How to Increase the Chances a Prospect Contacts You by 50%

Do You Really Need a Toll-Free Number for Your Business? The answer is YES! If you run a home business, whether it's a direct sales business, a part-time venture, or if you work full-time from home, if you don't have a toll-free number, you could be leaving money on the table.

Studies show that a potential client is 50% more likely to contact a business who has a toll-free number. Marketing via the internet draws potential clients from all over the globe. That's what makes the internet such a powerful money-making vessel.

A lot of businesses just starting out try to cut corners and may assume that a toll-free number is too expensive. This could not be farther from the truth. These days, you don't have to spend a fortune for toll-free service.

When I started my business, I found out about a very reasonable toll-free service provider called Kall8. With Kall8, there is only a $2.00 set up fee. You get to choose your phone number from a list of available numbers. Once you do this, there is a low $2.00/month base charge and 6.9 cents per minute. You will have instant access and can set up your account the way you want. They offer tons of services such as:

Instant Activation

Secure Web Account Management

Detailed Call Reporting

Interactive Voice Response

Custom Call Routing

Voicemail

Caller ID

Conferencing

Inbound Fax

These are only a few of the many features included in the flat $2.00/month fee. With the custom call routing feature, I have my calls set up to go directly to my cell phone so that I can still receive my business calls while I am away from home. When my cell phone rings, I know it's a business call because it will show my toll free number, then I can answer it in a professional way. I have been using Kall8 for over 2 years and never had a problem with their service. Their competitors charge 5 times more for less calling features.

Direct sales representatives, work at home moms, new and experienced internet entrepreneurs can take their business to new heights with toll-free service. Couldn't your business use a boost?

About the Author

Dana Williams is a work-at-home mom and internet entrepreneur. She offers mothers information on starting and growing their own home businesses. She offers a free newsletter with free tips, tools, and articles on making your business a success. Visit her online at http://www.danawilliams.com. To order Kall8 toll-free service, go to http://kall8.danawilliams.com.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Prepaid Cell Phones

We are constantly seeing advertisements on TV promoting cell phones and cell phones carriers with what they call great introductory offers if you sign up with them on their network.

Is it worthwhile signing a one-year contract with a cell phone carrier?

Well that is a question that you need to answer for yourself, while the pricing may look attractive you need to consider if you will be using the phone on a regular daily basis. Ask your self the following:

ร�ยทDo I need my cell phone for work?

ร�ยทWill I be calling mainly friends and family?

ร�ยทWill I be making out of state calls or international calls?

If the answer to the above number of questions is no, well prepaid cell phones could be your best choice. Prepaid cell phones are ideal for people who do not intend signing contracts and do not intend to use the cell excessively. There many advantages and disadvantages with using this type of cell phone:

Advantages of using a prepaid cell phone:

ร�ยทNo credit check required

ร�ยทNo deposit required

ร�ยทNo monthly rental fee

ร�ยทNo termination fee if you decide not to use your phone again

ร�ยทNo service fee

ร�ยทA large selection of phones available including camera cell phones

ร�ยทAlways in control of call costs

Disadvantages of using a prepaid cell phone:

ร�ยทCalls and SMS Text will be more expensive per minute than using a bill phone

ร�ยทYou could run out of credit at a crucial time that you need to make a call

ร�ยทSome carriers will put a time limit on your credit (you will need to use it up within a certain time or else it will be classed as invalid)

Children with prepaid cell phones:

Always purchase a cell phone with low emissions for health and safety purposes. Children under the age of 7 are not recommended to using any type of cell phone.

If you like to keep tabs on your children and you feel a cell phone is a good safe idea, do not make the mistake that many parents do in giving a cell phone that has line rental. If you do this be very prepared for a large monthly bill every month from the mailman. Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs like giving your child a large bag of candy and asking them not to eat them unless itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs really necessary. Prepaid cell phones are ideal for children, if their credit runs out, so be it, but you can always call or text them and itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs then up to you what extra credit to allow.

Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs very difficult for young children to budget wisely and kids will be kids so you need to careful when it comes to financing them a cell phone.

What are the highest costs involved with prepaid cell phones?

Be careful your credit can be eaten up very quickly. Camera cell phones are great fun and handy to have at times but if you are using a prepaid cell camera phone and want to text photos the cost can be very high per text. Also watch for roaming charges are these too can be very expensive. Always look for promotions and giveaways with no hidden charges.

Is getting credit easy?

Buying credit could not be easier. Most stores will sell credit for the different cell phone carriers and some stores have vending type machines where you can simply follow the instructions and top up your credit. You can also call your cell phone carrier (usually a toll free number) and purchase with your credit card. Credit issued as a long number. Simply type this into the correct section of your cell and thatรขโ�ฌโ�ขs all there is to it.

