet .... and the phone's modem speed is shown as 460.8 Kbps all the time( on the network connection). Since your speed is less than 384 Kbps (3G speed is given as the phone's spec), you're likely using 3G. Since GPRS is also supported, when the 3G coverage is not available, you're probably able switch to GSM/GPRS.
Your service provider says they support EDGE,GPRS,3G and HSDPA/HSUPA.
Here's some questions you may ask .....
* What are the theoretical maximum speeds of EDGE,GPRS, 3G?
* What is actually meant by 3G here?
* What is the underlaying technology used by my phone?
* Which method is better to connect the phone to the laptop; Bluetooth or USB?
* Your phone spec says Bluetooth v1.2 and USB2.0 and you've heard that USB2.0 (480Mbps) is faster than Blootooth v1.2 (1 Mbps). Is this correct? Will it make any difference, since your connection from phone to the Internet is 375 Kbps?
Here's some feedback to help you work through such a scenario .... and the associated questions above:
For sure, the speed with USB 2.0 should be much better than that through Bluetooth (of any class).
3G is a network technology that should offer some extended data services in addition to the regular GSM features. However, I would recommend that you check with your service providers since they should have the exact specifications that you asked for.
Theoretical speeds for EDGE are up to 10 times those of GPRS. But again, since these depend on network configuration you need to check with the service provider.
Since your speed is less than 1 mb/s, frankly, it doesn't matter if you use bluetooth or USB - the speeds cited are correct. I would use what is most convenient for you.
In any case, the edge/hsdpa connection speeds are still slower than either Bluetooth or USB, so they will not bottleneck your speed. So as long as your battery isn't about to run out, you can connect however you choose to.
3G HSUPA is Third Generation High-Speed Uplink Packet Access - a 3G mobile telephony protocol, which offers increased data transfer speeds and capacity of up to 3.6 Mbps on the downlink and up to 1 Mbps on the uplink, under ideal conditions.
3G HSDPA 3.6 is a 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access mobile telephony protocol, which offers increased data transfer speeds and capacity of up to 3.6 Mbps on the downlink and up to 348Kbps on the uplink, under ideal conditions.
3G - Third Generation High-Speed Downlink Packet Access - offers increased data transfer speeds and ables customers to access the Internet and email from their cellphones.capacity of up to 1.8 Mbps on the downlink and up to 348Kbps on the uplink
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) or EGPRS provides data transfer rates significantly faster than GPRS or HSCSD. EDGE increases the speed of each timeslot to 48 kbps and allows the use of up to 8 timeslots, giving a maximum data transfer rate of 384 kbps.
HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data) enables data to be transferred more rapidly than the standard GSM (Circuit Switched Data) system by using multiple channels. The maximum number of timeslots that can be used is four, giving a maximum data transfer rate of 57.6 kbps (or 38.4 kbps on a GSM 900 network). HSCSD is more expensive to use than GPRS, because all four slots are used simultaneously - it does not transmit data in packets. Because of this, HSCSD is not as popular as GPRS and is being replaced by EDGE.
GPRS - General Packet Radio Service is a mobile data service available to customers with GSM cellphones. With a GPRS connection, the phone is "always on" and can transfer data immediately, and at higher speeds: typically 32 - 48 kbps. An additional benefit is that data can be transferred at the same time as making a voice call.
I would recommend using USB as it is faster then Bluetooth. You will not have a bottleneck created by the bluetooth link.
Regarding the underlying technology ...
When you phone is connected to a 3G network it will be using W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) W-CDMA is the higher speed transmission protocol as used in the UMTS system, it is a third generation follow-on to the 2G GSM networks deployed worldwide.
When you phone is on 2G GSM it is using a form of TDMA (time division multiple access).
Again .... the main message is this: Wherever possible, simplify and make it convenient for you!
Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lemm

Read more »

