Modern Technology News

Toxic Mold Inspectors Health Effects And Scientifc Literature

2009-11-16T14:45:00.001-08:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Daryl Watters

We have recently seen that some mold inspectors are quoting the article titled "Indoor Mold, Toxigenic Fungi, and Stachybotrys chartarum" and other similar scientific articles to support the belief that toxic molds poison people in their homes. A link to the article is listed below. It looks as if the article is stating that toxic molds are very toxic to homeowners or even deadly. Mold inspectors who hastily review such articles come to such conclusions because they do not understand what the highly technical scientific article is talking about. This and other similar articles on the topic of toxic mold effects are discussing not what happens when a home owner breathes in mold spores released by Stachybotrys or other toxic molds. The article is talking about the effects of toxic mold toxins / mycotoxins when these toxins are eating in foods contaminated with toxic molds, or the effects of mold toxins when animals in the lab are injected with mold toxins directly into the body or nasal passages. Sometimes such articles site cases where industry workers were made ill by toxic mold exposure after working around clouds of organic dust and mold spores for extended periods of time. Such conditions contain millions of spores per cubic meter or air as opposed to the hundreds or thousands of spores encountered in most moldy homes and offices. This article may have been used by mold inspectors to support the view that toxic molds will poison you. In fact, this article and many others have been taken out of context. This article and other scientific articles like it support the view that there is no solid evidence that toxic mold will poison you when breathed in at levels found in even very moldy homes. Such articles do not typically state that it could never happen, but that there is not significant scientific evidence that mold in levels found in residential and office setting has poisoned people.

What Can Mold Do

Toxic or not toxic mold is not trivial, in fact mold growth in your home or office can cause serious non toxin related health problems such as severe allergy or asthma. Such conditions can be more serious and more debilitating than many people realize.

Mold can make your home uninhabitable for your family and nearly impossible for you to sell. Selling a home with a mold problem that you hide can easily get you and your Realtor sued. We have seen many homes, condos, and trailers, from Key West to Miami, and West Palm Beach empty because they were to moldy to live in and just entering the properties can be quite unpleasant.

Ignored mold problems can get worse over time and can become extremely difficult and expensive to resolve. Ignoring a mold problem can cause a two thousand dollar mold removal job to become a two hundred thousand dollar mold removal job.

Mold can cause flu-like symptoms in mold removal workers if they are not wearing proper protective gear.

Mold can cause serious and even deadly infections, but this typically occurs in persons who have a weak immune system. In 2006 we conducted an inspection for a Miami resident who had Aspergillus mold growing in her lungs, and in 2008 we conducted an investigation for a West Palm Beach lady who had just recovered from mucormycosis. This is a condition where fast growing molds grow in the sinuses. This condition is more serious than your typical sinus infection. In fact, it can lead to death in a few days.

Mold can create foul smelling microbial volatile organic compounds that in turn cause irritation resulting in allergy like symptoms and have been shown to increase a child's chances of developing asthma by 200%.

In conclusion current scientific literature does not support the belief that toxic black mold is a killer. However, mold of any kind in your house, given the right environmental conditions, has the potential to become a menace and cause serious allergy, asthma, and other related health problems.

The article is titled:

Indoor Mold, Toxigenic Fungi, and Stachybotrys chartarum: Infectious Disease Perspective D. M. Kuhn1,2,3 and M. A. Ghannoum2,3

Below is a link to that article; just copy and paste the link into your browser: cmr.asm.org/cgi/content/full/16/1/144#R40

About the Author:
Daryl Watters is president of A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc. Toxic mold questions? Our company offers toxic mold testing, and Black mold inspection services by a certified mold inspector. If you suspect problems with toxic black mold or Stachybotrys or just need help, advice, or facts, we have non-bias information regarding dreaded Stachybotrys. http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com/
http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/
http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/Mold_Allergy_Inspectors.html
http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com/toxic_mold.html

Read more Articles written by Daryl Watters.

Conserve the Forests with FSC Certified Wood Components

2009-11-13T02:00:00.001-08:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Melody Buller

A huge source of apprehension for those concerned with forestry issues: the illegal exploitation of natural forests. The Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) has gone to great lengths to address this problem. They ensure that wood bearing the mark "FSC Certified" was harvested under all applicable laws and treaties. Those flying the FSC banner are assured to be honest and environmentally friendly.

As a customer concerned with environment, social, and forestry issues, purchasing island legs made with FSC Certified wood simply makes sense. It showcases that concern and demonstrates a willingness to get involved. FSC wood is a statement of concerned citizens -- those who wish to maintain high standards and healthy forests.

When purchasing island legs, corbels and other wood kitchen components made from FSC wood, it is essential to know you are getting wood from a FSC certified wood supplier. These individuals have gone to great lengths to make sure that the wood their customers receive is of the utmost quality while meeting high environmental regulations.

FSC certified wood guarantees that products made from wood are built with great consideration for the environment. So, when a customer orders products in an FSC Certified wood type from Osborne Wood Products, the customer can know that they are ordering wood that - from the moment it stood in the forest to the moment it is shipped from our facility - has been harvested, milled, and assembled in ways that promote reforestation and responsible forest stewardship, and are generally eco-friendly.

Kitchen island legs, table legs, corbels, wood brackets and other FSC certified products can be easily incorporated into your kitchen or furniture. Cabinetmakers, custom builders, and furniture makers can all appreciate the wholesomeness of FSC. It means producing islands, tables, and other items with FSC wood means customers receive a more environmentally friendly product.

One small purchase may seem insignificant. But every great journey begins with a single step. By purchasing a product made of FSC components, you and other conservation-minded individuals are helping forest workers and communities maintain workers' rights, as well as social and economic well being. By purchasing FSC Certified wood, you, the customer, provide job security, and hope for communities whose main source of income is maintenance of natural forests around the world.

When FSC wood products are purchased, the customer is not simply receiving a higher quality of wood, they are receiving a product that reaches beyond their purchase. FSC wood customers are reaching needs far beyond their jurisdiction: they are literally helping those all over the world. FSC customers are helping preserve forests, guarantee jobs, and maintain a healthier environment.

About the Author:
Melody Buller is a Product Development Specialist at Osborne Wood Products Inc., a major supplier of custom wood products. Read more about FSC Certified products, and place your order online at http://www.osbornewood.com/fsc-certified-wood-products.cfm

Carry a TASER(r) C2 Stun Gun and Never Be Scared Again

2009-11-04T01:30:00.001-08:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Gerald Urban

If you are tired of being afraid because of rising crimes like rape and brutal assaults, arm yourself with a TASER C2 stun gun to protect you and your loved ones. Compact and easy to carry, they are self-defense electronic devices that will stop an attacker up to 15 feet away - that puts ample space between you and the assailant allowing you a safe distance to escape. Should a close encounter deem it necessary to use force, they also double as a contact stun gun to ward off an attack.

TASER technology provides one of the only non-lethal means of stopping an attacker dead in his tracks, even if that person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When you are dealing with an out-of-control aggressor, it's not always possible to aim for the face. A TASER C2 stun gun can be conveniently discharged to work anywhere on the body of your attacker, so you don't have to aim for one particular area. This makes the TASER(r) C2 a more effective self-defense option during an already stressful situation.

The TASER C2 stun gun works by adding a lot of electrical confusion to the nervous system: the electricity is delivered at a high voltage but low amperage, and can disable a human in seconds. Interfering with the body's electrical signals, the initial effect is interpreted as pain; however, muscle spasms, confusion, and inability to control movement quickly follow. The brain becomes incapable of interpreting the nerve impulses it's receiving and is unable to send out meaningful impulses to the rest of the body.

TASER devices have been used effectively in law enforcement encounters by over 10,000 police agencies in over 4 countries. Nearly 100% effective, the TASER(r) combines stun technology with a quantum leap in stopping power via Electro-Muscular Disruption or EMD technology.

Normal law-abiding citizens should have no problem acquiring this highly effective tool for self-protection purposes. However, to further promote responsible ownership, the TASER(r) C2 stun gun will only function after the owner completes a background check through the manufacturer to prevent misuse. As always, purchasers MUST be 18 years old or older.

TASER(r) C2 cartridges also have a unique serial number and are equipped with an Anti-Felon Identification system, which discharges 20-30 serialized paper tags when deployed. Law enforcement can later retrieve this confetti from the scene and contact TASER(r) International to get the name of the owner of the TASER(r) device, allowing police to track any potential misuse.

If the TASER(r) C2 stun gun is used in self defense, it can be deployed and left behind attached to and incapacitating the attacker while you get away. If you are forced to leave your TASER(r) behind, most companies will replace your unit free of charge. Check with your merchant to see if he offers this free replacement offer. More than likely, you'll need to get a copy of the police report documenting the incident and send it to the company that you purchased it from.

About the Author:
Written by Gerald Urban, a specialist in self-protection technology. You may think that you do not need his products, but bad guys never give us advanced notice of when you or a family member will need to be prepared against an attack. Don't wait to think about self-protection after an assault. Think about it now, and take action to defend yourself and protect your family today. Gerald owns http://www.urbansafetysolutions.com/ and http://www.urbanspycam.com/

Read more of Gerald Urban's articles.

The Most Popular Mold Testing Methods

2009-10-25T20:30:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Daryl Watters

Below are the five most widely used methods of taking mold spore samples from the air during mold inspections. They are used by scientists, industrial hygienists, and mold inspectors.

These mold testing methods have been proven over and over by time, legal trial, and third party scientific lab verification for reliability taking into account many complex factors related to aerodynamics and physics. Surface sample methods just do not provide as much quantitative info as the following 5 air sample methods.

1) An Air-O-Cell non viable spore trap with pump calibrated and run at 15 LPM typically run from 1 to 15 min.

2) A Micro5 non viable spore trap with pump calibrated and run at 5 LPM for 1 to 5 min.

3) A CyClex non viable impactor with pump calibrated and run at 20 LPM for 1 to 10 min.

4) A CyClex-d non viable spore trap with pump calibrated and run at 20 LPM for 1 to 10 min.

5) A single stage viable impactor plate, such as an Andersen Impactor or one of it's exact duplicated clones (such as an Aerotech 6, or ems E6 with a pump calibrated and run at 28.3 LPM for 1 to 5 min.

The Cyclex from method # 3 above is not used as much as some other methods because it requires a larger up front investment on the part of the mold testing firm. $400.00 one time purchase of a reusable sampler as apposed to the free one time use plastic cassettes provided y labs. In addition to testing 200 liters of air with each sample the CyClex sampler developed by Environmental Monitoring Systems also has a cut off diameter (d50) the size of the smallest spores, this means tiny pen / asp spores just 2 or 3 microns across do not pass through the device and escape unnoticed. Also, the Cyclex typically samples 200 liters or 1/5 of a cubic meter of air, thats a good amount for an air sampler, the more air sampled the more statically reliable the results.

The first four methods above are non viable spore traps, this means that live and spores are collected in the sample device to give an idea of the total estimated number of spores per cubic meter of air. This sampling method does not miss spores. This is very important because often spores can be allergenic or potentially toxigenic, regardless of whether they are live.

The fifth method above is used for viable air testing. It is not as widely used by mold inspectors because like the CyClex it to has a higher initial investment in equipment around $500.00 for a stainless steel impactor plate with 400 tiny precession drilled holes, as apposed to a simple plastic air testing cassette provided for free by the lab. Also, viable sample results have a longer turn around time 7 to 10 days as apposed to about 3 days for viable methods. Viable sample means that only live mold colonies from live spores or live colony forming units are counted. Though this method does not allow the counting of spores, it is a very important and respected sampling methodology used by professionals for around from the 1950's to the present. It allows for the culture of live mold in the lab. Thus, entire colonies can be examined in the lab for more accurate identification of mold types, sometimes even to the species level.