Prepaid cell phones in brief:

ร�ยทA great idea for those of us who need to stay inline with our phone expenses.

ร�ยทVery handy to have for emergencies with no rental charge.

ร�ยทIdeal for children if you wish for them to carry a cell phone

ร�ยทA good back up if you experience a problem with your house phone

Once again always look into the different cell phone carriers and their prepaid cell packages, not all are the same with some giving excellent starter packages.

About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Cell phone plans which includes Cell prepaid plans, Carriers, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your phone interests and needs.

The World Of Voice Mail

Voice mail is something that none of us can live without these days. It is used for many reasons and in many ways. Simply, we need ways to stay in touch no matter where we are or what we are doing. Voice mail is one of the tools that you can use to do just that. Voice mail is a service that is often provided with a product. It is something that you will find invaluable when you do get it.

For many, their first experience with voice mail was at home on their answering machines. Voice mail in this case works as a message center. When someone calls your home or business and you are not there, the message will play. Then, they can leave you a message telling you what they need or that they called.

The next occurrence is with the mobile phone. Voice mail has become a standard feature on mobile phones. Again, if you can't get to your phone or perhaps you are already talking on it, voice mail will pick up, deliver a greeting and message and allow the individual to leave their own message to you.

Voice mail is also available through the web. Many times, you will find this used in VoIP services.

If you are choosing a voice mail service, you may be tempted by all the options that are available. Choose those that fit your needs and desire the best and go from there. You will find that many people choose things that are more than they need and end up paying more in the long run for things they do not use. Voice mail is full of great features and technologies to help you stay connected. In many cases, it just would not seem right to not have access to your voice mail! What if you missed a call!

For more information please see http://www.voice-mail-shack.co.uk

Say Goodbye to Traditional Telephone Lines

Like old, dusty books on the shelves of public libraries, regular home telephone lines have been plummeting in popularity. Some experts even foresee that traditional LAN telephone lines will eventually reach extinction- but before you start to chuckle at this forecast, it may be less farfetched than you actually think.

"Many people donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt leave home without their cell phones nowadays," says Larry Lehoux, the CEO of the Data Corp., a world leader in the development of digital communications software. "Cell phones have really revolutionized the way we live; people no longer need to sit and wait around for important phone calls. Cell phones have given us freedom."

Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs true. Most of us carry our cell phones around everywhere; the grocery store, the mall, in our cars and even at the gym. Cell phone use has been steadily increasing around the world and people are not just using their cell phones to talk, there are now a variety of other activities that are keeping their interest.

"Mobile phone technology is becoming so sophisticated that people use their handsets for tasks other than just talking. These new activities include text messaging, download ringtones and wallpaper, playing games and even surfing the Internet" says expert Lehoux.

The Data Corpรขโ�ฌโ�ขs web-based software application, Mobiletoolbox, specializes in text messaging technology and mobile content delivery. Mobiletoolbox allows companies to communicate easily with their clients via cell phone text messaging and also allows the sale and delivery of mobile content such as ringtones, wallpaper and screensavers. "Text messaging is still relatively new in North America, but the market is ripening. People are starting to realize that there is huge potential for these services."

After all, what company wouldnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt want to be able to reach customers at any time and anywhere? Text messaging has been popular overseas for quite some time, but is picking up quickly in North America. LAN telephone lines may be dying slowly but new technology has given rise to great opportunity in our mobile world.

For more information about sending out SMS text messages or selling mobile content, please visit the Mobile Toolbox homepage at www.mobiletoolbox.com or contact The Data Corp toll free at 1-877-410-6683.

Mobiletoolbox - http://www.mobiletoolbox.com

The Data Corp - http://www.thedatacorp.com

Cell Phone Deals

Nowadays almost everybody is using a cell phones. Different promos from different companies offering cheap and affordable cell phone are the rage. The more amazing the features, the more we want the brand. Bluetooth, stereo, MP3, 1.3 mega pixel camera --- you name it; the cell phone has it all.

The top rated cell phones are the Blackberry and the Motorola Amazing Phone with Windows Microsoft access. These cell phones are offered to office executives along with a great plan suited for their lifestyle. They can be used as an email retriever for those who are often busy outside the office attending out-of-office client meetings.

One of the most popular features of a cell phone is a built in camera. These phones take high quality photos and are stored in a phone memory. Camera cell phones are now available and offered in every wireless phone company on the market.

Other cell phones are able to streamline TV shows so you will never miss a single episode of your favourite show. This breakthrough is only the beginning of where technology will take the cell phone.