Connecting Your Mobile Phone To Your PC

There are many benefits to connecting your phone to your PC. Thanks to the two technologies being merged now, you can enjoy more ease by using your mobile with your PC.
In this article, you will find:
Benefits of Connecting Your Mobile Phone To Your PC
Ways of Connecting Your Mobile Phone To Your PC
What You Need To Be Able To Connect Your Mobile Phone To Your PC
Benefits of Connecting Your Phone To Your PC
By connecting your PC and mobile phone together, you gain access to simplifying life. Your mobile may be too small to allow you to write a long text with ease, but connecting your PC and your cell phone, allow you to write your text with your PC's keyboard! This is not the only benefit, in fact more and more benefits are being found now.
You can transfer play lists between phone and PC. You can backup your pictures and video. You can use your phone as a gateway for internet access, if you find there is no connectivity on the home phone line. You can even control your PC with your phone, and use your mobile phone as a top end web cam! All these obviously depend on what your phone and the software capabilities are.
* Ways of Connecting Your Mobile Phone To Your PC
You have several options of how you can connect your PC to your cell phone. Again all of the connection options depend on your phones capabilities.
Most phones allow you to connect via infrared to your PC. However, connecting with infrared to your computer does have drawbacks. You may need to buy extra equipment to be able to connect your mobile phone to your PC with infrared. Also the transfer speeds a very slow compared with many connecting technologies available on phones today. Infrared connectivity also does have its limitations. For example, you can not use your mobile as a web cam, as the speeds of infrared are too slow.
Bluetooth is a faster technology than infrared. There are many advantages to Bluetooth that make it a good way to connect your cell phone to your computer. The first is that of the speed, next is the ease with which you can connect to your PC and start transferring files. The downside is that not all computers come equipped with Bluetooth connectivity. So, you may need to buy a device for your computer that enables Bluetooth on your PC. They are easy to find and the cost is very low, in most cases.
The de-facto choice of the person who wants connectivity with ease and offer many other benefits is via USB connectivity. All new computers come with USB, and most new phones offer USB connectivity, which is a match made in heaven! You can simply get a phone, which in most cases comes with the software to start using your PC with your mobile phone. You also get a USB cable with your phone, so from the get go, you can start connecting! Some phones may not have this option however. I have found many of the Sony Ericsson range of phones and other brands do give you all you need to start connecting your mobile phone to your PC.
* What You Need To Be Able To Connect Your Mobile Phone To Your PC
In the case of a USB enabled mobile phone, and a fairly new computer with USB available, connecting your PC and phone should be an easy task. The first thing you need is the phone, the USB cable, the software and a PC with USB enabled functionality.
After you install the software, connect the cables and set the phone up, you are ready to start using the benefits of mobile and PC connectivity! Now when your phone needs charging and you can not find the charger, you can charge your phone up, thanks to your PC and USB!
Trying to source Sony products? Find the best in Sony at the best prices, and the information you need to get the best products. You resource to find Sony Erricson Phones, Sony Viao laptops, and Sony Canada for Canadian visitors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Koz_Huseyin

Read more »

Deciding On A VOIP USB Phone

01. The advent of the Internet made communicating with the rest of the world extremely easy. Instead of having to pay through the nose for a long distance phone call that lasts five minutes, an individual could simply type out an email message and send it to his or her friend's inbox in an instant. However, that technology has now gone one step further. You can now make actual voice calls over the Internet using a USB phone or headset. VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and is one of the newer mediums of communication that involves opening a connection and dialling another user in order to have a conversation. It has revolutionized the way in which we communicate today and has made life easier for many businesses.

02. In terms of being able to make calls, you only need four pieces of equipment to get starter - a computer, software, the capability to connect to the Internet and a USB headset or phone. The latter is very important if you want to be able to talk to people on the other end! The majority of new computer operating systems have the ability to accept USB connectivity, thus making the USB device the device of choice.

03. A USB handset seems to be the choice of many a user for a number of reasons, including the following:

04. They are relatively cheap - USB headsets and headsets can be relatively expensive when it comes to purchasing a way and means of talking over the Internet. They are extremely fashionable and extremely desirable for business owners because they promote efficiency. As a result, USB phones happen to be a lot cheaper. They can be purchased for next to nothing in various stores. They do not have the operating system attached to the phone like a landline does, and that is what pushes up the overall cost. A USB phone therefore is less in terms of cost but you can get just as much out of it!

05. Tried and tested method of calling - Everyone knows how to use a phone. It is not difficult because the mechanism on every single phone is roughly the same. Sure, they have different features and can take a little figuring out as a result, but they are all basically the same. This makes the transition that little bit easier.