Indoor v.s. Outdoor Mold Spore Levels

The most widely accepted guideline across the nation to help determine if indoor mold spore levels are indicative of a possible mold problem is the comparison of indoor and outdoor mold spore levels. Indoor mold spore levels should be similar to or lower than levels found outdoors, and the types of mold spores found in indoor mold test samples should be similar to types found in outdoor test samples. The below listed organizations and governing bodies support the above comparison method and have determined that indoor mold spore levels should be similar in number and type to outdoor mold spore levels and types: NYC DOH, ACGIH 1989, Canada M&H CO. 1991, ACGIH 1993, OSHA 1994, and Brazil 2000.

About the Author:
Daryl Watters is president of A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc. He provides home, mold, and indoor air quality investigations in South Florida. He is also the creator of MIR forms designed to aid inspectors in the production of computer generated indoor air quality and mold inspection reports. For more information visit: http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com/
http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/Typical-Mold-Testing-procedures.htm
http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/South-Florida-Mold-Testing-Kits.htm

Is A Bipap Machine Right For You?

2009-10-25T13:00:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Chris Vasta

CPAP users have probably heard the term Bi-level, VPAP or BiPAP but are unclear about what it is and how it differs from a regular CPAP machine. Without getting too technical, there are a few key differences between a normal CPAP machine and the more complex BiPAP machine. As CPAP users are aware, a regular CPAP machine essentially prevents apneas by delivering a constant stream of air through a tube and into a face mask. This constant pressure helps keep the airway open and allows the user to breath normally. Although the BiPAP machine functions similarly to a regular CPAP for inhalation pressure (IPAP), it differs on the exhalation pressure (EPAP). On exhalation, the BiPAP machine delivers a pressure relief or drop to allow for patients to breathe more closely to their normal breathing pattern. This exhalatory pressure relief is especially noticeable for patients with prescribed pressures of 15cm or higher as it allows them to exhale without fighting against a strong constant pressure. The difference between the IPAP and EPAP or pressure support must be determined by a sleep study and has no limits. In fact, the EPAP pressure of a BiPAP can reduce to the machines lowest setting of 4cm. This function provides for a more comfortable CPAP experience and, thus, a higher compliance rate.

A more advanced device, a BiPAP ST machine, provides Spontaneous/Timed (S/T) therapy. This machine allows for the patient to breathe at their normal, pre-set respiratory rate. If the patient experiences an apnea or their breathing falls below the set rate, the device maintains the patient's ventilation with a timed breath. The Bipap ST device will actually initiate a breath during therapy which allows for the patient to receive a minimum number of breaths per minute Even more complex machines actually calculate ventilation and BiPAP pressure automatically

All major CPAP machine manufacturers have BiPAP machines but vary slightly in their algorithm and operation while still providing the basis pressure relief function. Also, as with all CPAP machines, any type of CPAP nasal, full face or nasal pillow mask will function with a BiPAP machine. Nevertheless, it is always important to discuss with your sleep specialist which type of machine or mask style is most appropriate. CPAP compliance is directly associated with comfort levels, so it is important to make sure both machine and mask are suitable and properly fitted for your particular situation.

A new Auto BiPAP we at The CPAP Shop are impressed with is the Resmed VPAP Auto 25. The main objective of this remarkably compact machine is to deliver effective therapy as naturally and comfortably as possible. This Bi-Level featuring Easy-Breathe, ResMed's new comfort technology, offers nearly silent therapy and greater pressure stability so patients sleep comfortably throughout the night. The Easy-Breathe technology synchronizes with the patient's normal respiration so breathing feels natural and comfortable. This device also uses AutoSet technology which automatically adjusts to a patient's pressure needs as they vary throughout the night. With ResMed's clinically proven AutoSet algorithm, the VPAP Auto 25 is able to detect flow limitation and act preemptively to prevent apneas and snoring events. An optional humidifier attaches to the front of the VPAP Auto 25 to provide heated humidification. The device automatically detects the presence of the humidifier and no other accessories are required for its use.

Respironics has also designed a Bi-Level machine which automatically adjusts to the patient's breathing cycles. The M Series Auto BiPAP features a proactive, multi-level algorithm that analyzes several parameters to monitor and respond to a patient's breathing. This BiPAP is the first device to combine auto adjusting pressure delivery with the breath-by-breath pressure relief of Bi-Flex. Bi-Flex softens airflow at inhalation and exhalation and allows for patients to further refine their IPAP and EPAP pressures making for an extremely natural and stress-free experience for patients. In Bi-Flex mode, patient adjustable pressure relief is provided at the critical stages of EPAP, IPAP, and exhalation. The Auto BiPAP also allows for fixed IPAP and EPAP and a function which transitions the machine to automatic during the night. As with all M series devices, it has an optional heated humidifier. Because dry mouth and nasal irritation are common reasons for non-compliance, the M Series Heated Humidifier features an easy-turn dial that is easily set to five different humidification levels.

Hopefully, this article has provided a clear, concise picture between the differing functions of a CPAP and a BiPAP machine. If there are further questions or need further information, please call our experts at The CPAP Shop.

The CPAP Shop is pleased to offer the following machines used for Bilevel therapy:

Resmed VPAP Auto 25

Resmed VPAP III

Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced

Respironics M Series Bipap Auto

Respironics M Series BipapPlus

Respironics Bipap ST

Puritan Bennett Sandman DUO and Duo ST bilevel

About the Author:
Written by: Chris Vasta of The CPAP Shop. Family owned and operated since 2003, we are CPAP specialists and our first priority is our customer and their satisfaction. We supply only the top manufacturers for CPAP machines and CPAP supplies. We are able to get the product you desire, answer questions you might have or make suggestions on new products. Please visit us at http://www.thecpapshop.com/ and become one of our thousands of satisfied customers.

Read more of Chris Vasta's articles.

Back To School With Laptops and Netbooks

2009-10-17T20:15:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins

"Back To School" is perhaps the most dreaded three word phrase in the English language for the majority of young people enjoying the last few days of summer. But for merchants and companies which cater to the student market, those three magic words are worth their weight in gold.

However, for many parents those words can produce mixed feelings, some look forward with guilty relief to having all that free time when they don't have to worry about their children; while other parents are worried about outfitting and supplying their little geniuses with the necessary tools to make sure they're not disadvantaged when it comes to learning.

In our computer obsessed world, one major part of that equation is making sure your school age child or even your college off-spring has a good quality laptop or netbook. More and more students are using these handy gadgets to great advantage to further their education. So much so, that many students, regardless of age, would feel lost in the classroom without a portable laptop computer of some kind.

In recent years, we have seen the introduction of netbooks into the student market. These small mini-laptops usually have displays of 10 inches or less, runs Windows or Linux and sells for well under $500. They were first introduced by Asustek in the fall of 2007 with the introduction of its Eee PC. Netbooks are now out-selling laptops in many markets.

Netbooks by their very design are very portable and mobile. These small compact lightweight computers are ideal for the student. Some very popular and highly rated netbooks makers include Asus, MSI, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer... and the list goes on.

Student laptops or laptops for students have always been targeted by laptop designers and makers. For a good student laptop you should look for a laptop that is or has the following features:

1. Sturdy

2. Lightweight

3. Portable

4. Secure

5. High Performance

6. Long Battery Life

And of course, another major consideration for most parents is price. Fortunately, laptop prices have steadily fallen in the last few years and it is now possible to even get a quality machine for under $500. However, to get the best performance laptop buyers will usually have to cough up more of their hard earned dollars.

HP and Dell Coupons

More and more parents and students are looking and shopping online to find their "back to school" laptop or netbook. Many laptop manufacturers offer special exclusive online deals to their affiliates and merchants. Especially online coupons from HP, Lenovo and Dell can save the cash-strapped parent or college student significant savings just by clicking a few links or placing in the appropriate coupon code.

In addition, many parents are turning to the web because they can find more variety both in the choice of laptops and in the choice of stores if you shop online for your laptop. Plus, by using the web, you can shop from the comfort of your home.

Perhaps, the only disadvantage is that you can't actually handle or "tire-kick" the notebook computer you're considering but now with countless online videos featuring your favorite laptop you can still get a pretty good idea of what your laptop will look like and how well it will perform by viewing these laptop review videos and virtual tours.

Fortunately, for any worried parent there is a wealth of student laptop information on the web which they can easily access to help them make the right choice when it comes to buying the best laptop or netbook for their children who are heading back to school. Just do a little homework of your own and your child will be properly "laptop enabled" to meet any challenges that may come their way.

About the Author:
For more information on Buying Student Notebook Computers and Laptops at Bargain Prices Click Here: Laptops for Students Or here: top rated netbooks

Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Which Full Face CPAP Mask is Best for You?

2009-09-13T20:45:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Chris Vasta

If you've been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, you are undoubtedly trying to narrow the choice of masks. If your mouth opens during sleep, one option would be full face CPAP masks. The full face CPAP mask is used to deliver pressure through both the nose and mouth. Trying to decide which full face CPAP mask to use can be complex and expensive. The number of mask options available is confounding. Based upon comfort, fit, good seal, and durability, we recommend the following three full face CPAP masks.

Resmed Ultra Mirage Full Face

The Resmed Ultra Mirage full face mask has been around for years and still proves to be a top performer. This mask utilizes a one piece silicone cushion that surrounds the nose and mouth and is positioned from the nose bridge to just under your bottom lip. A standard 4 point headstrap keeps the mask securely fixed to the face. The Ultra Mirage also has a silicone forehead support pad with four adjustment positions to help optimize comfort and fit. In talking to many CPAP users, this mask has an effective seal even at CPAP pressures of 17cmH2o through 20cmH2o. Parts are also readily available for the Ultra Mirage. As with all CPAP masks, the silicone cushion and headgear should be replaced every 6 to 8 months. If your CPAP pressure is higher than average and you are struggling to find an acceptable mask, the Ultra Mirage is a excellent choice.

Resmed Mirage Quattro Full Face

The Mirage Quattro is Resmed's fourth generation full face mask and is quickly becoming a favorite with many CPAP users. Although a few ounces heavier than the Ultra Mirage, the Quattro delivers a more customized experience. The two similarities between Ultra Mirage and the Quattro are the standard 4 point headgear and cushion placement on your face. A nice upgrade from the Ultra Mirage is with respect to the forehead assembly which Resmed terms the Micro dial. By turning the forehead Micro Dial, it allows users to easily and quickly adjust the forehead support for a personalized fit. The Mirage Quattro's MicroFit dial offers a choice of 24 positions on the forehead support to suit nearly every individual facial structure. The second important upgrade from the Ultra Mirage to the Quattro is the cushion itself. The Quattro utilizes a dual-wall cushion that resembles a flexible spring. The mask's Spring Air(tm) cushion technology accommodates movement during sleep and provides an effective solution for jaw drop. We have also had many CPAP users comment on the quietness of this mask. The improved vent design helps softly disperse the air. Like the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask, parts like the silicone cushion and the headgear are readily available

Resmed Mirage Liberty

The Mirage Liberty is a unique full face mask that seals individually at the mouth and nose using nasal pillows. The cushion that covers the mouth uses the same spring air technology as the Quattro. The soft dual wall silicone nasal pillows are slightly inserted into the nose to provide airflow. Because there is no forehead pad or assembly this full face mask utilizes a truly unobtrusive design with a clear field of vision. Patients who feel uncomfortably confined with a full face mask such as the Quattro and Ultra Mirage will enjoy the non- Claustrophobic features of the Liberty. This mask is also offered with multiple sizes all included with the mask package, which takes the guess work out of deciding which size nasal pillow to purchase.

In Conclusion

All Three Full Face CPAP masks make use of a standard size tube opening, which means there is no extra adapter part required and the tubing supplied with your CPAP machine will work effectively together. There are many CPAP full face masks and unfortunately most insurance companies will not always pay for a new mask when you need one. CPAP therapy will only be effective with continued use and using a full face CPAP mask that is comfortable and fits securely is essential. Hopefully, we have provided some insight and guidance into the choices and decision making to help you meet your sleep needs.

