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Archive for January, 2010

How iphones are Helping Companies Move Forwards

January 31st, 2010
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You can’t turn a corner these days without seeing at least one person playing on their iphone. They are absolutely everywhere and what’s more, their owners always have look on their face that is a mix of smugness and happiness. Their look may be warranted however as the iphone is so adaptable and flexible they could be doing all manner of tasks. Updating their Twitter account, looking for directions to the gig they are heading to, or doing their weekly shop via a supermarket application. With so much flexibility and innovation in the iphone, it was only so long before companies started issuing them to their staff as work tools. But what makes these iphones so good for modern businesses?

Geo Location. Google Maps has to be one of the top selling points for the iphone. Other phones and navigation toys use this feature, but not as well as the iphone. You can find directions to a meeting or plan a tour with some journalists for example with a couple of touches of the screen. Furthermore, there is an application that allows consenting users to see exactly where each other is on a map. This means the device is ideal for companies like haulage or event management firms who need to know where everyone is at any one time. If you’ve had your tech ear to the ground recently you’ll have heard talk of ‘augmented reality’. The iphone was one of the first to have an application that allowed users to engage in this technology, with allows people to place virtual tags on a 3D map, that other people can read when they are in the same location. This opens up many doors for companies, including being able to scout out the best places for a new store, to leaving a virtual breadcrumb for customers to their existing store for example. Some companies are even using this for team building events, using geo-tags at various locations instead of orienteering checkpoints. The possibilities are endless.

Internal Apps. Everyone knows that iphone applications can be created by anyone and shared with the world via the ‘App Store’. Not all iphones applications however need to be shared with the world, you might want some that only your colleges can use. One possible internal app might be something as simple as a messaging platform where people can quickly pick up and drop internal notes or memos…this can be done. You can even create an internal app for one touch speed dialling among colleges, which saves a lot accumulative time after a while.

Web Browsing. As with the Google Maps application, the internet browsing is also very proficient on the iphone. Not only does this mean that research on a certain topic can be researched quickly and easily, but also things like webmail accounts can be accessed with ease. Also, with the increasing prominence of social media in many companies overall marketing strategy, staff are able to keep up to date with what is being said about the company on sites such as Twitter and Facebook. One thing is for sure though, will all these new iphones around, business insurance premiums are certain to rise.

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Using Mind Mapping to Choose a Cell Phone Plan

January 30th, 2010
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http://clk.bz/decision-making

Nowadays, almost everyone has a cell phone. It seems that this once luxury item is now a basic necessity of everyday life. Because of society’s heavy reliance on cell phones, mobile phone companies have begun bombarding the public with marketing campaigns offering everything from unlimited texting and data plans to minutes that roll over from month to month. How, then, does one filter through the barrage of advertising to find the right cell phone plan for him or her? Mind Mapping can be just the answer to this question. The advantage of Mind Mapping is that it allows users the unique ability to organize information using a highly visual and spatially constructed diagram format. With Mind Maps, one can literally “map out” all of the various features of the multiple cell phone plans he or she is considering using colors, pictures, or other graphics as desired. Organizing information in this manner has been shown to allow the brain to process and recall the information more naturally, as well as allow one to work with the information more efficiently. Therefore, Mind Mapping offers a creative and effective way to choose the best cell phone plan for one’s individual or family needs.

Using Mind Mapping to Compare Cell Phone Plans

Frank is in the market for a new cell phone plan. His previous cell phone contract having expired, he wants to see what options are available from companies other than the one he has been with. He decides the sensible course of action for finding a new plan is to start by outlining what features he is looking for in the plan. He decides to do so using Mind Mapping, and begins constructing a Mind Map by, first, listing the purpose of the map, finding a cell phone plan, in the map’s center. He then adds branches to the map, on which he lists the features he wants in a calling plan. As Frank considers various cell phone plan options, he adds child branches to his map, on which he lists any plan that contains a particular feature. Throughout his Mind Map, Frank uses colors, pictures, and other graphics to make his map more creative and the features each calling plan offers more associative. When he has completed his map, it looks similar to the attached Mind Map diagram.