06. Ease of connection and use - With a phone, you just plug it in to the computer's USB drive, place the appropriate installation disk into the disk drive, follow the instructions and away you go! It really is that simple. If problems do occur, they can usually be solved b reading the troubleshooting section of the manual.

07. Personal comfort - The majority of people prefer to have a phone than a headset at their disposal. As we actively rebel against change, the phone is the best option because it will make the process of Internet calling much simpler an easier to get used to as a result of the familiarity.

08. VOIP is definitely the new trend in terms of easy communication and the USB phone definitely has its advantages and benefits, but how do you decide between those available for purchase on the market? If USB phones are associated with all of the benefits above then surely the brand and model you choose cannot make that much difference to you calling experience? Believe it or not, they can!

09. There are a number of things that separate the individual USB phones from each other and make it that little bit easier to choose between them, including:

10. The features - As with every technological innovation, some phones are better than others in terms of features. Some have the same functionality and capabilities as more advances telephones in that they have inbuilt volume controls, mute functionality, address book and so on. However, the majority of them do not have features quite this advanced yet and are simple to operate. Your choice would depend on how comfortable you are using a more complex USB phone. Consumer reviews may help you to decide what you do need and what you do not need, as well as how much you are willing to give up in terms of convenience and ease of use for features.

11. The system requirements - Some USB phones have certain system requirements. The general rule is that older systems cannot sustain the new phone systems, but newer computer packages should give you access to the whole range.

12. Visual appeal - Of course, the visual appeal of a VOIP phone always plays a part! If you like the look of a phone then you will be more likely to use it! As a race, humans are shallow so of course this will affect your choice.

13. Pricing - Some USB phones are much more expensive than others. This may play a part in your decision if you happen to be on a tight budget. Always compare pricing before you choose your phone because the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive is vast!

14. Deciding on a USB phone may not be easy but making the right decision can make the difference between enjoying the experience and truly hating it. Of course, this could then be the difference between using VOIP and returning to your regular landline connection!

Dola Raheem is the author of several articles on Communication, Technology, and Voip Phone System Check out his website at http://www.jmdcomputer.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dola_Raheem

Read more »

How Does Email-Faxing Work

The very first Email fax was started on 1997. On June 24, 1997 - PSI Net, the first commercial ISP introduced Internet Paper(SM) a service that sent documents from your desktop PC to any fax machine on the planet through the Internet. Nowadays with the rapid growth of Internet users worldwide, Email fax has become one of the latest technologies that change how people connect to each other. By implementing Email faxing software, users can turn hard copy documents into Email attachment or vise versa, receive hard copy fax in Email format. The appearance of Email faxing reduces the faxing cost greatly and provides a powerful alternative for those that cannot afford a faxing machine.

So how does email faxing works?

To send an Internet fax, the user needs to create an email account. The fax content can be written in the body of the email, and attachments are normally permitted. The destination fax number is entered in the ‘To’ field, along with the Internet fax service name (efax for example). For example, if the fax number were 1-555-234-5678, the email would be addressed to 15552345678@efax.com. In the subject·field, user will need to input the recipient name, for example: Attn: Mr. Fax.

Receiving Internet faxes is even easier. If you are using Internet fax number, you will receive faxes as email attachment; if you are using conventional fax machine, your faxes will be receive from your fax machine just as others. Because Internet fax is sent in email form via the Internet - you can access your faxes wherever you have the Internet. This is ideal for mobile professionals, business travelers and for the ordinary person on vacation!

What are the options for Internet fax?

In the past year and a half, several vendors have produced and are selling Internet faxing services. There are several different flavors of this idea. There are companies that offer software only solutions that allow you to fax directly from your computer to any fax machine; and there are services offer fax-to-IP Internet gateway products, which are hardware-based routers that emulate a fax machines.

Faxing services that use software (for example eFax) require that you sign up with fax service provider. Using this software makes faxing as easy as printing. These services are good for companies that primarily send outgoing faxes from their computers.

The advantages of using this method are that faxing becomes considerably cheaper because you are not making long distance connections over the phone lines, no hardware is required, you get faster transmission, you can send many faxes at once, no dedicated fax lines are needed, and a web interface is available if you wish to add fax-on-demand capability to a website.

The disadvantages are documents must be sent from your computer. With these services, there is no support for fax-to-IP gateways.