About the Author:
Written by: Chris Vasta of The CPAP Shop. Family owned and operated since 2003, we are CPAP specialists and our first priority is our customer and their satisfaction. We supply only the top manufacturers for CPAP machines and CPAP supplies. Please visit us at http://www.thecpapshop.com/ and become one of our thousands of satisfied customers.

Read more of Chris Vasta's articles.

Project Management Basics for Telecom

2009-09-08T23:30:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Nermine Shaker

Telecom projects, like any other project, need special attention if you want the project to be successful and done on a schedule. One way to proceed on a telecom project is to hire a telecom management professional to oversee the project. Another way is to use a project management software program. There are many software programs available that cover the many facets of project planning including document management, workforce management, time/expense management, client collaboration, custom forms, knowledge management, and certified email. Either way, due to the complexity of some telecom projects, it is vital to your success to use one of these options.

Since telecom projects can involve things like site selection, surveys, permitting, and a host of other things that have to be done in a certain order, project management is vital to a successful telecom project. If you are winging it, it is likely that your work will be less than desirable and you may end up with a bungled project and an unhappy customer or even worse - an unhappy boss.

What exactly is project management? It is the managing of skills and resources to accomplish a goal. There are project management principles that can be put in place, like a template, and worked through manually or you can opt for some great software that will guide you step by step through the process. The most important thing in managing a project is that everything needs to be in writing and available to everyone on the team and all that information needs to be updated constantly as events happen.

What's the Goal?

Let's take a look at what you are trying to accomplish with project management. First, you want to make sure that you know exactly what you and your workers are doing. Who are the customers and what do they need? What do they want and most importantly what do they expect? As a company with integrity that wants a long and prosperous future, you want to make sure that everyone is clear on these points. Getting a written agreement stating exactly what your customer wants and what you will provide would be a prudent move.

Assess Your Resources

Once you know exactly what your customer wants, you have to make sure that you are prepared to meet their needs. By prepared I am referring to having the time, resources and skills to give them what they want. This is where project management really begins.

Your project management will include planning, monitoring and following every activity involved in the project. You will constantly be reexamining all tasks and activities to make sure that you haven't missed anything important. This may sound difficult but once you are rolling, you will see just how using project management principles actually simplifies things. Also, once you commit to this process, I can almost guarantee that you will use some form of project management every time you work on a new project.

Planning

In the planning phase all of the known elements will be put in writing. Sound simple? Well, it might sound simple, but it is really a complex, thoughtful job. You will be breaking down the entire project into smaller segments or tasks. You will list all tasks and then put them in the order in which they need to occur. Then you will forecast scheduling of each task to the best of your ability and give an estimated completion date for each task and for the entire project. At this point you really need to look at possible risks; meaning things that might come up that could throw the schedule off. The planning phase really does need to be comprehensive. The more thorough your plans are, the easier it is to assess risks and forecast scheduling.

Scheduling

Hopefully, when you begin scheduling you will have a great team assembled and ready to go. You need to know who will be doing what and exactly when they will be doing it. Charting is mandatory in this process. A line chart showing the task and who will do it is effective here because you can put each objective on a timeline and visually capture when it is completed.

Monitoring and Re-Assessing

When the work begins, you will be the one monitoring and controlling the events. This is a crucial step that will save you time, money and embarrassment. You will measure the progress on your timeline and if you see that things are not occurring as planned, you will need to go back and make adjustments. Maybe you underestimated the time a task would take or maybe something unforeseen came up that you hadn't figured on in your risk assessment. If you are continually monitoring and adjusting, you will find that the project will progress at a nice, predictable rate and any customer would be happy with that. When all the smaller tasks are finished, you will have completed a large project with hopefully only a few problems along the way. Now you're ready for the next big project to manage.

About the Author:
Nermine Shaker is a Partner at THE SYGNAL GROUP, a telecom consulting firm that offers telecom expense management, telecom auditing and VoIP management to businesses of all sizes. Find out how to lower your telecom expenses at http://www.SygnalGroup.com/ or visit our blog at http://www.TelecomExpertise.com/

Read more of Nermine Shaker's articles.

How Do I Use An Online Fax Service?

2009-09-08T06:30:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins

Online or Internet fax has become an extremely popular service on the web. It is being used by more and more businesses and individuals who want a more mobile and a more secure way of faxing. Yet, many people still don't know exactly how online faxing actually works.

Like anything that is relatively new, it will probably take a while before this convenient service is widely known in the general population. Perhaps, the greatest stumbling block is that most people are so familiar with faxing via the old facsimile machine in the office; getting their heads around using the web for faxing will take some time.

However, just like email revolutionized how we send and receive our mail, so too has online fax revolutionized how we send and receive our faxes. Internet faxing is simply the more modern way to fax.

Actually, these two new communication methods are closely intertwined since online fax is basically using your email system and your Internet connection to do all your faxing. You send and receive your faxes as email attachments usually in TIFF or PDF format.

Remember, in order to use online fax you have to sign-up to an Internet fax service provider who will act as your intermediary to handle all your faxing. You will receive a local or Toll-Free number which you can give out to all your contacts. There is no need for an extra fax phone line. You will also receive an online site (account) where you can logon and do your faxing. Your faxes are also stored in this online account.

However, what confuses many people is the fact that you can send/receive your online faxes in many different ways including through the old traditional office machine. Your fax service will act as your intermediary to intercept your faxes coming from an ordinary fax machine and direct them to your online fax account.

You can also get desktop applications which will allow you to directly fax from your desktop. Most services will work with Windows Outlook and Windows Office. Finally, most services will let you send a fax by just sending an email, i.e. destination number(at)yourfaxservice.com - It doesn't get any easier than this.

Each fax service has slightly different procedures and methods so you have to become familiar with your chosen service. Also, each service will have different faxing rates and monthly fees, but most charge around $10 a month. There are less expensive services out there so it pays to shop around, especially when you consider this is a long term ongoing business expense.

The main reason why email or online faxing has become so popular is the total freedom it gives you. Since it is web based, you can send and receive a fax anywhere, anytime, as long as you have Internet access. You can use any mobile device such as a cell phone or laptop to do all your faxing. It totally frees you from being tied down to the old fax machine in the office.

Plus, your faxes can be encrypted so it is much more secure than the traditional way of faxing. And no one but you has to see your faxes since you have your own private access to your account. This is important if you have faxes of a sensitive nature which you want to keep private.

Lastly, another major reason online fax has become so popular, most faxing services are completely scalable for businesses. You can upsize or downsize depending on your company's requirements or needs. In this uncertain economy, having this flexibility is a major plus.

If you're not using an online fax service you may just be losing out on one of the most convenient ways of doing business. You really do need it if your business depends heavily on faxing for bringing in new sales and clients; besides you may be falling behind your competition who are probably already using this new more mobile way of faxing. Can you afford not to use Internet fax?

It's your call?

About the Author:
For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to get your own: online fax Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: internet fax services.

Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Hosted PBX - Is It Right For Your Company?

2009-09-02T18:15:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Nermine Shaker

Today there is a better alternative available to the traditional PBX phone. This alternative is hosted PBX systems. PBX stands for Private Branch eXchange. With traditional PBX, an incoming call can be routed through switchboard hardware to different extensions throughout the company. This hardware is usually kept somewhere on company premises.

When a call is placed to a company with a hosted PBX service, it goes to the carrier's central office, gets processed through the hardware at their site and then it's sent to your phone extensions. So, Hosted PBX is an IP-based PBX (Internet Protocol) service that is hosted by someone else and provides call routing for your company.

This means that hosted PBX customers don't buy, install or maintain any PBX equipment at their site. This can save a lot of time and money. Companies want to concentrate on their business and not on their telephone and email systems. And the expense for upgrading and maintaining these systems are huge and come with many IT challenges. Many small to mid-size companies can't spend the money for a call center, so a hosted PBX system might be the right choice for them.

Hosted PBX offers rich features, excellent quality and wide coverage. These features are more advanced than traditional PBX and they are easy to manage. This is because the hosted PBX services provide users with excellent web management. Most of the services provide a platform that makes it easy for users to create new accounts, make extensions and manage call queues with the web interface.

Other benefits of hosted PBX include managing incoming calls such as voicemail, faxes, automated messages, conferences, touchtone menus, call records and those phone calls that need to go to the next available person in a department.

It is relatively easy to manage voice mail with a hosted PBX system. With this service you can also utilize your current voice mail facility. If a call comes on your mobile phone and you don't answer it, it will automatically roll onto voice mail. Generally, hosted PBX services have better control over simple call transfers and they can also manage a higher number of phone calls.

The various ways to handle calls include forwarding them to voice mail, granting permissions from the attending person on the other end and automated voice mail recording. With busy lines and unanswered calls, voice mail can be easily setup and it performs well.

Besides all the great call routing functions, other great advantages attached to the hosted PBX systems are lower entry costs, support costs, reliability, improved scalability and flexibility. Hosted PBX also allows greater ease of management and it is better when you need flexibility with your telephony. Let's look at some of these advantages.

Lower Entry Costs

Since you are using the host's infrastructure, your start-up costs for a hosted PBX service will be lower than if you purchased your own phone system.

Lower Supporting Costs

You can manage some support yourself, like adding users or lines by either going online or making a phone call. For some of these operations, you don't have to wait for the phone guy to show up.

Reliability

With hosted PBX, there is usually round-the-clock support. Also, for disaster recovery, there is full data access and redundancy.

Improved Scalability

You can get the exact number of lines that you need for your company. It's easy to add and remove lines as your company grows or contracts.

Flexibility and Productivity

Hosted PBX system has an advantage over the traditional PBX systems in many ways. It provides features that traditional PBX doesn't have and there is more flexibility with it.

Routing calls to phones actually allow you to ring on any phone by calling the extension. Such calls can be made on the mobile phones of your employees who are traveling and cannot access their company phone. This keeps all the traveling employees in constant touch with the office and they can transfer calls as usual. If you have employees who travel a lot, then hosted PBX might be the best system for you.

The biggest considerations in company expenses are capital expenses and operating expenses. Employing a hosted PBX service eliminates most of the capital expenses and reduces operating expenses. Keeping your communication capabilities up to date without hampering your ability to focus on your business is vital. Hosted PBX will provide all of the technology, features and benefits found in expensive PBX systems at a much lower cost and might be a viable option for your business.

About the Author:
Nermine Shaker is a Partner at THE SYGNAL GROUP, a telecom consulting firm that offers telecom expense management, telecom auditing and VoIP management to businesses of all sizes. Find out how to lower your telecom expenses at http://www.SygnalGroup.com/ or visit our blog at http://www.TelecomExpertise.com/

Read more of Nermine Shaker's articles.

Steps for the Installation of an Electronic Medical Record

2009-09-02T06:15:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Donald Tex Bryant

Change can be very difficult and unpleasant for some of us; others welcome change as opportunity for growth and new experiences. One change that is surely coming to almost all healthcare sites is the adoption and installation of electronic medical records, or electronic health records. The recently passed stimulus bill in the U.S. funds the use of electronic medical records; those that do not adopt EMR's will suffer some penalties; more on that later. Another impetus driving the adoption of electronic medical records is the NCQA inclusion of EMR's in its criteria for primary care providers being designated a Patient Centered Medical Home.

Being that EMR's will be almost universally adopted, if you haven't yet installed such a system I propose that you use Lean Healthcare or Design for Six Sigma techniques to implement the installation and incorporation of the HIT systems. Those who do not carefully plan will probably add complications and wasted efforts (muda) to their care processes and become very frustrated besides. Suppose, for instance, that you do not include physicians in planning the implementation and the physicians using the new system do not understand it well enough to use it effectively and become upset using it. What is likely to happen? They will avoid it as much as they can or use it inefficiently. This can result in poorer outcomes for patients as well as lost billing opportunities. What could have been an opportunity to increase the effectiveness of billing and improve income instead becomes a financial burden and a source of contention.

