Showing posts with label VoIP. Show all posts

How to Choose A Wireless Carrier

Choosing a wireless carrier can depend on several factors, including coverage, pricing, plans, customer service, and device compatibility. Here are some steps to help you choose a wireless carrier:

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How to Fix your Cell Phone Coverage

If you're experiencing poor cell phone coverage, there are several steps you can take to try and improve the situation. Here are some potential solutions:

There are plenty of cloud phone systems, and choosing the right one for your business requirements can be a daunting task. Do you know what a cloud phone system is? The service enables one to access calls over the internet. Here, you can store the data in a cloud system. This makes it a durable and cost-effective option.

The small business VoIP working on the cloud requires a stable internet connection. The service should offer business-friendly features to make it easy for beginners to use it. If it runs using optical fibers, it becomes easy to establish a stable connection between callers. Besides, you can collect data and store it in a cloud computing system by following simple steps.

Benefits that Cloud Phone System Offers

· It is an excellent sure data center to opt for

· You can get access to the data through the cloud system by following simple steps

· It saves time to store data in the cloud and gives it the best encryption

· Confidential data handling becomes less expensive

So, you only need to afford the cost of an internet connection to make your calls. The communication needs of your small business require one monthly bill to afford. This helps to maintain a smooth connection with customers and keep the smooth business going. This is where the small business VoIP service is reliable. The better the VoIP service, the more reliable you are to contact customers.

Simple Features of Cloud Phone Service for Business

Irrespective of your business's size, adding the cloud phone service is affordable and brings in a plethora of benefits for your organization.

· Easy Setup - The fast and easy setup process makes it a perfect pick for small businesses. It becomes easy to establish a quick connection and bring in customers

· Flexibility of Service – It enables the professional handling of calls and easily connects with customers in quick time.

· Record Calls – The cloud system enables easy call recording options and quick customer performance evaluation.

· Top-notch Security – The cloud system offers the best use of technology and top-notch confidential business data security. Also, backup hardly takes time using this platform

· Set Custom Availability – The cloud phone service enables to set custom working hours even when customer care executives are not available. This increases the chance of communicating with customers and secures potential leads for your business.

Therefore, having a cloud phone service for your small business has become a necessity, and it brings in a plethora of benefits for the business. The cloud VoIP is simple to implement with a huge impact on business growth and boosts the sales funnel.

5 Reasons Why You Must VPN for Private Web Browsing (VPN)

A Virtual Private Network is a secure tunnel established between your PC and a VPN server and all your web traffic is encrypted and sent through the tunnel. When you use a VPN connection, your actual IP address is masked and it becomes difficult for eavesdroppers to track your online activity since the entire traffic is encrypted through the VPN tunnel. Though using a VPN connection will slow down your bandwidth by 30-40%, there are several advantages of using a secured VPN tunnel for private web browsing as listed below.

1. Downloading and Uploading of P2P Files without Getting Tracked

Virtual private networks are essential if you wish to enjoy unrestricted access to the internet along with total protection. It is illegal in many countries to download pirated content such as movies, music, TV from Torrent sites. By using a VPN tunnel you can share files with your friends using a P2P (peer-to-peer) connection securely. You can hide your IP address and location using a VPN connection and it will be difficult to trace your online activities.

2. Using Public Wi-Fi Securely

We always feel uncomfortable while using free Wi-Fi available in hotels, airports, shopping malls, and coffee shops, etc. since we are doubtful whether it’s secure and if anyone will eavesdrop on us. Since these Wi-Fi connections are open and your web traffic is not encrypted, it can be easy for hackers to eavesdrop and steal all your confidential data. Any person with access to the same public Wi-Fi can intercept all your web traffic using a simple plugin Firefox tamper data and steal your passwords, contacts, credit card information, and all your confidential data. By using a secure VPN tunnel for browsing, you can make it impossible for hackers to eavesdrop since all your data will be encrypted.

3. Access Geo-Blocked Content and Bypass Content Censorship

When it comes to online streaming, every country has its own rules and regulations which make it difficult to watch your favorite TV shows and music broadcasted by companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, etc. outside the United States. Due to certain copyright agreements, even some videos on YouTube are blocked in certain countries. Using a VPN service helps to masquerade your IP address and change your location as if you are browsing from the US or a different country. This can help you bypass content censorship and watch your favorite videos online. Even some popular services like Gmail, Facebook, and other Google services are blocked in certain countries like China. By using a VPN connection, you can bypass such restrictions and access these services through a secure VPN tunnel.

4. Search securely without your data being logged

All the popular search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo will log all your web search history which is linked to the IP address of your PC. By using a VPN service, you can hide your IP address and hence there won’t be logging related to your search history which allows you to maintain your privacy during web browsing.

5. Secure your VoIP calls

People use Skype, Google Duo, Lync, and other services for online chatting through VoIP calls. Hackers can eavesdrop on your Voice-over-IP calls easily using certain promiscuous monitoring tools. Hence, you should secure your VoIP calls using a VPN tunnel so that all your voice data will be encrypted and sent through the tunnel. This ensures greater privacy and protection of your sensitive information.

A VPN connection can also be used to bypass any restrictions made by the network administrator in your workplace or school. There are VPN products available in the market and you should compare the pros and cons of each product before you decide to purchase it. There are comparisons available for different products like the article Expressvpn vs Nordvpn which describes the performance, features, customer service, and pricing of both products.

T-Mobile Digits Is Huge Carrier Game Changer!

One phone number for multiple devices: Works Android Phones, iPhones, iPads.

With DIGITS, your T-Mobile number works across virtually all your connected devices—phones, tablets, wearables and computers. And, in another Un-carrier first, DIGITS lets customers put multiple T-Mobile numbers on the same device, so you can combine work, home and personal numbers on a single smartphone.