While for fax-to-IP Internet gateway products you will need a hardware based routers that emulate a fax machines. With these, faxing is done in the regular way using the fax machine, but the gateway device, which then dials the destination fax machine and sends the fax, interrupts the process.

This service is good if you don't send a lot of faxes, but would still like to take advantage of the savings of using Internet delivery. It is also good if you do a lot of international fax calls. The disadvantages are that you won't save much on either domestic faxing, or faxing to countries where the Internet infrastructure is less well developed.

Conclusions

Wrapping things up, Internet services are one of the online services that can beneficial greatly to your business or personal expenses. Consider the scenario with a company purchasing a traditional fax machine, an extra phone line with a company settle its faxing needs with just a PC and Internet faxing account -- the savings will be significant if you go with an Internet Faxing service. So if you are one of those who are using conventional faxing machine day and night, why not spend 10-15 minutes check out Internet faxing at http://www.myinternetfax.biz.

The author, Teddy Low, is an experience writer and webmaster on Internet. Teddy strongly recommend business owner to send fax via email as the service will save up the faxing cost greatly.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teddy_Low

Read more »

Searching For the Best VoIP Phone Providers

Telephones occupy a higher plane in the scheme of modern telecommunications technology. One of the most important modes of remote communications, it presents people with a convenient and easy way to touch base with anyone who is not with them. Because of its importance, almost every home in the United States owns at least one line, while there is always a phone ringing in offices and businesses at any time of the day.

A newer, but still equally vital, communications channel is the Internet. Developed in the second half of the 20th century, its usage has caught wildfire in the last couple of years, effectively breaking some of the long-held traditions of doing things.

E-mails and instant messaging (or chatting) are used by top-level executives and rank and file employees. The Internet is also heavily used for sharing files, research, on-line shopping, and entertainment purposes.

Its primary purpose, however, is still communication.

A few years ago, the Internet-based phone service called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) became a huge thing in the market. Considered a breakthrough in the communications technology, it has since won over subscribers and customers looking for an affordable way of connecting with friends and family, and of conducting business. Some people have even cut their telephone lines and shifted to VoIP.

VoIP is popular because it works just like your conventional telephone. However, VoIP relies on the Internet to transmit and receive audio data, in the process converting your voice digital audio data. This means that you will receive and transmit clearer digital audio data at a much faster rate.

The fact that it uses the Internet to transfer and receive digital data, makes VoIP calls much cheaper than the conventional landline phone calls. With the landline phone, a five-minute call can cost a lot of money. Internet voice calls of the same duration costs a fraction of the landline charges. Some VoIP phone providers even offer free long distance and overseas call.

Besides free phone calls, VoIP providers usually throw in extra phone features, such as three-way calling, caller ID, audio conferencing, video conferencing, call waiting and return call, in the package. Traditional phone companies also offer these services, albeit, with extra cost.

If you are interested in getting VoIP installed in your home, get in touch with the VoIP service providers nearest you. There are quite a number of VoIP service providers, so it is best to study all their packages and choose the one which suits your needs and requirements best. Even with you scrutinizing each provider, there is no guarantee that the one you chose will deliver what it promised in its sales pitch.

With many providers offering a trial period (usually 30 days), you may now test the quality of their services. If you are not satisfied, you can simply inform the company that you are no longer interested to use their services. If you do this within the trial period, you will be refunded.

Here are some things that can guide you in choosing the right provider. Look for one that offers maximum benefits to their clients, including free ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), free or low cost IP phones, among other things.

For the best outcomes, choose the company trusted by your community. You can confer with your friends, colleagues to find out which service provider offers the best ones.

Aricle by Jessica Bradbury, you can learn more at her site on VOIP information, including VOIP phones.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Bradbury

Read more »

IP Phone Services

IP Phone service allows you to make phone calls through Internet. You can reach anybody with a telephone number whether it’s a local, international or mobile number. Some services work only on the computer or through a special IP Phone while some others work even on the traditional phone with the help of an IP adaptor.

Apart from the Internet service charges there are no extra charges involved for the calls. There are a number of services that provide this kind of almost free IP calling. The most popular of them are Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Skype, The Globe and Google Talk. However these free services have certain limitations. They require computer network and Internet or a special IP Phone.