Such a scenario is not necessary though. Those who plan and choose well can reap significant benefits from the use of EMR's. Achieving these benefits will require significant changes, such as in the way of logging patient data. Of course the data will now be electronically stored instead of on paper. The type of data being captured will also change. For instance, suppose that a physician making rounds at a hospital leaves a note for nurses that involves the drawing of a figure on paper, such as the position of a bedsore. For most EMR's this will not be possible. However, there will be room for comments to be added to the record. Hence, the physician will need to more descriptive. Becoming adept at the new ways of entering data into the records will improve outcomes for patients and the caregivers.

Even better results can be had if the healthcare sites use teams to plan the implementation of the EMR. Let me suggest several steps that you might use. First, someone should be leading the overall effort of adopting and using the system. If your site has a Lean Leader, this is the best candidate. Otherwise, you might choose someone who is very familiar with quality improvement.

The leader should then form a team of representatives of those who will be using the system. In a primary care office I would include someone from billing, a physician, a nurse, an office manager and others who might be using the system. You might even want to include a patient if you intend to supply your patients their own records upon request, as suggested in the Institute of Medicine's Crossing the Quality Chasm. Such a team will make better choices than a person working alone to get the system up and running.

I suggest that the team assume several responsibilities over its useful lifetime. First the team should choose the vendor and software. There are several hundred different EMR's available. Choosing the right one will be difficult, to say the least. It is very likely that the team can choose one that fits the working style of the healthcare staff best. Using only one person to choose such a system, on the other hand, will probably lead to information from others who have already installed an EMR at their site, resulting in a choice that does not fit the needs of your site.

After the team has chosen a EMR it should be the first to be trained on using it. Since they are vested in it they are more likely to be the easiest to train in its use and also probably the most interested in making the best use of it. Once they are trained, they can then train others at the site in its use. Further, through the training they can decide which features of the EMR should be utilized by the office. Generally, most EMR's come with many features; to use them all at startup would be overwhelming for new users.

Finally, this team can be used as the first responders to others who are first time users and who have questions about the software's use. Rather than have the vendor be responsible for answering all questions, it will be much more effective if someone who is comfortable with the software at the site tries first as face-to-face instruction is generally more effective. If someone on the team cannot answer the question, they can contact the technical support of the vendor or the person with the question can.

Now that I have briefly explained the advantages of implementing an EMR with a team let me add a few tips about EMR's in general:

1. EMR's do not eliminate all errors. True, illegible handwriting will not be a problem anymore. However, if the EMR is not used effectively, it will create its own problems. Remember the old dictum from the early days of the advent of computers in the workplace: garbage in, garbage out.

2. EMR's are not like paper and pencil, as described in the opening of this newsletter. I read recently in Family Practice Management (March 2007) that one vendor described his EMR as the best possible paper and pencil record that could be achieved. A physician responded that is like stating we can use a very good horse and buggy to design an automobile.

3. It is very important that your site consider interoperability with other healthcare sites with which you do much business. For example, a primary care site will want to use an EMR that communicates effectively with the hospital(s) with which it commonly interacts.

4. As stated in the opening paragraph there are bonuses for adopting the EMR's earlier. You can receive up to $44,000 over 5 years from Medicare if you meet certain conditions. You must adopt by 2011 or 2012 to receive this payout. Adopters in 2013 and 2014 will receive less. Adopters in 2015 receive nothing. Physicians who treat Medicare patients in 2015 without an EMR will receive 1% less in reimbursements; in 2016, 2% less. To qualify for these reimbursements you must make meaningful use of the technology; "meaningful use" is still not defined by Medicare. One of the certain qualifications will be that the EMR talks to other EMR's at hospitals and labs.

In conclusion, we know that electronic medical records will soon be necessary at your healthcare site if you do not already use them. Implementing the use of an EMR can be very disruptive if the implementation is not well thought out and planned. The best way to implement the use of an EMR is through a team of representatives of those who will be using the EMR. The team will be responsible for choosing the right EMR, for being the first to be trained in its use so that the members can help other first time users become familiar with the EMR, and for helping troubleshoot problems with the use of the EMR at the site.

About the Author:
Donald Bryant helps healthcare providers meet their challenges. If you want more free tips on improving your health care site, visit http://www.bryantsstatisticalconsulting.com/ for a free article to help you start making improvements right away.

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An Overview of Telecom Expense Management (TEM)

2009-08-14T04:24:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Nermine Shaker

What is TEM?

Telecom Expense Management (TEM) is a term used to define an approach to managing all telecommunication service expenses such as voice, data and wireless with a combination of software tools and manual auditing. In managing all these services and related processes, its goal is to minimize costs and maximize process efficiency.

For a small company, it can be as simple as checking over your phone bill every month to make sure you aren't billed for services you don't want. For larger companies, it is a more formal program to optimize spending on telecom services. Most of the attention goes to bill auditing and getting refunds for billing errors, but an effective TEM program can do more than that.

A Little History

The cost of voice and data communications is dropping. One casualty of this price plummet is that you no longer have experienced account teams who know your account and are your single point of contact. The new breed of account representatives there to serve you is inexperienced with your telecom needs and is more sales-oriented than needs-oriented.

For many businesses the overall telecommunications expense is growing. Workers are more mobile and the amount of communications between companies and their employees, including the huge volume of information they exchange, has been growing as well. Email, Internet, PDAs, ecommerce and our increasing tele-commuting workforce all lead to an increased demand for instant and continuous exchange of information using many kinds of telecom devices. The increased complexity of devices and services and the lack of transparency in carrier charging models have led to confusion and a need for a way to manage and control telecom costs.

In today's business landscape, many companies are downsizing support staff, carriers are providing less support, and communication in general is becoming larger and more complex. Out of all this confusion, Telecommunications Expense Management was born. TEM provides a structured and professional way to manage the telecom spending of a company, no matter how large or small. This management can be in the form of software used by a manager or an outside telecom expert.

What Are the Problems?

There are quite a few. These include but are not limited to:

1) Using multiple carriers for different services that use different invoice formats. This makes it difficult to match and allocate costs effectively;

2) Not having a complete inventory of the company's assets including wireless devices, headsets, hardware, computer networks, etc.;

3) Difficulty in being able to apportion telecommunications costs to divisions, teams or departments with any accuracy;

4) Not having the company resources to manually audit each invoice. Between 7-12% of bills are in error. For large companies, this is a substantial amount of money they could be losing every month; and

5) Not understanding costs. You can't control the cost of something when you don't understand how it's billed or what you're getting for your money.

What are the Benefits?

Managing telecom services is complex and requires constant attention. A qualified telecom expert can not only perform systematic audits but can also alert the company to new cost-saving options. Software programs can allow companies to eliminate waste and optimize resources.

Both software and outside experts can help you to: reduce time through systematized processes; reduce costs through error identification; reduce risks through better reporting options; and increase control and thereby accountability.

Software will help the Telecom Manager's knowledge and understanding of the products, services and costs for his company's telecom spending. An outside expert can handle disputes with carriers and get price quotes for new services. They can also restructure your agreements and contracts with current providers and find less expensive providers.

A solid TEM platform will provide a centralized solution for inventory control and procurement, contract compliance, budget and spending tracking, and invoice processing. Proactive systems can alert you to policy breaches and contract compliances.

Large companies are the prime candidates for Telecom Expense Management. However, small and mid-size companies that need to organize and monitor their telecom spending would benefit as well.

For most small to mid-size companies telecom spending is the responsibility of an IT person, an office manager, an accountant or a combination of all three. For these types of organizations, the benefit of a TEM solution is based on labor saving efficiencies through automation. This benefits both telecom and financial sides of the company by providing a way for them both to monitor, control and report on company telecom.

Considering the importance of telecommunications in the operation of your daily business, Telecom Expense Management is a critical business strategy. Your company needs to not only track its spending, but also to maximize its telecom resources. TEM lets you make informed decisions rather than educated guesses.

About the Author:
With over 20 years of experience in planning, implementing, managing and consulting on telecommunications projects, Nermine Shaker has generated millions of dollars worth of savings for her clients. She is a Partner at The Sygnal Group, a Telecommunications Management Company that offers unbiased reporting, analysis and implementation of telecom strategies to businesses of all sizes. http://www.SygnalGroup.com

Read more Articles written by Nermine Shaker.

Telecom Disaster Planning - What You Need to Know to Get Started

2009-08-08T18:12:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Nermine Shaker

What if your company couldn't use its computers for a day? How about your phones? Any phone system outage, even if it's a short one, could result in financial losses and inconvenience for your business. Can you afford this disruption? Most businesses can't.

Planning for any type of interruption in your telephone or data service should be a critical issue for any business. Unfortunately, however, most businesses only realize its importance after the fact - after an outage has occurred. Many adverse effects of interruption of service could be minimized or even eliminated with some advanced planning.

Your business should be prepared for the following events: a power outage, network failure, phones system failure, a disaster affecting your workplace or a disaster affecting your region. During most previous disasters, the phones would still work. With the emergence of telecom systems that are powered by local electricity, without power, communications are shut down. Your customers can't place orders and your business grinds to a halt. Restoring your telecom service then, is essential to restoring your business. Companies that have a telecom disaster plan are better prepared for any outage for whatever reason.

In the past, disaster planning was usually expensive and cost prohibitive to most companies. With today's technology, there are cost-effective options for even the smallest telecom budget.

What Your Plan Should Do

Your plan can be anything from a written plan on how to re-route your telecom services, to purchasing automatic routing arrangements with a carrier. The plan should define a procedure that will bring back your resources as fast as possible. It should also require redundancy in components and systems to provide continuous operation.

Understand Your Services

When you are designing your disaster recovery plan, you first need to understand all of your services, the value they provide your company and what the impact would be if that service was gone for a period of time. You also need to look at which parts of your services might be likely to fail and how that failing will compromise your business and its connectivity.

Redundancy plays a huge part in disaster planning. A common myth is that all you need to do is have a different circuit from a different vendor. This doesn't guarantee redundancy. You have to ensure that you have two completely different circuits with absolutely no shared facilities and being fed by different central offices.

Here Are Some Steps to Get You Started

Take the time to consider what the worst-case scenario would be and plan for it. If you have prepared for the worst case, lesser emergencies will be taken care of as well.

Define everyone's roles and responsibilities and make sure they know what they are responsible for.

Back up your data. Important daily output should be backed up and documented. Ideally, one back-up copy can be kept on site and another off-site.

Establish a plan for your communications and review these plans with all of your service providers.

Select an alternate IT location in advance. This may mean a different building, city or state, depending on the severity of the disaster for which you are planning.

Document your plan in writing and share it with your employees so they know the procedures you're putting in place. Educate your employees to make sure everyone knows the procedures to follow during an emergency. Make sure all critical names and contact information are included in your document.

Review your plan quarterly and make sure contact information is always up to date.

Specifically for telecom, here are some points to consider that will reduce the chance of telecom failure and give you a faster recovery from disasters.

Do you have an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in place? Is it adequate for your business and for a reasonable amount of time?

Do you have a current data backup of your PBX system?

Do you have back up lines if your T1 or PRI goes down?

Do you have redundant hardware (hard drives and power supplies) if they fail?

If your system fails, are your incoming calls automatically re-routed to another number?

Do you have all your data, documentation, licensing codes and passwords backed up and in a safe place?

Disaster planning can end up being more valuable than any other IT project. Disaster recovery strategies are different for every company because every company has different priorities. It's important to note that it's never too late to start building and implementing your telecom disaster recovery plan. No one wants a disaster and no one wants to plan for it. However, a Disaster Recovery Plan will protect your business and prevent total loss during an emergency, whether big or small.