Many times people run errands and forget what someone asked them to get. Several telecom companies s offer inexpensive and easy to use cell phones for those who really need them only as a necessity. For example, some people may not need the radio or the camera on their phones so there is no reason why they should pay extra for these features, Motorola and Nokia offers a line of affordable and user-friendly phones, and they offer the best deals and plans. Some wireless phone companies also offer the family cell phone deals. This plan usually saves a family paying for individual cell phone lines. This is certainly beneficial to the head of the family who provides each member of his family (even the little ones) a phone.

Cell Phone Deals provides detailed information on Cell Phone Deals, Best Cell Phone Deals, Free Cell Phone Deals, Cheap Cell Phone Deals and more. Cell Phone Deals is affiliated with Compare Cell Phone Plans.

UMTS -- Taking Wireless to the Streets

Below I will explain the following important cell phone terms.

What is UMTS? Universal mobile telephone service.

What is GSM? Global system for mobile communications. I quickly learned that with all the trips I take to Asia and Europe having a phone with GSM was critical. GSM means Global System for Mobile Communications and is a digital format used widely in Europe and Asia. In the U.S. only T-Mobile and some AT& T and Cingular phones use GSM. It keeps calls separate by assigning a slice of time to each carrier. What is GPRS? General packet radio service.

What is CDMA? Code division multiple access is a digital format used by Sprint, Verizon wireless and some other regional carriers. CDMA is incompatible with other digital formats. With CDMA each caller is assigned additional code to separate the calls. Below is a chart that explains the typical speed of downloading data from the Internet and the network providing it.

TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access. The digital format used mainly by AT&T Wireless and Cingular. TDMA is incompatible with other digital formats. TDMA is similar to GSM. SMS: Short Message Service is also known as text messaging. With SMS I can send a short text message from one cell phone to another or from the Internet to a cell phone. This is great for attending trade shows. I use it to send a quick message to clients about meeting for coffee, or at their booth.

Network download speed (kbps)

GPRS 30 to 40

Edge 70 to 130

UMTS 220 to 320

HSDPA 400 to 700

What do all the letters mean? i HOPE I have explained the cell phone network terms clearly for you. If you are business cellular phone subscriber, you will want to have Internet download speeds ranging from 400 -- 700 kB per second. This will be the fastest available cellular broad brand technology allowing you to experience the same Internet speeds as if you were at home on a wired network. The advantage of being on a UMTS And HSDPA network is you would be able to make data calls as well of voice calls at the same time on your mobile. If for example you have a smart phone that is on the HSDPA network you'll also be able to access any type of Internet information as well as using your smart phone as a cell phone. Also, the other benefit is the cost savings from the carrier's point of view. Not only is there an increased efficiency because both the voice and data is able to go on a single UMTS network, but many cell phone subscribers will love the savings.

If you are impatient, you probably would not be happy with the speed of the GPRS network at only 35 kB per second, it is like watching a snail perform a 4 minute run when downloading only 1 megabyte file. You will be perhaps happier with the enhanced data rates for GSM evolution or EDGE service by Cingular wireless. The typical download speed is from 70 to 130 kB per second. Therefore allowing you to download photos, send photo messaging, access high-speed color Internet access, send or receive video and music clips, and access your e-mail. This is ideal for business people, because the download speeds are much faster than dial-up. If you are working in an corporate environment, Cingular wireless is currently offering a nationwide EDGE /WiFi service that allows you to truly experience what is is like to access your email and surf the interent on your mobile smart phone or blackberry device 24 hours a day seven days a week anywhere you can pick up a cellular signal.

What are some of the exciting applications of the higher download speed using the Universal mobile telephone service? With download speed between 220 -- 320 kB per second, mobile subscribers will be able to use video to monitor their brand-new baby sitter that they have just hired for the first-time, be able to watch digital TV, be able to listen to digital radio and be able to listen to video on demand or music on demand.

GPRS is the slowest data service on GSM phones. The download speed is only 35 kB per second which is comparable to dial-up Internet access. It is painfully slow compared to a modem cable Internet connection. However for a lot of non-business users, it is the only affordable option. For example, for folks who own blackberry devices, PDAs or Treo Palm one devices, they would typically subscribe to a GPRS network which allows them to have text messaging, e-mail and basic wireless application protocol Internet browsing for a similar price that they would be paying for their cell phone service calling plans.

To make this a bit easier to understand, below is an example of how long it takes to download 1 MB(megabyte) file using the different networks.

If you are on the 2G. network, GPRS -- it would take a full four minutes to download 1 MB file which to me is a very long time.

If you are on a 2.5 G. network EDGE -- that same file will take 60 seconds to download.