There are many companies which provide commercial IP Phone services. Names of the service providers, their service features and tariffs are available on-line. These services allow an IP call even through the traditional phone lines. They connect an IP router, which is connected to the main router or the broadband modem at the service provider’s place, with the existing regular phone box at the customer’s place. This facilitates IP calls from a traditional phone even without computer network and Internet connection. But the problem is that when the computer network goes down there is no phone facility either.

The service provider charges for giving the connection. These charges include initial installation charges and the regular monthly service charges and or per call charges. The basis of charges differs from provider to provider. Some charge depending on the distance whereas some charge a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes irrespective of the distance. Some offer unlimited calls and unlimited talk time for a fixed monthly payment.

There are so many companies with varying service options and tariffs. Before choosing a particular service one should check the price range, features available and whether any technical support is offered. Also, one should check whether any emergency services are also provided and whether the IP phone number is portable with the existing landline number.

Even the paid IP Phone services are much cheaper than the regular phone call charges and prove especially economical for long distance calls. Due to the price war among the IP Phone service providers the customers can expect even more competitive prices.

There are only federal taxes on IP Phone services. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates IP Phone services in USA, ruled that individual states have no jurisdiction to impose taxes on IP Phone services. This single point taxation helps the IP services stay cheap. Also, there might be only minimum regulation of these services for some time to encourage investment in broadband services.

IP Phones provides detailed information on IP Phones, IP Phone Services, Wireless IP Phones, IP Phone Systems and more. IP Phones is affiliated with VOIP Phone System.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside

Read more »

How VoIP Phones Can Connect You to Anywhere in the World

A technological communication breakthrough, the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can let you have voice conversations through a broadband Internet connection or any Internet Protocol-based network instead of a regular phone.

The other terms for the VoIP are: IP telephony, broadband telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband or broadband phone.

There are advantages in choosing to use VoIP over the standard phone line. You automatically receive phone calls once you get connected to the Internet, regardless of the network that you are using. Even during phone conversations, you can still access the other programs in your computer.

VoIP is also possible during road trips, you just use a mobile phone that can connect to the Internet. Incoming calls to your home will be treated as local calls wherever you connect to the Internet.

VoIP to VoIP calls are usually free of charge, which is a good advantage. But the VoIP user would be charged if he or she makes a VoIP to PSTN calls.

Stable Internet connection for VoIP service users is another advantage. This ensures faster access and delivery of good quality voice data.

There are other features in the VoIP services that are not available with the traditional analog phones. These include video conversation, conferencing, sending or exchanging files parallel to the conversation, managing your address book and more.

How does VoIP work? Through the VoIP service, your voice is converted to digital signals that pass through the Internet connection to a destination that you choose. Also, through this service, you can make calls by a computer or a VoIP phone. In case the computer is turned off, the standard phone line can be used to make and receive calls.

An important requirement obviously is that VoIP users should have a high speed broadband Internet connection.

The VoIP phone is plugged directly into the broadband connection and this can already be used just like any other traditional phone. But if you want to use your traditional telephone, you will need to connect it to a VoIP adapter. The dial tone will then be provided by the service provider. Remember that you would need the VoIP software and a microphone when you use the computer to make phone calls.

How does the VoIP system work for long distance or local calls? You would need an area code that may be different from the area code of where you reside.

This code would determine whether calls are long distance or local calls. If the person calling you is outside the area or the service covered in your VoIP, he will be charged for a long distance call.

But this could differ, depending upon the terms set by the VoIP service provider. There are some service providers who charge a fixed rate for a certain time limit regardless of the distance between you and who you call.

Who can you call with your VoIP service? This information would depend on the terms, conditions and services available of your VoIP service provider.

But you can call anyone who has a telephone or mobile number and this includes local or long distance calls. The person you are calling will no longer need any special device other than his phone to receive your VoIP call. You can also make simultaneous calls or conduct video conferences, again, depending on the terms and service of the VoIP provider.

One disadvantage of VoIP phones is that during power outage, some services are not available so some VoIP providers provide backup power. Another disadvantage is that you have be constantly connected to the Internet to make and receive calls.

But you can divert the call to an analog phone or mobile phone if you do not want to miss any incoming calls. You can also activate your voice mail box so your messages can still be received even when you can no attend to them.

It is advisable that you choose a VoIP service provider that offers the directory assistance or white page listings because not all service providers offer this feature.