About the Author:
Nermine Shaker is a Partner at THE SYGNAL GROUP, a telecom consulting firm that offers telecom expense management, telecom auditing and VoIP management to businesses of all sizes. Find out how to lower your telecom expenses at http://www.SygnalGroup.com/ or visit our blog at http://www.TelecomExpertise.com/

Read more Articles written by Nermine Shaker.

How To Perfect Your Telecom Audit Process

2009-08-01T21:48:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Nermine Shaker

Telecom audit is an important process for any organization. Human error, failure to pay close attention to details, constraint of time in checking long telecom bills, and insufficient knowledge of new technology and regulations - these mistakes can take a toll on the revenue of a company. Avoiding all these potential problems is an integral part of the expense management of an organization. Many small losses can add up to a huge amount. In order to curb this waste, organizations can either use an automated telecom audit tool, a Telecom Management professional, or a combination of the two.

Telecom audit is a process that helps to detect and reveal even the smallest errors that waste money. Thus, it provides an opportunity not only to recover lost revenue, but also ensures that errors are not repeated.

Telecom audit ideally has three stages:

Acquiring Documents to Create an Inventory Database

The first stage involves the collection of telecom invoices. These invoices show the costs over time and the customer records. Telecom audit companies at times use software in this stage that both acts as a database and helps in analyzing trends.

Depending on the size of your company, just collecting these invoices could be a very time-consuming job. Start with the local phone bills and work outward. The long distance bills may be on the same invoice or billed separately. Wireless services can be billed as a group or individual accounts. Check to see if each bill matches with a known phone. For Internet service bills, they may be on a separate bill or, if the local provider offers broadband with local service, they may be with the local phone invoice.

The next thing to collect is voice and data service contracts. These include local and long distance service, wireless phones, telecom equipment and any maintenance service agreements.

Make the time to request your Customer Service Records (CSRs) from your provider. Your providers may take a few weeks to get to your requests, but it's worth the wait. These records contain your unique data that will ultimately be the foundation of your telecom audit. They are written in Universal Service Order Codes (USOC) and they are an itemized listing of all your lines, services, and features.

You should also gather any agreements for Directory Advertising or Yellow Pages. If your company is large, sometimes a publicity or advertising department handles these agreements. The documents are important because they will specify the rates that apply to all advertising, when it was ordered and by whom.

Other documents to get access to are tariffs. Tariffs are the provider's official documents that break down all the rules, service offers, rates, etc. that they offer. You can find these rules on your provider's website. Also gather any tax information that applies to your company. Charities, schools, churches, and some nonprofit organizations may be exempt from state and/or federal taxes.

Analyzing All the Data

The second stage of audit involves the comparison of inventory costs against pricing plans. And the first thing required is an inventory audit. In this section, you look at your organization's inventory of telecom assets. Instead of looking for spot errors, this kind of telecom audit looks for trend information. This data aids the company in deciding whether it needs to expand its telecom resources or to re-deploy its existing resources.

Now a comparison of cost against pricing plans can be made. Here's where a telecom audit firm can be very helpful. They keep a record of current pricing and tariff changes. With the help of these records and databases, the audit firms can provide a cost effective plan for their clients.

Reporting and Recommendations

The third and crucial stage involves reports and recommendations. If you are doing this audit yourself, after looking at all the data, this is where you decide where you might be able to save money. A telecom audit firm will also give you their reports and recommendations at this time. Along with the presentation of their reports and analysis, they also give their suggestions for improvements and savings that have been identified in the process.

They may find errors in you bills and suggest disputing some charges. They may find credits you never received and apply for refunds for you. Today's telecom bills contain many errors that you won't find unless you do an audit.

Since billing errors play havoc on draining the organization's capital, partnering with companies that provide solutions to check such errors is becoming increasingly popular. When using a telecom-auditing firm, there are two ways to approach it. One of them is the 'contingency' method, where the telecom audit firms receive a percentage of the money they saved clients. The second can be a 'fixed fee' approach. Generally, small and medium firms go for the contingency process, whereas large firms go for the second approach, as it is easier to manage.

No matter which approach a firm takes, one thing that needs to be kept in mind is that telecom audits should be conducted by both big and small businesses to keep a check on their expenses. The telecom audit process is complex and time-consuming, but fortunately, there are companies that provide such services, and instituting a regular telecom audit can ensure cost optimization for any firm, and almost surely improve its bottom line.

About the Author:
With over 20 years of experience in planning, implementing, managing and consulting on telecommunications projects, Nermine Shaker has generated millions of dollars worth of savings for her clients. She is a Partner at The Sygnal Group, a Telecommunications Management Company that offers unbiased reporting, analysis and implementation of telecom strategies to businesses of all sizes. http://www.SygnalGroup.com

Read more Articles written by Nermine Shaker.

7 Tips to Select the Best Security Camera

2009-07-24T02:42:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Bob Arpin

CCTV (closed circuit television) systems are gaining mainstream popularity as a crime-fighting tool. The do-it-yourself (DIY) security camera system is commonplace. Video surveillance can be a powerful tool, but only if the system is designed properly for the particular situation and intended outcomes. Whether you're in the market for a business or home security camera system, choosing the BEST security camera is key to ensuring that high quality video surveillance footage is obtained.

1) Determine Coverage Area and Target Distance - Before buying a security camera do a simple survey of the area that you want to observe with your CCTV system. What particular area(s) are you covering? Depending on the situation you'll need to choose a security camera that will best capture the scene.

Here's where you need to "think like a criminal" and ask yourself what you would do and where you would go if you were trying to rob the place. what areas would you cross?

You'll most likely need multiple cameras and each camera should be chosen to cover a specific area.

First, determine how wide of an area needs to be covered - this is called the field of view. Next, determine the target distance in feet. The target distance is the distance that the subject is expected to be from the security camera.

Security camera placement is based on several factors such as accessability (i.e. can you install the security camera there and get a wire to and from it?) and visibility of the camera (do you want the security camera somewhat hidden or in plain sight to act as a deterrent?), and of course whether the camera will capture the activity in the area. Exposure to the elements is another consideration when determining placement of security cameras.

2) Select Security Camera Focal Length - Once you have determined the target distance and desired field of view, you'll want to calculate the best focal length for each security camera. The best way to do this is to use an online CCTV lens calculator.

Based on the target distance and field of view, the lens calculator will recommend the focal length lens needed to obtain the desired view and magnification of each security camera. This is extremely important in order to obtain high quality video surveillance footage. There is a trade off between field of view and magnification.

3) Choose the Right Camera Type - There are a huge variety of CCTV cameras manufactured today. The right security camera depends on the specific environment that the camera will be placed in (outdoor versus indoor), the desired visibilty of the camera (do you want the camera in plain sight as a deterrent, or somewhat hidden), and the desired aesthetics (does the security camera need to look nice and blend in with the surroundings or does that not matter?).

Here are some common styles of security cameras:

Bullet Cameras: (also known as lipstick cameras) These are small (about the size of a finger) cylindrical shaped cameras that are usually sealed in a weatherproof housing. They are a well hidden camera due to their small size and inconspicuous shape. These fit well under an eve of a house, and can be used indoors or outdoors.

Dome Cameras: These are very commonly seen in malls and department stores where the security camera needs to look nice and blend in with the surroundings so as not to make customers feel uncomfortable. These security cameras also sometimes come with dark tinted glass which makes it difficult for anyone to determine which way the camera is pointed. Many dome cameras are also fitted with vandalism proof lexan plastic domes to prevent damage. There are also dome cameras that come with fortified metal housings and crush proof glass. Dome cameras come in both indoor and outdoor weatherproof versions.

Box Cameras: These are very commonly seen in some shops and in banks were the security camera does not need to be hidden and is used partially as a deterrent. The box shape of the camera is highly visible and also allows for a variety of variable focal length lenses to be used to achieve the desired coverage area and magnification of details. These security cameras are usually restricted to indoor use only since they are not sealed.

4) Choose Camera Resolution - This refers to lines of resolution of the security camera. The more lines of resolution, the more detail that can be seen in the video so you want this to be as high as possible. 350 lines of resolution is fairly low resolution by current standards. 480 lines is very common and fairly good for general use. 525 to 580 lines of resolution is considered high resolution for standard CCTV and will give the best picture quality. There are megapixel cameras and hi-definition security cameras that have much higher resolution. These are on their way to market but are expensive and require more storage space for the increased video information.

5) Night Vision Cameras with good IR lighting - If your security cameras are going to be used for any night time surveillance where the lighting is dim, then you'll most likely want to choose a security camera that has infrared (IR) LEDs that illuminate the area. IR is invisible to the human eye but not to the camera.

6) Wired vs. Wireless Security Camera - Many first time CCTV buyers are attracted to the concept of wireless security cameras due to the 'high tech' appeal and the fact that no video cable is required. However, be aware that wireless cameras are susceptible to interference from other wireless devices such as cordless phones, wireless internet devices etc. that also utilize frequencies in 2.4 Ghz and 5.8 GHz range.

Also, wireless cameras do require a power cord so they aren't completely wireless in that sense. Finally, wireless cameras require a radio transmitter and receiver which add to the cost of the camera. Whenever possible, use a conventional wired security camera instead of a wireless system.

7) Cost Consideration - In general, the old adage "you get what you pay for" applies to a certain extent when buying CCTV equipment. Sure, you can save some money if you shop around, but beware of very cheap security cameras as you're likely to be disappointed with the results. Find a good vendor who is willing to work with you and takes the time to become familiar with your requirements. Don't just settle for the cheapest security camera. Take the time to research various products, talk with a vendor you can trust and then buy CCTV equipment that represents the best performance for the price as it applies to your security needs. The best value option in CCTV equipment is not always the cheapest one, nor the most expensive one.

About the Author:
Bob Arpin is the founder of http://www.HowToSurveillance.com/ an information website that features free how-to videos and articles on the topic of video surveillance. The website also features a free online CCTV lens calculator http://www.howtosurveillance.com/HowToVideo/CCTV-lens-calculator.html

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Are You Considering A Career As A Microsoft Network Administrator?

2009-07-20T20:30:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Frank Pines

Computer technology has become an essential part of every industry and sector, whether civic or commercial. The industry continues to expand its capabilities, making the continuous and smooth operation of the Information Technology (IT) department a crucial aspect of any large organization.

As more computer systems run on the Microsoft platform, there is a high and growing demand for Microsoft Network Administrators.

As a Microsoft Network Administrator, you will generally need to deal with both the hardware and software on computer systems - dealing with installations, optimization, and trouble-shooting.

While your annual salary may start in the mid $30,000 range, as you gain experience over time, this can double or even triple in very short order.

Most Network Administrators choose to sub-specialize. This allows one to work in a more technical capacity, and consequently advances you to the next pay level.

The most typical selections are Microsoft Product Specialist and Microsoft Systems Engineer, both of which one can earn industry recognized certificates - Microsoft Certified Professional and Microsoft Certified System Engineer. And the newest generation of certifications include the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credentials

In the industry today, especially if you are newly entering the field, you should expect to show clients a certificate when they are looking to contract or hire you.

To become a Microsoft Network Administrator, you must first have thorough knowledge of both hardware and software. If you choose to enroll in a program, typically there are no pre-requisites and a high school diploma is not required, so there is definitely the opportunity to start from scratch and work your way up. Some people choose to learn on their own through self-study training courses, books, Internet research, and hands-on personal experience.

Whichever education path you choose, there are some basics you must learn:

1. Microsoft operating systems: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and any new operating systems that may come out. You must know the older versions in case your client uses it, but stay up to date on the new versions, where you are likely to find the most demand in installations and trouble-shooting.

2. Network cabling. This includes knowing the hardware, the different types of cables out there, and which cables are best suited for the needs of the computer network.

3. Know all about TCP/IP and how to sub-net a network.

4. Network security. Be well acquainted with all the security software out there. Know Microsoft's built-in security inside out - how to make it work and how to bypass it.