Selecting the Perfect Cell Phone Plan

Frank has finished his Mind Map, and has narrowed is choice for a plan down to 3 options. After reviewing each option again, he finally makes his selection. Franks finds that he was able to sort through the multiple cell phone offers he was considering quite easily, thanks to Mind Mapping. Because of his map’s non-linear and visually stimulating format, he was able to conceptualize and quickly compare the offers, seeing which ones contains the plan features he is looking for and which do not. Thus, he was able to reach his decision very quickly, and not waste time seriously contemplating plans that he would not have been interested in. Frank is now very happy with his new cell phone plan, and carrier, thanks to his organized and targeted search for a plan using Mind Mapping.

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The Basic Of Fax Cover Sheet Template

January 30th, 2010
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There are a lot of businesses that have a standard fax cover sheet template which are attached to all the facsimiles. Occasionally they are formed internally by a designer and other times they’re part of software which is bought by the company.

If you are a fresh business that has just started-ups and have yet to fix on a fax cover sheet template, you really have more than a few choices.

Customized Fax Cover Sheet Template

A lot of word programs have many tools that are needed to customize your own fax cover sheet template. You only require some time, patience and perhaps a little cool to work with graphics to help you get started.

A key thing to remember is faxes are generally printed in black and white so the use of colored graphics is unnecessary and the graphic might not look as good in monochrome.

Purchase

Several businesses decide to rent the creation of all their specific business documents. They have a service to make letterheads, envelopes and fax cover sheet template. It’s fine when a company is in place and working well turn a profit, but when you are a beginner or looking at the cost of your company, this may not be profitable.

Downloads

At this point, a new business owner can turn to the trusty internet for fax cover sheets. You will find the templates to download in the internet.s

Many will be free although you could come across a site that has premium cover sheets that they are charging a nominal fee for. The choice of course it completely up to you, but the best bet is to find a fax cover sheet template that reflects the spirit of your company.

For example, if you’re a type of serious company such as an investment company you wouldn’t want cover sheet which offered little duckeys and balloons. This kind of sheet template of fax cover might be more suited for day care or private school.

Keep in mind that a fax cover sheet template that you choose is the statement of your business. It tells that you’re professional and care on your company, thus although you decide to download free fax cover sheet template, be sure you use some form of cover sheet.

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Some Helpful Gadgets For Physically Challanged

January 30th, 2010
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In the recent periods, there were few inventions In the tech business for the physically challenged. The most recent of those inventions is the touchscreen cell phone for those with no ability to speak and hear.

The way The Cell phone Operate?

This cell phone has two pillars that pull out and open into a touchscreen. When an individual who can not speak types in the words, the device converts the text into voice and sends it across the called person. And from the receiving side, when the called person talks out anything, the voice is changed into textual content and sent across. The next round course of action is similar to speech-to-text recognition.

This makes communication really easier for these with hearing trouble. One more similar application for these special folks is the Nokia Braille Reader introduced sometime back by Nokia.The Brialle Reader is for those who are visually inable. the gadget helps them use the SMS service effectively. The Phone makes use of vibration as a mode to recognize the characters and then converts those into Braille type; thus, empowering the person to understand the text. This app was out available in the market download in October 2009 and is compatible with several Nokia phones.

Yet one more addition to the list is the Panasonic Robotic Bed cum Wheelchair. This Robotic Bed is such that it can be converted into a wheel chair when necessary. And all this- converting from Bed to chair, and chair to Bed doesn’t require support. That is physically challenged can help himself/herself in moving on the wheelchair from one corner of the house to yet another place, and using the chair as the Bed to rest. This is certainly an awesome concept which makes the physically challenged dependant on none.

I hope in future we see several such inventions and gadgets which lessen the gap between the fortunate and the unfortunate, and make technology a bliss for all.

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Nexus Blocks Out Profanity

January 30th, 2010
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The information may get a few of you happy while disappoint a few others. Nexus One is built to filter any swear word used. That is the speech-to-text recognition function does not permit the user (speaker) to post out any swear words. As an alternative, the phone converts those terms into a group of #. That is when you type a five lettered swear word, the gadget will show up the word something like this #####.

The reason being in Android powered products, speech to text recognition is yet not thoroughly perfect. The system can sometimes does not recognize the spoken phrases and return some other word. Which may well bring on confusion at the receiving end. And that is why Droid phone too has a similar trouble (for some).