Also, check with the provider if they can directly connect you to the emergency service 911. Nonetheless, calling 911 through your VoIP phone will be treated differently from that using the traditional phone. But what matters is that you are able to readily seek help at times that you need it.

Connection to any place around the globe is possible with the use of a VoIP phone.

Article by Randi Reese, you can learn more at her site on business VoIP and residential VoIP Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randi_Reese

Read more »

What is a VoIP Phone Service?

VoIP is a service where voice data is transferred over the Internet just like normal Internet data traffic. VoIP is also known as Internet Telephony or IP telephony. When the Internet connection is a broadband connection, VoIP is usually referred to as Broadband Telephony. Whatever be the terminology used, VoIP phone service is a method of providing voice communication using the Internet infrastructure.

VoIP Phone Service uses the existing infrastructure already installed for the Internet and speech signals converted to digital audio are sent in the form of packets. VoIP services can be interfaced with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and calls can be made to another computer, mobile phone VoIP phone or an ordinary telephone.

The services provided by VoIP are similar to those provided by PSTN with call forwarding, call waiting, caller identification, automatic redial and conference call facilities on offer. VoIP has an advantage over regular telephony in terms of security - the audio content is split into multiple pieces of very short duration and sent over the Internet as packets. The packets need not be received at intermediate points in sequence. It is very difficult for anyone to intercept a conversation being carried on VoIP.

VoIP has become very popular over the last few years as it has become a low-cost voice communication solution with wide user acceptance and a large consumer base. The service providers do not have to bear the expenses of installing infrastructure in the form of cables and switching equipment as the Internet infrastructure is already in place. In PSTN, the service provides is required to digitize voice and transmit the data after conversion to digital signals. The Internet infrastructure already carries signals of this nature and this reduces the cost for service providers significantly. This extends VoIP telephone services to the customer at much more economical rates than PSTN.

Another benefit of VoIP service is that it makes your physical location immaterial. All you need is access to a computer to be able to call any number of your choice, even international numbers for the cost of a local call.

There are downsides to VoIP services - Internet traffic is inherently unreliable in nature and in congested networks, the chances of dropped packets are very high. In such conditions, dropouts in conversation are inevitable. This is in contrast to the dedicated and reliable channel of communication provided by PSTN. For the same reasons, VoIP telephone services are unable to match the Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees provided by the PSTN.

Ms. Pinky is a Computer Support Specialist for more than 25 years. Has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, MS Research work in Systems Engineering.

Get more free computer tips on her blog at http://jmdcomputer.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pinky_Mcbanon

Read more »

Eliminate PBX headaches with 3CX IP Phone System!

Evolve your communications with 3CX Phone System for Windows - an IP Phone System that completely replaces your proprietary PBX, supports standard SIP soft/hard phones, VOIP services and traditional PSTN phone lines. 3CX Phone System is far less expensive than a traditional PBX and can reduce call costs substantially by using a VOIP service provider. Its web-based administration makes phone system management easy. 3CX Phone System eliminates the phone wiring network and allows users to hot desk simply by taking their phone.

Key Features:

• Complete phone system - Provides call switching, routing & queueing
• Purchase cost dramatically lower than a traditional hardware PBX
• Scaleable - Unlimited extensions and phone lines. No proprietary expansion modules needed!
• Web based configuration & status indication - Easy phone system management!
• Unified messaging - Receive voice mail via e-mail
• Auto attendant (e.g. 1 for sales, 2 for support, etc.)
• Reduce long distance and inter office call costs
• No more expensive proprietary system phones - Use standard SIP phones
• Eliminate the phone wiring and make moving offices easier
• Out of the box configuration for many VOIP providers

Article Source: http://www.3cx.com/phone-system/

Read more »

EPBAX-DIGITAL KEY TELEPHONE SYSTEM

A Quality Product from
NABAR COMMUNICATION & OFFICE AUTOMATION PRODUCTS PVT.LTD.
Pune - India