If you are on any 3G. network, UMTS (Universal mobile telephone service) -- a 1 MB file would take only 40 seconds to download.

If you are on a 3 G. network, HSDPA -- it would only take 15 seconds to download a one megabyte file. That is significant compared to a full four minutes on a 2G. network.

3.5 G. Network is in development, and the download speeds would be comparable to what you would get if you were at home or office and you subscribed to a cable modem broadband Internet service. On a 3.5 G. Network you'll be able to watch a TV program, download any CD-quality audio and play video games with other portable wireless devices on your smart phone or tv or mp3 cell phone.

According to Cingular wireless, UMTS is available in only six cities currently: Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Detroit and Dallas. By early 2006, the above cities will be upgraded to HSDPA. And eventually there will be 15 to 20 cities where Cingular wireless will offer UMTS/HSdPA.

Learning the cell phone language has brought me in touch with what my own cellular needs are as well as for my clients. Most of the work I do is from my vehicle, so I can't wait until a nationwide carrier will be able to offer wireless Internet access while I'm traveling in my car at 60 kph. I currently own a PDA as well as a cell phone, at the end of the day I feel like a clown performing a juggling act.

Source: Pocket PC November 2005, Consumer Reports digital buying guide 2004.

Copyright ร�ยฉ Rene Tse, the owner of the website: Free cellular Phone Deals

Rene is on the look out for mobile devices to enhance her productivity. This website cuts to the chase and has valued information on: free cell phone with high speed connection speeds, family plans cell phones, and which is the best data wireless plan option for your Pocket PC or smart phone.

I grant permission to publish this article, electronically or in print, as long as the bylines are included, with 2 live links, and the article is not changed in any way.

Why Can't I Get [Mobile Internet App] To Work On My Mobile Phone?

I've just been through the same installation problem with a new customer for the nth time, and it's time to speak out about the cause, which is (you guessed it) the carrier.

Aaron, a good friend in the US, just bought a shiny new Samsung t809 on a plan from T-Mobile, a relatively internet-savvy US carrier (relatively speaking anyway.) We went through setting up bluepulse, and it went beautifully until he'd installed it on his phone and launched the bluepulse client.

The bluepulse client was unable to access the internet, and Aaron said the Opera browser he'd installed couldn't get internet access either. I knew right away what it was: old internet settings installed on the phone.

People ask, "what's the most common problem you face getting bluepulse installed on people's phones?" They expect you to say "handset compatibility" since getting most apps to run on a wide range of phones is the biggest problem for most developers.

But no, we're miles ahead on that front: bluepulse supports so many handsets (definitely more than 250, likely approaching 300 now) and our web server is smart enough that it can compile a custom version of the client for your phone in most cases.

The biggest problem we have is a problem many mobile app developers never get to face: getting the correct carrier internet settings installed on the customer's handset.

See, even relatively-savvy carriers like T-Mobile are quite lousy when it comes to customer communications. When some proxy server admin guy makes a change to the internet gateway somewhere deep in the bowels of your carrier's data centre, how many levels of middle management do you suppose that news needs to filter through before it ever reaches a customer?

The correct answer is: too many levels for the news to ever reach a customer.

Of course, the admin guy is unlikely to change anything that will block access to any of the services installed on the carrier's default 'deck', but any other services you might be accessing from your phone? Someone else's problem.

To employ a desktop internet analogy: it's as if your ISP requires you to access the internet via their proxy servers, and won't give you reliable access to any internet services not featured on their homepage. Very Web circa 1995 - the kind of attitude AOL and CompuServe used to have towards the rest of the internet. And history tells us AOL only just wizened up in time; CompuServe never did.

The good news is; getting the latest internet settings installed on your phone is only as painful as ringing your carrier's tech support line, waiting on hold because "you're a valued customer" for long enough to speak to a person, and then asking them; "Please send your latest internet settings to my phone".

To be absolutely sure, ask them for updated settings for "internet, MMS, and WAP" since carriers often maintain different settings for each.

You'll get a notification on your phone when the settings arrive a few seconds later, and your phone will ask you if you want to install the new settings. Say 'OK' to them all.

It's usually a good idea to turn your phone off for a second or two and then back on (in the same way it's a good idea to reboot your desktop when you install an update). Some carriers may also ask you to send one MMS to a standard carrier address to verify the settings have been installed correctly.

Once you've done that, you should be ready to rock, jive, even jitterbug a little, with bluepulse. And Opera Mini, and the whole rest of the dang internet (sheesh!)

Alan Jones is VP, Q&A for http://www.bluepulse.com - a Mobile 2.0 startup. Bluepulse provides a free mobile internet client for >250 handsets and a free mobile widget developer platform.