This is not the first time profanity is being filtered out, Zune HD is also doing the same thing with its twitter application. In case you  do not know what Zune is- it’s a Microsoft product and it was first introduced in the market in 2006. And just back in Dec, Zune came out with their twitter application which does not permit any swear word used.  This is one reason (as well as other) why not everybody likes their Twitter app.

In addition to this, among many Nexus aspects that don’t go down well with consumers is the four buttons at the lower end of the Nexus handset. It’s because the control keys work only when top half of it is pressed, which can be quite irritating. On top of that, under the sunlight the display is not see-able. These are few of those imperfections which people who have had hands-on encounter with Nexus noted.

But the no-profanity quality is in a way good one. Though quite a few of them will despise Nexus One for being a civilized smart phone. For more details read Nexus One Blocks Swear Word

 

 

 

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Google Nexus In Trouble

January 30th, 2010
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Google Nexus had created sensation even before it was introduced. Previous to its release, the talk that Google was entering cell cell phone trade was a thing that didn’t go down well with all. And just following launch, the fact that Google Nexus came out to be as predicted and not a lot more than what Google enthusiasts has predicted upset persons. And now after days following the phone’s introduction, here’s another trouble – Google phone is being sued for its name Nexus One.

The name Nexus One is said to be copied from Philip K Dicks book ‘Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?’. The author’s daughter has gone to the press accusing Google of taking the name of the cell phone from her father’s novel without referring to them.

Wheather the name is actually copied from the book or not is unsure. Google obviously will deny the accusation. But the writer’s daughter seems to be reluctant to dissuade and not comply with Google. If the matter gets serious, they can have to get the legal assistance. And if Google losses the case, a lump sum amount will need to be given on the writer’s daughter (A lot could say, the situation is getting raised only to get good money. Like Motorola had to pay to be able to make use of the name Droid). Google anyway in recent times is having difficulties from all sides – there is this Apple-Google war, Google is soon going to be from iPhone (Bing will be seen on iPhone), touch screen problem with Apple and what not. Looks like Google’s step into mobile phone industry is resulting in a good deal of challenges.

Sometime back Google was like the King in the web business (it nevertheless tops) but with a lot of challenges and dissapointments (with reference to Google Phone), tables may turn pretty soon.

Let’s see what happens and who wins.

 

 

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Do not call 0871 and 0870 numbers and waste your money

January 30th, 2010
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Premium rate numbers are numbers which provide certain services that any other normal numbers and also are very expensive. Few examples of premium rate numbers are 0870, 0871 numbers. Cost to these numbers can be upto 10p p/min.

Below are few examples of the cost to these numbers from various telephone networks.

Calling 0870 numbers can cost upto 10p per minute. Normal peak time costs from BT is 5 p p/m, virgin 10p p/m and talk talk 4p p/m.

Peak time calls to 0871 numbers could cost upto 11pence p/min. Peak time costs to this number costs 10 pence from BT, 10 pence from Virgin, talk talk and Sky per minute.

There are other premium rate numbers such as 0845 and 0844 numbers call can costs upto 7 pence p/min.

Why do companies use these numbers?

Because these numbers are money generatores for big brands. One phone call of few minutes every day means 4 to 7 pence to these numbers. Big companies deal with 2000 phone calls every day, which means these numbers generate around £250,000 per year for businesses.

People have been hit by massive bills through these numbers. Here is one example of getting your money back, if you ring any company through premium rate numbers then you can ask them for a refund, only if you have called in regards to any product fault or any complaints.

After that you contact your phone provider and request them to hold the payment of that part of the bill, till this situation is sorted. This is not guaranteed but there is nothing wrong with trying.

There are also consumer complaint companies such as Otelo and Cisas who can certainly provide you with any help you require in regards to phone billing.

Calling other companies or individuals for help and advice will cost you money and time, the best solution is to avoid calling premium rate numbers.

Then after few months you will see the difference in your phone bills, that how it has decreased from over the top graph to the low level where it should have been in the first place.

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Free Navigation Via Nokia’s Ovi App

January 29th, 2010
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It appears Google is getting copied in a lot of stuff. Microsoft followed Google and introduced Bing, which I hear is performing fairly well. In fact, like Googling, the latest word ‘Binging’ is created for Bing. Though I personally prefer to stay with Google. Only its backdrop is all I like regarding Bing (if you didn’t know, Microsoft is coming in place of Google on iPhones. So it’s now going to be Bing, not Google). Another service of Google that is being replicated is free navigation service. Now Nokia too is going to bring in free navigation service via the Ovi app.