Description :
This efficient digital system offers you a vast range of telephony features & modern telecommunication features. FEATURES:- *MONEY SAVING FEATURES-Online Advice of charge, Auto call disconnection, Call Budgeting, Dynamic STD lock, Direct call billing in rupees. *FACILITIES OFFERED- Auto redial 99 times, Paging on key phone, Caller line identification, Caller name & extn. no. on display, Conference upto 3/8 parties, Background music, Direct outward station access, Direct station selection.*NET WORKING FACILITIES-ISDN features, magneto trunk connectivity.*Efficient OFFICE MANAGEMENT- Versatile ASMDR, Power failure transfer, Programmable class of service, Multiple attendant''s Console. *CALL ANSWERING FACILITIES-Absent message text, Multi level voice, Auto answer/ Auto off, Numeric messaging, Voice mail connectivity. *HOSPITALITY FEATURES-Check in, Check out, Temporary check in/out, Room shifting, Message reminder, Alarm with message/music, Computer connectivity.

Article Source: http://telecommunication.indiabizclub.com/catalog/756~epbax-digital+key+telephone++system.~pune

Read more »

Small Business And Home Office Pbx

A good communication system is vital for the success of any business organization. So it will be a wise choice to maintain a PBX system for your small business and home office in order to keep in touch with your clients and business associates round the clock.

Economic Alternative to Enhance Your Business Communication The PBX phone system can be easily incorporated into your existing telephone lines. It is an affordable option that will help enhance your business communications. It is different from the traditional PBX system, in that it is not necessary to purchase and mount any expensive PBX hardware at your site. The services are offered by the service providers through a hosted server and so you are charged only minimum monthly service charges. In addition, you are also free from all the hassles involved in maintaining and upgrading the system.

A Phone System that Can Impart a Big Corporate Image

The PBX phone system intended for small businesses is integrated with advanced features which will help them acquire a corporate image. The system includes all the sophisticated features of the traditional phone system such as auto attendant, call transfer, call screening, caller ID, find me follow me call forwarding and lots more. With the support of the auto attendant feature, all incoming calls are welcomed with a professional sounding greeting message. The find me follow me call forwarding feature in the PBX phone system is a guarantee against missing important calls, as this facility makes use of the alternate list of phone numbers provided by you and redirects the calls to those numbers.

Receive Calls from Anywhere

The main advantage of using a hosted PBX system for your small business and home office is that you can accept calls irrespective of your geographic location, as the extensions are not associated with a phone in the office, but with an individual. And this helps to manage your business more efficiently. Moreover, the entire procedure of call transfer will be unknown to the clients. The small business and home office PBX system unites several employees who are at different locations by means of a single phone number.

By: John Kinskey

Article Sounrce: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Small-Business-and-Home-Office-PBX/679018

Read more »

Automated Pbx Telephone Support System

An automated PBX telephone support system is much sought after by small and medium sized businesses looking for advancement. Such a system facilitates smooth handling of the large number of incoming and outgoing calls within an office structure. PBX or a private branch exchange can be customized according to the requirements of a particular business or corporate.

Characteristics of an Automated PBX Telephone System An automated office phone system enables automatic transfer of calls to the user’s extension phone lines without the need of a receptionist. It functions with the backup of a public switched telephone network and the internet and connects the users and callers within a home-based or remote business structure. The calls are effectively channelized to the appropriate extensions utilizing a range of advanced functionalities and custom menu options. Auto attendant, call forwarding, custom greetings, after hours answering, voicemail and other value added features distinguish an automated PBX telephone support system.

Means to Cut Down Telecom Rates

A PBX phone system comes with a variety of money-saving features. It eliminates the need for buying an on-site hardware system. Connections to different extension phone lines are given through a single connection, as well. Hence, the users can save the money that would have to be spent for onsite hardware maintenance, and for getting additional phone lines for each extension. Moreover, the provision for toll free numbers and local numbers is highly cost-effective.

Effective Call Management within an Office Network

Nowadays, business people prefer automated PBX supported phone system in their office space because of its effective call management features. You may be having employees working in different geographical locations. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, it enables easy call transferring services to different extensions of the concerned business establishment. The extension phone numbers can be a cell phone number, office number or any other personal number. This phone system enables all-time accessibility between the employers and employees as well as that with customers.