Once you have the basics down, you must learn the intricacies of system architecture.

First, you must learn business analysis, where you must assess an organization's needs and thereby design a system that will not only meet its basic requirements, but optimize its efficiency and profit making capabilities.

Next, the plan that has been created must be executed; this includes installing new software and hardware, customizing the configuration to the business, maintaining the system's integrity, updating the system when better solutions come onto the market, diagnose problems that may arise, and resolve those issues in the timeliest manner possible.

All this means that on a daily basis, you must always be prepared. This may include late night hours and weekends, as you must be available to your clients at all times in case of technical problems, which we all know constantly occur.

You must act with calm and patience; you will deal with quite a few frantic people over the phone.

You must always be vigilant, constantly monitoring the systems of all your clients, as the best problem treatment is problem prevention.

In the end, a career as a Microsoft Network Administrator requires a solid educational foundation and a commitment to continuous learning, but it also requires you to bring your "A-Game" to the job of helping your employer maintain smooth and profitable operations.

About the Author:
Written by Frank Pines of CDI Communications Inc. - CDI Communications is a leader in implementation of instructional strategies for MCSE, AutoCAD, Sap, Skillsoft, CCNA, MCTS, Cisco, MCITP, MCTS, Microsoft Office, Oracle, Crystal Report, Knowledgenet, SAP, NetG, A+ Training and Microsoft Network Security Certification. Visit CDI Communications Inc. at: http://www.netwind.com/ OR follow Frank on Twitter at: @cdicomp

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The Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) Certification Will Prove Your Worth

2009-07-19T22:24:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Frank Pines

Are you looking for a career in Information Technology? The Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) certification is a good choice to add to your credentials as a Network Security specialist.

The CCSA has not only become a highly recognized and sought after credential to help you get the job, it verifies your knowledge and improves your practical application skills to help you keep the job.

As a company, Check Point Software Technologies has become the de facto standard among corporate firewalls, security gateways, VPN appliances and software. There are no other security applications that are more widely used in Fortune 500 companies, medical, legal and government organizations.

Whether it is for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, HIPAA, or meeting the requirements for the PCI Data Security Standard, Check Point appliances and software consistently outperform the competition.

Obtaining CCSA certification is vital for network engineers, network security specialists, security administrators and anyone tasked with managing a Check Point device.

While the course outline indicates that no prior experience is required, a firm knowledge of operating systems, servers, network topologies and protocols will ensure your success in this course work.

Most experts will agree that the CompTIA A+ and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certifications are good starting points, but your choice of other certifications will depend on your career objectives.

During the CCSA training course you'll learn details about basic networking security including:

How to create a security policy and establish rules;

Network Address Translation;

How to use traffic monitoring tools, block attacks and audit reports;

Configuration of various authentication schemes;

LDAP Integration;

Establishing virtual private networks (VPN) between networks;

Backup and Restore of Check Point applications.

In addition you'll learn about a variety of Check Point products and how they can be used to secure a company's network, filter email, manage access to Internet content with URL filtering, and tune a network to handle Voice over IP (VoIP).

Common to all Check Point appliances is a powerful software operating system, which enables organizations to perform all aspects of security management via a single, unified console.

If you are already a highly skilled network specialist, or if you already have other industry certifications, you may require a week or two of concentrated study time. Others with basic computer and network skills will need at least 4 weeks to complete the CCSA study course.

Don't cheat yourself - the exam can be tricky. Take advantage of the practice exams and repeat them until you can pass at least three times before attempting the certification exam.

Once you have passed the CCSA exam don't expect to be an expert for long; technology changes and constant continuing education is critical. Keep your skills sharp, expand your library, and add other industry certifications to your portfolio.

Not only will you be able to proudly display your CCSA certificate, you'll have the knowledge and skills to increase your value to your employer, which as you know could potentially increase your salary as you prove your worth time and again.

About the Author:
Written by Frank Pines of CDI Communications Inc. - CDI Communications is a leader in implementation of instructional strategies for MCSE, AutoCAD, Sap, Skillsoft, CCNA, MCTS, Cisco, MCITP, MCTS, Microsoft Office, Oracle, Crystal Report, Knowledgenet, SAP, NetG and Check Point CCSA Certification. Visit CDI Communications Inc. at: http://www.netwind.com/ OR follow Frank on Twitter at: @cdicomp

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The Big Picture Of Pursuing A Career As A Microsoft Networking Administrator

2009-07-18T04:18:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Frank Pines

Pursuing a career as a Microsoft Networking Administrator can be both rewarding and challenging.

There is a lot to learn in preparation for your career in this field, and you must be willing to upgrade those skills every few years in order to stay up-to-date on these ever-changing technologies.

Fortunately, there are many potential paths that you can take that will allow you to successfully become a Microsoft Networking Administrator. No matter which path you choose to follow, however, there are some basic skills that you must have in order to reliably handle your job.

There is no such thing as a typical day for a person working in this field. Every day brings both new challenges and familiar issues. Generally, you will need to ready to handle everyday maintenance tasks such as maintaining the domain accounts (creating new ones, deleting old ones and modifying existing ones) and ensuring the continual operation of your network's domain controllers along with all of the domain's member servers and workstations.

Diagnosing connection issues and addressing network security concerns will occupy much of your time. General maintenance of network components is essential to minimizing the impact of potential emergencies and staving off network service interruptions.

In order to handle your day-to-day tasks, you must first obtain the required knowledge. You must understand how Microsoft Windows 2008 Server and Microsoft Active Directory work together to manage a Microsoft network. This knowledge is not obtained easily.

If you learn well via self-study courses, there are a number of programs that may give you the required knowledge. However, many find that those courses lack the first-hand experience that is essential for a Microsoft Networking Administrator to address the unique issues that frequently occur outside of a classroom environment. For those individuals, there are accelerated classes available, which offer the hands-on option.

For a more measured and in-depth study of the necessary Microsoft technologies, a formal curriculum involving courses in Network Essentials, Client Operating Systems, Basic Microsoft Server Operating Systems and Advanced Microsoft Server Operating Systems is ideal.

Pursuing this sort of education will prepare you for the necessary certification exams that you must take in order for you to show your proficiency to potential employers.

There are a number of certifications that you can obtain to show that you are capable of understanding the technologies that you will be using as a Microsoft Networking Administrator.

You should expect to obtain a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification in order to show that you have the skills needed to manage and troubleshoot network environments running Windows operating systems. The MCSA consists of two core exams on networking systems, one core exam on client operating systems and one elective exam.

You should also obtain CompTIA Network+ certification in order to validate your knowledge of networking principles.

The Network+ certification will prove your ability to describe the features and functions of networking components and to understand basic network infrastructure.

While certifications are very important to show your proficiency, the importance of a traditional college degree cannot be overlooked. Often, to save time and money, one might be compelled to forgo a traditional college degree in favor of focusing on acquiring the knowledge required to pass the certification exams.

It should be noted, however, that a college degree is still preferred among the vast majority of employers. Having a degree is seen as an indication that you are able to plan for and successfully pursue long-term goals. The degree also indicates a willingness to expand your knowledge into other areas.

For this reason, certifications should ideally be viewed as complementary to your college degree, not a substitute for it.

In conclusion, should you decide to pursue a career as a Microsoft Networking Administrator, you will be met with many challenges. So long as you obtain the required knowledge and learn the appropriate skills, you will be able to overcome these challenges and build a successful lucrative career.

About the Author:
Written by Frank Pines of CDI Communications Inc. - CDI Communications is a leader in implementation of instructional strategies for MCSE, AutoCAD, Sap, Skillsoft, CCNA, MCTS, Cisco, MCITP, MCTS, Microsoft Office, Oracle, Crystal Report, Knowledgenet, SAP, NetG, A+ Training and Microsoft Network Security Certification. Visit CDI Communications Inc. at: http://www.netwind.com/ OR follow Frank on Twitter at: @cdicomp

Read more Articles written by Frank Pines.

The Hidden Costs of Freeware

2009-07-06T07:00:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Anne Sych

You are tasked with looking for software and in your research you stumble upon 'free' software. Can this be? It sounds too good to be true! How can they do that? It is very tempting - most of us at least take a peak. After all, why would we buy something we can get for free?

Or perhaps you start out looking for a good solid solution that will meet all of your needs, but your budget is tight and you begin looking at trimmed down or free solutions that may be available. You think that it may be good enough to get you by for now, and you can just purchase something better at a later date when things improve.

While this is tempting, one must consider the hidden costs of 'free' software. In the end, you could be spending more for a 'free' version, than a reputable, well built affordable solution.

Here are a few considerations when considering free software:

1. Many 'free' software solutions are not actually free. Essential components needed to use the software are additional - sometimes the components are minutely priced, but when you plug in your volume needs the prices really add up.

2. Does it really fit your needs? - With 'freeware' there is no product specialist to guide you with your selection, so you are forced to figure out on your own if it will meet your needs. Often once implemented you may learn that it does not meet needs after all or that certain parts do not work the way you need them to. Time lost in business is money lost.

3. You are on your own - typically freeware does not include any implementation assistance, training or support. At best you may get a 'guide', but no one to answer questions or help you with your system environment.

4. No training is provided - how will your employees learn how to use the new software? There are no best practices to follow, and you are left to learn on your own. In addition to time lost, often mistakes are made along the way that are hard to correct because you have done so much already "the wrong way". Again, time lost.

5. Is it cross user friendly? - Some companies may have an employee smart enough to 'rig' a freeware to meet their needs. Once this employee leaves or moves on new folks can't figure out how to make it work the same way.

6. Will it grow with you? - What will you do when you outgrow your application or your needs change. Will you force your business tasks around the app, or be forced to start over? Many hours, weeks, months are spent implementing a "free" system, processes are built around it, training is conducted - much man hours and internal costs. Starting over can be very costly. All of the time spent and resources used are now wasted as you look for a solution to replace this "free one".

So be on guard not to get caught up in the "free" hype, which in the end can cost much more. Take the time to do the due diligence now and select what you need for both now and for the future. Choose a provider that has a quality reputation, offers assistance, provides support, and a solutions that is scalable and can grow to meet your needs long term.

About the Author:
Written by: Anne Sych, Marketing Manager for Novo Solutions, Inc. Novo Solutions, Inc., is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) in Virginia Beach, Virginia specializing in Customer Support Software. Free trial versions of the Novo Help Desk Software, Knowledge Base Software and suite of web based Customer Support Solutions. Contact: sales@novosolutions.com for more information. http://www.novosolutions.com/

More new articles.

Internet Telephone Calls: VoIP Basics

2009-07-04T08:24:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Nermine Shaker

You've seen the commercials and read the news advertisements for telephone service using your computer: very cheap monthly fees; make all the calls you want; keep your telephone number forever; and voice quality as good as a landline. You've heard the claims and you've heard the term "VoIP." Here's the scoop.

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and it does what the name suggests - it transmits voice data using IP packets over the Internet. It is also called Internet Telephony. It's easier to understand VoIP if you know a little about our telephone system - PSTN (the Public Switched Telephone Network) and a little about the Internet.

Your traditional landline transmits calls through copper or fiber cables in the ground or on telephone poles with a cable connected to your home. When someone makes a call, one continuous route is made between the two phones and the information flows continuously in this loop. As you know from paying your bills, the longer the route, the more expensive the call.

VoIP works a little differently. It works using the Internet, which is a packet-based network. Packet-based just means that instead of sending one continuous string of information, it sends out smaller packets of information.

With VoIP, your voice is converted into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. There are three ways that this can be done: 1) using a VoIP telephone; 2) using a computer with speakers and a microphone; or 3) using a regular telephone with a VoIP adaptor. Because the IP packets are tiny by comparison, unlike downloading files, this all happens in real time, just like your regular phone.

Advantages of VoIP

Because VoIP provides services through the Internet, once you have the equipment in place there are a number of benefits.