Nokia’s Free Navigation App Features:

Google’s Free navigation facility is free only in US where as Nokia would have its services free across the world. As per the given info, this function is going to be accessible in 180 countries with Voice Guidance available in 74 countries and traffic info for 10 countries.

The features surely look great and may add value to the present Nokia market. This is again a competition to Google which had recently driven the Droid phone with its free navigation properties. And the fact that Nokia app has more gains, it makes the competition even harder for Google.

Nokia mobile phone users can download the app from the official website of Nokia. At present, the app can be downloaded for just a few of Nokia models. However, in near future all Nokia cell phones will have the access to Ovi apps.

It might also enable Nokia get back the business it has been losing recently. It’s time for Nokia to hit back industry. Having said, you can never predict when other Smartphone maker will emerge with something even more useful and counter back Nokia. Until then, let’s wait and watch how good the new feature of Nokia does in the market and among its buyers and prospects.

 

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Mobile Phone Deals With Automatic Cash Back, Friend Or Foe?

January 29th, 2010
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This brief article will explain the concept of the best mobile phone deals with automatic cash back. It will start by defining what automatic cash back acutally is and then move on to talk about how it is really used as an excellent incentive with contract mobile phone deals for customers.

Instant cash back is a concept understood as the merchant, store or shop handing the customer money without any catches or any required role of the customer other than to buy the product. There is no need to follow harsh and hard to follow terms and conditions to claim your cash back, which is the best and largest benefit of automatic cash back.

So how is this related to the best mobile phone deals? Mobile phone merchants advertise contract mobile phone offers on their website with many incentives to try and win as many loyal customers as possible in comparison the their competitors. Merchants do this by showing the customer what they want, which is to lower their monthly line rental in affect and save the customer large sums of money, by offering them automatic cash back. The customer would pay the full line rental to the network but since the merchant is giving away money to the customer the client can use this money to pay for part of their network line rental charges.

The merchant draws the customer to their product and offer and the customer buys the best mobile phone deal, thereafter waiting for his cash back. Provided the customer does not cancel the contract within the cool off period the merchant will either send a cheque by post or via bank transfer to pay the customer their guaranteed automatic cash back within a short period of time. Merchants decide the period of time to wait before senfing their customers any sort or form of automatic cash back, and this can vary between 14 days right up to around 2 months.

Thus in effect the customer pays less out of his own pocket towards the network line rental charge per month. It is also very probable that the Apple iPhone deals with automatic cash back will soon be available.

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Get Ready To Bing Things On Your iPhone

January 29th, 2010
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Ever since Google has entered the mobile phone industry with the release of Nexus One, Apple Google battle seems to become worse. At the moment Google is the default search engine on iPhones. Unfortunately, now this will not be the case.

Most probably Apple will group up with Microsoft and set Bing as the default search engine for iPhone users. If you continue to be dubious what Bing is: Bing like google is a search engine from Microsoft. What sets Bing in a different league than other search engines like Yahoo, Google is its visual features. The backdrop of the Bing home page changes always and there are important information shared concerning the picture and things related to it. However, the search results are not that good when compared to Google. Nevertheless, one should definitely take a look at Bing for its layouts (Personally, I use BIng just for its homepage).

Getting back to our topic, Bing may take the place of Google on iPhones. This can be a big loss to Google and a big accomplishment to Microsoft. Initially Google and Apple were two biggies of two dissimilar sectors. but now Google has gotten into the Cell phone market and may be in future it might also give hard opposition to Apple. (Though at present you don’t have Smartphone which is as sought after as iPhone. You would say Blackberry, but it provides services to a specific segment as opposed to iPhone that is coveted by everyone.) The guys at iphonehelp say if change inthe search engine happens, Microsoft may become the majorsearch engine and will overtake Google.

Doubtful what they mean by ‘overtake’: Just for iPhone people or will it also have an impact on the usage routine on Desktops and Laptops.  Incase that occurs, that would be news. After all decade of being accustomed to Google, will shifting to Bing really feel alright? I know I just said I like Bing but not as much as Google.

 

 

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