Highlights of an Automated PBX Telephone Support System

• Easy to manage
• Create well-established corporate image
• Establish virtual presence in multiple locations through local phone numbers
• Attract more customers through professional call attending service
• Scalable

By: Armstrong C

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Automated-PBX-Telephone-Support-System/674513

Read more »

Office Phone Systems With PBX Technology

Office phone systems with PBX technology help in the smooth running of any business establishment. These services are mostly used by small and medium sized businesses because these are less expensive than the conventional premise based communication systems. A PBX service can be obtained from a hosted PBX service provider. These systems come with disaster recovery capability; any damage to the public telephone network has little, if no impact on these systems.

Advanced Features of an Office Phone System with PBX Technology

A PBX office phone system enables any small/medium business firm to function just as a big corporate. The auto attendant service in it greets the callers with a professionally recorded welcome greeting. The calls are efficiently handled; without even giving a busy signal, the calls are routed to multiple departments of the office. Voicemail, caller ID, call transfer, find me follow me call forwarding and many more services are provided in such office systems. These also come with a host of menu options such as dial by extension, dial by name and zero out to live operator.

PBX Phone Systems Have the Following Significant Characteristics

• Can be easily installed
• Eliminate phone cable connections
• Affordable
• Superior customer service features
• Improve business productivity

Find the Right Providers for Quality Services

Since these are the communication systems most sought after by business people, PBX phone systems enjoy great demand in the market. Before finalizing, you should compare the various plans that each provider offers such as direct receptionist, direct messaging, and direct enterprise. Understanding the needs of your small or large business environment, you can choose the right one.

Hassle-Free Service with Cutting-Edge Technology

A PBX technology supported office phone system comes without any additional equipment to install, unlike the traditional ones. Since these are web-administered office phone systems, multiple lines will be connected to the extension lines in your office. In short, an office phone system with PBX technology not only reduces the hassles of handling equipment, but also cuts down the extra telecom expenses.

AccessDirect is a leading service provider of small business Hosted PBX systems including: voice mail, toll-free and local phone numbers, and fax-to-email service. Our office phone systems with PBX technology can aid in the smooth operation of your small business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_K_Kinskey

Read more »

How a VOIP Hybrid PBX System Can Improve Your Business Communications

Today's business owners need to completely understand their current phone system before deciding if VOIP is right for them. Businesses that use older phone system technology may not appreciate how much money they're spending on long distance and phone company fees. VOIP and VOIP hybrid PBX systems have had a lot of publicity in the past few years, but are they the right choice for your business?

Positive Aspects Of VOIP

VOIP works completely different than traditional phone services because they do not rely on the phone company's copper wire network. Because of this, your company's monthly long distance charges are greatly reduced by using a VOIP phone system. Along with the decreased call charges, the costs to manage the network are nearly eliminated. VOIP offers may advanced calling features and enables your business's employees to access their phones while away from the office. Another advantage is that voicemail can be checked by telephone or computer.

Negative Aspects Of VOIP

The biggest problem with a VOIP system is its instability. If your company's internet connection goes down, the phone system will not work. Many companies cannot afford the chance that their phones will not work because they depend on phones for customer communication.

Positives Of A VOIP Hybrid PBX

VOIP hybrid PBX systems have become the best choice for small, midsized and big businesses. A VOIP hybrid allows the company to use the IP network and they won't need to pay long distance charges when talking with people all over the world.

The VOIP hybrid PBX systems allow companies to use either the traditional copper phone lines or the high speed internet for all their phone calls, unlike the VOIP system. The major advantage of this is that if the internet does go down, the company does not lose their phone system.

The dual capabilities of the VOIP hybrid PBX systems mean businesses save money on their long distance calls and that remote employees can have direct access to the main phone systems as if with a pure VOIP program. They also still have the security of a copper line system.

Ease Of Access With VOIP Hybrid PBX systems

Just like a VOIP system, a VOIP hybrid PBX system allows employees to use the company phone system with softphones. This means that employees can still receive telephone calls through the PBX system when they are working remotely or away from the office. Traveling or remote employees can use softphones to access their voicemail and can make their calls through the internet instead of the traditional phone system and will save money.

VOIP hybrid PBX phone systems use the internet for phone calls, which can save a significant amount of money like a pure VOIP system by combining the features of a VOIP system with the stability of a traditional copper phone line.

Brian Gatza is a leading distributor of Allworx and Talkswitch small business VOIP hybrid PBX phone systems.

Best Deal Allworx offers a variety of feature rich small business phone systems designed to improve efficiency and professionalism.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Gatza

Read more »