The main reason for VoIP's popularity is its cost advantage. With regular phone service, you usually pay a monthly flat fee for your local calls and a per-minute charge for long distance calls. Internet connections are charged using a monthly flat fee only. Because VoIP doesn't charge a per-minute fee for long distance, you wouldn't incur those charges. If you make long distance calls, VoIP most certainly will save you a lot of money. If you used the Internet for both your data traffic and voice calls, you could get rid of one monthly payment.

The other cost advantage is that since it uses a broadband Internet connection, it efficiently uses the existing infrastructure you already use with your computer. There is only minimal software and hardware to buy.

Disadvantages to VoIP

There are a few disadvantages with VoIP. A major one is QoS or Quality of Service. Since there are packets carrying your voice information instead of a continuous flow of information, there could be delay problems, weird sounds, echoes and noise. VoIP quality depends on many factors - your broadband connection, your hardware, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the destination of your call, just to name a few.

While VoIP has made substantial progress over the past 5 years in terms of Quality of Service, it still has a way to go.

Another disadvantage is that in the event of a power failure, you will lose the ability to make and receive calls unless you have a backup battery for your computer. With traditional phone service, the cables are directly linked to the phone lines and the phone company provides power independently of your home or company's electrical power system. Thus you normally do not lose a phone signal due to loss of power with traditional service.

Another criticism of VoIP service is its historical problems with 911 emergency services. With traditional phone service, the 911 system can identify the location and number of the call because it is connected and routed locally. With VoIP, you are calling through the Internet and the actual signal may travel substantial distances before being routed to a local 911-service center. Thus geographically, the 911 system might have trouble identifying your location. Most VoIP services today include what is known as enhanced 911 service. This is a process by which the signal traveling through the Internet carries with it a physical address for the calling location. At present VoIP equipment providers may charge an additional fee for this service.

Businesses that may want to use VoIP to save money need to consider any security issues that exist. This is because with VoIP, information is sent through the Internet. Just as with any computer connection, it is possible that a hacker can intercept the information being transmitted. It is important to investigate the VoIP equipment provider's network to determine how they route data, what firewalls or other protections are afforded for security purposes.

If you are ready to look into VoIP for your phone or fax service, you can visit electronics retailers, large discount retailers and search online for information. There are a variety of VoIP providers at present. The equipment that is used, the cost of the equipment, the cost of accessories, and the cost of any enhanced services can and should be compared.

You should purchase the system and use the provider that you feel would work best for your needs in terms of how many phones you want to connect to the system, what type of security you require and the cost of purchasing the equipment and the service.

You may want to use a telecom management service for a cost analysis to see if VoIP will be a good fit for your company.

VoIP is still a new technology and hopefully there will be more and more improvements and innovations in the coming years.

About the Author:
With more than twenty-five years of experience in planning, implementing, managing and consulting on telecommunications projects, Nermine Shaker has generated tens of millions of dollars worth of savings for her clients. She is a Partner at The Sygnal Group, a Telecommunications Management Company that offers unbiased reporting, analysis and implementation of telecom strategies to businesses of all sizes. http://www.SygnalGroup.com

Nermine Shaker has generated tens of millions of dollars worth of savings for her clients. She is a Partner at THE SYGNAL GROUP, a Telecoms Management Company that offers unbiased reporting, analysis and implementation of telecom strategies to businesses of all sizes. http://www.SygnalGroup.com

Read more Articles written by Nermine Shaker.

Managing Your Company's Wireless Assets

2009-07-02T17:12:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Nermine Shaker

Although the use of wireless phones has become more and more prevalent over the last several years, the business world is just catching on to the many benefits of going wireless beyond telephone service. Today's wireless features offer much more than just a telephone connection by providing on-line applications, mobile-to-mobile two-way radio type features, messaging and calendar options.

With all these features, employees can work from any location and this seems to be a growing trend. However, problems arise in keeping track of devices, users, plans and managing costs. Research shows that if you are not continuously managing your wireless spending, you could be overspending by more than 25%.

Managing your business's wireless telephone service, including all the newest features, can be complicated however, so this article will explore some of the basics of managing your company's wireless telephone service.

Whether you choose to manage your wireless spending yourself or outsource to a telecom management company, the first step to taking control of your wireless spending is to know your current usage. This includes number of users, location of the users, types of devices used, and the patterns of users. Armed with this information, you can start to optimize your wireless assets.

Some areas of optimization include getting discounts on service options, pooling phone minutes, early termination clauses, and commitment levels.

Many companies let their employees choose their own device and service plan and then reimburse them individually for their costs. This usually results in the company paying the highest rates offered and they have no control over the employee's choices. Other companies give company phones to their employees, and the company is billed under one corporate rate. And usually, there are multiple vendors because of geographic demands, the need for specific devices, or inherited accounts.

You want to make sure that the wireless contracts you negotiate are advantageous for your company and will hold up over time. You have to have a partnership with your provider, especially since you don't want to be switching providers every year. Flexibility without penalties is something to strive for. You don't want to be stuck in a rate plan that won't fit after your company's needs change over time. Adding or decreasing pool plan minutes without penalty is one example of this flexibility.

Reviewing your bills each month is critical, particularly in the first few months after you have signed up for new service. Make sure you understand every single line item, and if you don't, get your provider to explain what doesn't make sense. Make sure you are not getting hit with any hidden charges, or that the level of use is not more than you anticipated, making it necessary to bump your plan up to a little higher level of service.

Monthly wireless expense management will also allow you to find services and devices that aren't being used, or aren't being used to their fullest potential, adding certain plan features like text messaging to accounts that need it, or adding or reducing minutes to accounts that go over or under the monthly allowance.

Track your wireless telephone expenditures for at least the first year to identify trends in usage. Do your employees use the phone more during certain seasons or busy times of the year? Are there periods where your company experiences a lot of down time and when you don't need quite so much service? If so, get your sales rep on the phone and see what he or she can do to reduce services (and the cost to you) during such slow periods.

Finally, educate your employees as to how you expect them to use their company phones. If you have unlimited minutes, and don't mind your staff using their phones for personal use, then let them know that. If, however, you are charged by the minute, you will want to firmly instill in your personnel how their company-issued telephone is to be used. Providing your staff with an overview of your business's telecom expense management system, and a simple list of dos and don'ts when issuing them their phone (and maybe even having them sign a statement that they understand), can go a long way towards preventing misuse and added charges.

If you would rather concentrate on your business, you can hire a Telecom Expense Management (TEM) firm to manage your wireless spending. These TEM providers can offer assistance in crafting your company's wireless policies and overseeing your provider's charges. Qualified TEM experts can check that your carrier is charging the correct rates, giving equipment discounts, correcting taxes, fees and surcharges and making sure you are only paying for services you are using.

Companies spend a large potion of their telecom budget on wireless devices and services. With the growing trend of employees working from anywhere but the office, these costs can only increase. Arduous management of these assets is an important part of a company's operation. And in some cases, outsourcing the management of wireless assets will provide a significant return on investment.

About the Author:
With more than twenty-five years of experience in planning, implementing, managing and consulting on telecommunications projects, Nermine Shaker has generated tens of millions of dollars worth of savings for her clients. She is a Partner at The Sygnal Group, a Telecommunications Management Company that offers unbiased reporting, analysis and implementation of telecom strategies to businesses of all sizes. http://www.SygnalGroup.com

Nermine Shaker has generated tens of millions of dollars worth of savings for her clients. She is a Partner at THE SYGNAL GROUP, a Telecoms Management Company that offers unbiased reporting, analysis and implementation of telecom strategies to businesses of all sizes. http://www.SygnalGroup.com

Read more Articles written by Nermine Shaker.

12 Nifty Ways To Stream Internet Movies At Home

2009-07-02T10:24:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins

What if you could watch all your favorite movies and TV shows from the comfort of your home - whenever you wanted to watch them. Wouldn't that get your pixels firing on all cylinders?

Well, now you can!

Of course, this is nothing new, since one obvious way to do this is through your cable company which more than likely already offers On Demand movies and programs. However, there are many drawbacks to these cable services, with cost being the major concern.

But forget cable services, that's strictly old school. Right now we are entering the dawn of a new age in home entertainment -- heralding the arrival of Multiplex TV.

Mainly because we are seeing the fusion of your TV and computer screen. The marriage of your TV screen with your computer screen is fast approaching, if it hasn't already arrived. Probably eloped while you weren't watching; but many smart consumers have already taken note and taken advantage of these two merging entertainment forces.

Although using the Internet as a vehicle to deliver high-quality entertainment to your TV screen is still in its infancy, there are quite a number of services and products out there which will allow viewers to gain access to streaming on-demand TV programs, movies and original online content via the web. These services will greatly expand the level of your home entertainment experience and enjoyment.

So the real question is where and how do I gain access to this vast and powerful online database of streaming media?

There are numerous services you can choose from and some of them are even free, while most are subscription based. Regardless, all will provide you with more than enough content for totally enjoying online streaming media from the comfort of your home.

Here, in my opinion, are the best options available right now and a few upcoming ones you should know about.

1. TVersity

TVersity is a free program you can download for free from tversity.com. TVersity works by installing a media server on your PC that will transmit your media to anywhere you like. In conjunction with a gaming console such as Playstation 3 or Xbox 360, TVersity will open up to you a wide variety of media from the internet. One of the main features that make TVersity so great is that it can convert your files into the correct format for easy streaming. This is very important because certain gaming consoles can only play certain file formats. TVersity eliminates any playback problems, no matter what type of media hub you're using such as Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, iPhone, PSP, or others.

2. Vizio's Connected HDTVs (Coming in Fall 2009)

Vizio is planning to have their own Internet-enabled high-definition TV set which is coming out in the Fall of 2009. The details are still in the works, but these Television sets should have the capability to connect to your home internet feed, through an Ethernet connection or a wireless signal, allowing you to access all the online content providers, such as Netflix, Amazon and Blockbuster. If these TV sets actually produce even half of what they are promising, it may be a worthwhile investment and you should hold out until they are released if buying a TV is high on your list of things to do.

3. LG's NetCast Entertainment Access HDTV (Coming in May and June 2009)

This spring LG is introducing a Television set that has their NetCast Entertainment Access function built in. Perhaps, seeing the potential Blu-ray players have with streaming capability, LG has opted to do away with the box altogether. There will be four internet-enabled TV sets: the 42LH50 and 47LH50 LCD TVs and the 50PS80 and 60PS80 plasmas. All the television sets will allow access to Netflix, CinemaNow and YouTube; eliminating the need for alternative devices by gaining access through an Ethernet connection.

4. Media Mall's PlayOn Digital Media Server (Price: $40)

Media Mall is a third-party software that lets you watch Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, CBS, CNN, ESPN and more on your TV. Basically, it enhances the streaming functions of your video game console. You can run the program on your Windows PC and this allows your gaming console to access streaming data via your computer, to be displayed on your TV set. Isn't technology wonderful?

5. Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (Price: $199 - $299; $399 - $499)

The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are not just gaming consoles, they also have the ability to be full featured media centers. For example, Xbox 360 is capable of supporting Netflix streaming and Xbox Live MarketPlace allows for the purchasing of movies or TV shows. Playstation 3 has a similar feature, the Playstation Network Store, which you can download video content to the internal hard drive for viewing. Plus, by adding third-party software, your Xbox and Playstation 3 can be made to support internet streaming from Hulu.com, Amazon On Demand and other such movie providers.

6. LG BD 370 Blu-ray Player (Price: $330)

This LG Blu-ray player comes equipped with NetCast Entertainment Access. You can stream video from Netflix, YouTube and CinemaNow. (CinemaNow is similar to Amazon Video On Demand) The LG BD 370 will quickly become a main asset to anyone's Home Entertainment Network.

7. Samsung BD-P1600/BD-P4600 Blu-ray Player ($229 - $499)

The Samsung BD-P1600 and BD-P4600 allows for Netflix and Pandora instant streaming, you can also listen to great tunes or watch your favorite movies. They are both Profile 2.0 Blu-ray players, bringing you great high-definition quality from using Blu-ray Discs. Connection to the internet is by an Ethernet port.

8. Roku Digital Video Player ($99)

The Roku Digital Video Player is a very cheap way to bring streaming internet media to your Television set. It was released when Netflix launched its "Watch Instantly" program. You connect the player to your home network via an Ethernet cable and you can then select from a wide range of standard to high-definition connections to your television set. The Roku player supports Amazon On Demand as well, giving you another great choice on how to watch your movies. You will get more than 50,000 titles from Amazon Video On Demand and Netflix, with many available in HD.

9. Vudu ($149)

Like Roku Digital Video Player, Vudu is a box you connect to your Television set giving you access to over 13,000 movies. Vudu can be a perfect addition to your home entertainment network. You can also listen to music from Pandora via Vudu Labs on your television set.

10. Netflix 'Watch Instantly'

Netflix subscribers who have plans of $8.99 or more can take advantage of Netflix's "Watch Instantly" program, giving them access to over 12,000 movies. You can access this program through your Windows PC, Intel-based Macs, or a number of other devices such as Roku Digital Video Player, LG BD 370 Blu-ray Player, Samsung BD-P1600 Blu-ray Player, and Samsung BD-p4600 Blu-ray play.

11. Amazon Video On Demand

Amazon's Video On Demand has a current catalog of more than 40,000 titles to choose from, including HD movies and TV shows which are available for watching in the comfort of your living room. You can either purchase or rent these movies/TV shows and prices range from around $14.99 to $2.99. It provides a convenient way for you to watch High-definition quality movies and TV shows on your TV, all without ever having to leave the house. Amazon Video On Demand in HD is currently available on the following compatible devices, the Roku Digital Video Player, TiVo S3, the Sony DMXNV1 Bravia Internet Video Link, and Panasonic VIERA Cast enabled HDTVs.

12. Hulu.com

Together, NBC Universal and News Corp have produced Hulu.com which provides full-length, DVD quality internet streams of movies and TV shows for FREE. Of course you do have to deal with a few 15 to 30 seconds commercials every now and then, but the benefits will outweigh this inconvenience for many viewers.

As you can plainly see by the variety and number of different ways you can access streaming movies and TV shows via the Internet; home entertainment is definitely going through a major transition and everyone wants in on the action and potential profits. The ordinary viewer has a whole array of options and choices when it comes to choosing the system that will deliver their streaming videos, movies and TV programs. It makes for a perfect marriage, now lets bring on the honeymoon.

About the Author:
For a more information on Blu-ray and Blu-ray Players try this handy comparison guide: blu-ray dvd players. For information on buying Laptop Computers try here: gaming laptops.

Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Are Netbooks The Perfect Student Laptops?

2009-05-17T09:18:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins

Netbooks are everywhere, on buses, on trains, on planes... and in the classroom. It seems the little netbook has come out of nowhere to become extremely popular overnight.

But what is a netbook?

Netbooks usually have screens of 10 inches or less, runs Windows or Linux and generally sell for well under $500. As its name indicates, the netbook's main purpose is to keep its owner conveniently connected to the net - anywhere, anytime.

First introduced by Asustek when it launched the first Eee PC in the fall of 2007. But it was only in the last year when we saw the explosive growth of these so-called mini-laptops. Now we have many computer companies such as HP, Dell, Lenovo... all jumping on this craze for a small portable laptop. So much so, that netbooks now is the fastest growing segment of the laptop industry and is expected to reach 139 million units by 2013.

Why is there a sudden popularity for the small netbook? Perhaps the answer lies mainly in our constant quest for mobility. We want a portable device that will keep us connected to the Internet and yet be small and light enough to be carried around all day. A truly ultra-portable device that keeps us connected with family, friends and the web.

The next question you have to ask: why do netbooks make for great student laptops? If the above reasons aren't enough, try the following:

Size

Netbooks are small with 10 inch displays or less, which make them ideal for students. Plus, they are usually very lightweight - around 2 or 3 pounds. They are compact enough to tuck into your school bag or backpack, and small enough to carry around all day without developing a hernia.

Portability

As mentioned above because the netbook is so small and compact, it is very portable. A very mobile device that we can use to stay connected to the web and friends. Connectability is one of the main features - you are connected to the web at all times.

Sturdiness

Most netbooks are designed to be sturdy and tough. They can take a few hard knocks and still keep on working. Students are not exactly the most gentle creatures on the planet, so a sturdy tough machine is needed to handle the demands put upon it.

Battery Life

Because of their small size, you will usually get better battery life than with a regular sized laptop. This is important to the student since you may have to go all day without a chance to re-charge the battery. Long lasting battery life makes the netbook the perfect student laptop.

Performance

Although small, these mini-laptops still sports some very impressive specs. Many now come with at least 1 Gig of RAM and Intel Atom processors. There are even some with Solid State Hard Drives which make them more durable and less likely to be damaged. Most use Windows XP - newer models debuting this year with the Nvidia's Ion platform may have Vista or Windows 7, but still don't expect the kind of performance you would get from a regular laptop.

Storage

While storage on netbooks is constantly increasing, it is still nowhere near the kind of storage you will find on a regular sized laptop. Usually, most devices have around 30 or 60 Gig hard drives which should be adequate for most student's needs. Many newer netbooks have 160 Gigs of storage.

Price

Perhaps, the main reason netbooks make the perfect student laptops is the low price. Students are usually on a very limited budget and the low price-tag is a perfect fit. Many perfectly adequate machines are now priced in the $300 to $500 range - while many good ones go for well under $300. Plus, prices are steadily dropping so almost any student can now afford a netbook.

As you can plainly see, the netbook does have many features to make it a perfect student laptop: small size, very portable, excellent connections, very sturdy, long battery life, good performance, adequate storage and most of all, a very affordable price almost any student can take advantage of. Overall, netbooks are well suited for the classroom and the student.

About the Author:
For more information on Buying Student Netbooks at Bargain Prices Click Here: Laptops for Students Or here: best netbooks

Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Fax To Email Can Be Easily Done With Online Fax

2009-04-29T04:00:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins

Many business owners and ordinary individuals often wonder how you can use your email system to send a fax? Especially now that more and more companies are switching over to this new way of faxing and countless people are using online fax to handle all their faxing requirements.

But just how do you send a "Fax to Email" or vice versa "Email to Fax?"

First, you have to understand one of the best ways to do this is to sign-up to an online fax service provider, where you will be given a local or Toll-Free fax number, which you can use to send and receive all your faxes. Your online fax provider acts as your intermediary to handle and process all your faxes.

Keep in mind, Internet faxing is simply using your email system and the Internet to send and receive your faxes. Because it is web-based, your faxes are available anytime, anywhere, as long as you have Internet access. Most providers will supply you with an online site (interface) where your faxes are stored. You can also send and receive your faxes from your login site.

Basically, you can send a fax to your online faxing service and they will forward it to the recipient in an email, your fax will be an attachment - usually in PDF or TIFF format. Likewise, you can use your email to send a fax, most companies will give you exact directions on how to do this. In most cases, to send a fax thru your email you simply enter the fax number you want dialed as a prefix in an email to your Fax Provider account - i.e. recipient's faxnumber@yourfaxcompany.com and attach your fax document.

Again, your online service provider acts as your intermediary on your behalf to process your faxes. That way you can still use email fax to send a fax to a traditional fax machine and vice versa. So you're not limited in any way by using an Internet Faxing service.

As mentioned before, in order to start using Internet faxing you have to sign-up to an online fax provider. There are numerous different faxing companies you can use but remember this is usually a long term service so do your homework now and you can save yourself some serious cash over the long haul. Your main goal is to find a service that meets your specific needs or requirements.

Monthly charges usually runs around $10 a month but there are cheaper options if your faxing requirements are very minimum. Some services offer a "pay-as-you-go" plan or have a yearly fee of around $20. So it does indeed pay to shop around.

Online faxing has many advantages over the traditional way of faxing; mainly it is paperless, inkless, more convenient, more secure and you don't need a fax machine or an extra phone line. Besides, it is totally mobile, compatible with laptops, PDAs, cell phones... and available anywhere you have the Internet.

Regardless of what you call it online fax, Internet fax, web fax... this is one service that will be here to stay.

Are you using it?

About the Author:
For more information on Internet Fax Services use this handy online Comparison Guide to get your own: online fax service Or if you want more detailed information on Internet Faxing try here: internet fax services.

Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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Yes, You Can Buy Parts for Your CPAP Mask

2009-04-25T19:18:00.001-07:00

Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Chris Vasta

Buying parts for CPAP masks is an affordable way to keep your mask fitting comfortably without the expense of purchasing an entirely new mask. Although it makes economic sense to purchase parts, some masks are beyond their useful lives and should be replaced.

Finding the perfect fitting mask is hard enough. Once used, you must now follow a routine of keeping it clean, disinfected and ready for use which is a task unto itself, and now you must keep up with the daily routine of cleaning and caring for it. Unfortunately, even most disciplined users will find that over time their CPAP mask just doesn't have that fresh feeling. The CPAP mask cushion will start to disintegrate and become less comfortable. The CPAP headgear will stretch. And, the forehead pad will fall off. So, why purchase an entire new mask if just one part needs to be replaced?

Purchasing an entirely new CPAP mask can cost upwards of $150.00 for a full face mask, while purchasing individual mask parts prices can range from $10 to $40. Manufacturer's are now seeing the benefits of providing parts and are selling many individual parts for each mask. As long as your mask has not been used beyond its useful life, this is a cost effective and practical approach to making your CPAP mask feel like new.

The Respironics Comfort Gel nasal mask is one of our top sellers. Many people are quite familiar with the blue colored gel cushion that surrounds the nose and molds to your face. The heat from your face and natural skin oils will eventually wear down the consistency of this cushion. You will begin to find yourself tightening the headgear straps which will cause more pronounced strap marks on your face. This is just the point where it would be useful to inquire with your supplier about replacement parts for your particular mask. Your supplier should have a complete detailed mask parts breakdown.

Instead of purchasing the entire mask again, it makes sense to replace just that specific part. It is as simple as removing the worn down cushion and carefully replacing it with a new cushion. Over time this method can save you a considerable amount of money. The headgear which will become stretched and frayed can also be purchased for nearly every mask available. Purchasing new CPAP head straps for approximately $29.00 will save you enough money over time to purchase a back up CPAP masks

The savings become even more apparent when purchasing parts for the more expensive full face masks. For example, Resmed's Full Face Quattro CPAP mask has many replaceable parts; from the CPAP mask elbow assembly to the CPAP mask forehead support. The savings will quickly add up and you will find yourself sleeping better because the mask will be more comfortable. This will also help with compliance. We speak to hundreds of CPAP users per week, and often times replacing just one part, such as the head strap seems to create a much more comfortable CPAP experience and allow users to optimize the value of their purchase.

So keep in mind that any part that comes in contact with your skin will eventually breakdown and become ineffective. CPAP users should also choose a mask where parts are available. Many people find the life expectancy of cushions to be 3-6 months. Watch for our specials that include an additional cushion with the mask. Try to establish a daily cleaning routine and keep track of how many weeks elapse until your cushion, headgear, and forehead pads feel worn down. When this is determined you should create a regular ordering cycle to ensure proper fitting and comfort.

About the Author:
Written by: Chris Vasta of The CPAP Shop. Family owned and operated since 2003, we are CPAP specialists and our first priority is our customer and their satisfaction. We supply only the top manufacturers for CPAP machines and CPAP supplies. We are able to get the product you desire, answer questions you might have or make suggestions on new products. Please visit us at http://www.thecpapshop.com/ and become one of our thousands of satisfied customers.

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