For example: You can text on your phone, iPad or PC or Mac all at the same time. The messages are all synced on every device. You call also make phone calls on every device. No longer do you have to depend on quality cell phone coverage if you have great wifi. Sign-up Now!

DIGITS marks the first time customers can get a complete solution that lights up numbers on virtually any Internet-connected device, lets you use multiple numbers on one device and delivers carrier-grade calling. DIGITS prioritizes calls from your phone over other data so calls are more reliable with crystal clear HD voice quality and full mobility. That’s because DIGITS is your real wireless number with real wireless calling – not a best-efforts data connection like you get with over-the-top (OTT) Internet calling services. Sign-up Now!

What is Best for Wireless Consumers?

What might actually be the best thing ever for consumers could royally screw the carriers. Twenty years of wireless carrier stifling innovation and counting. I think there are two companies (AT&T and Verizon) plus the cable companies who have held back the US from technology innovation.

Google could become a voice service provider and would unquestionably piss off the carriers who are their "partners". Who wouldn’t expect them to eventually become a voice service provider for wireless maybe through a WiFI network? It's just a matter of time. Google could then make unlocked Android phones available in the U.S. online or through traditional retail channels. I am waiting for the day.

Does MagicJack Work?

Our Review of the Walt Mossberg Review of Magic Jack (DCZ)

By Walt Mossberg When I see a high-tech product (DCZ: with good PR people who get it to you first) that's advertised mainly via frequent hard-sell TV ads as if it were a diet pill, I tend to assume it can't be very good (DCZ: your late to the game if 4M people have purchased?), especially if its price is absurdly low. So, I haven't paid much attention to a product called magicJack, a small $40 adapter for your computer that claims to let you make unlimited domestic phone calls over the Internet with your home telephone free for a whole year—and for just $20 a year thereafter. (DCZ: because it wasn't originally sold through mainstream retail and was hated by the big carriers?)

But after receiving reader requests to review magicJack (DCZ: Why?), I decided to do so. To my surprise, it worked pretty much as advertised. It has a few drawbacks, and extra fees for added services, such as vanity phone numbers. But I found magicJack easy to set up and easy to use, and it yielded decent, if not pristine, call quality. I even tested customer support—a source of complaints online—and found it friendly, fast, and responsive.

Magic Jack is a new device and service that allows you to make cheap phone calls through your computer. Overall, the product works as advertised, Walt Mossberg found. MagicJack looks like an oversized USB flash drive. On one end is a standard USB connector for the PC; on the other is a standard phone jack to plug in a phone. It's compatible with PCs running Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, as well as with all Intel-based Macs. It works with both corded and cordless phones, and comes with software for dialing, though you can also dial directly from a connected phone.

The low annual fee covers calls to and from any phone on any telephone network—landline or cellphone—not just phones connected to computers or to other magicJack. The only restriction is that the numbers called must be in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can also buy low-cost prepaid international minutes, or take your magicJack abroad to make free calls home. You can move it among different computers and locations.

MagicJack can also be used without a phone handset, via a computer headset or the computer's built-in microphone and speakers. There's nothing new about Internet (DCZ: VoIP) phone calls. Companies like Vonage and Skype have been doing it for years. But magicJack is different. It emphasizes calling to and from phones on regular wired and wireless phone networks, and its prices for calls to and from such non-Internet-connected phones are much lower. (DCZ: MagicJack is 2X larger than Vonage with 2M customers and would be curious to see what the service quality performance record is compared to Skype)

For instance, the lowest plan advertised on Vonage's Web site for calling regular phones in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico is $17.99 a month, or about $216 a year, versus magicJack's $20. And Vonage gives you only 500 minutes a month, while magicJack sets no limit. Skype charges per minute or monthly fees for calls to regular phones and an added fee to receive incoming calls. (DCZ: What about Google Voice?)

The maker of magicJack says its low prices are possible because the product is produced by a privately held Florida company called YMAX, which is also a phone carrier (DCZ: also known as a CLEC). The company also runs ads inside its software. You can buy the device at a wide variety of stores, even drugstores and convenience stores. (DCZ: Do you think they might actually make more money off of location-based advertising eventually?)

I tested magicJack on both a PC and a Mac. The software resides inside the magicJack itself and installs each time you connect it. In my tests, I made and received calls on both computers, using a single landline phone and using a cordless-phone system in my house after plugging its base station into the magicJack. In the latter case, I could make and receive calls from cordless phones all over my house. I exchanged calls with both landline phones and cellphones from the magicJack. The call quality was good, except for a few times when the connection got scratchy for a second or two. Most of the people I called said they couldn't tell I wasn't on a regular call. The system offers voice mail, call forwarding, and conference calls, and you can save contacts. A couple of times I didn't get an immediate dial tone and had to hang up and try again.

The biggest downside of the magicJack compared with regular phone service is that you have to be running an Internet-connected computer, with a magicJack installed anytime you want to make or receive calls. (DCZ: It also works with WiFi?) Also, as with all Internet phone systems, you have to register your address with 911 emergency systems. With magicJack, you get a new phone number. The company says it is working on allowing you to port your existing landline number. You can keep your landline number for use on some phones or when you're not using magicJack.

I found magicJack worked better on Windows than on the Mac. (DCZ: Not a shocker) At one point, magicJack customer support had to send me software to patch the Mac version. But the company claims it is fixing that with a new Mac version coming soon.

YMAX also says it plans to roll out this year a Skype-like service that won't require any magicJack hardware, just a PC or an iPhone. It also plans a new version of magicJack to turn cellphones into wireless magicJack handsets. (DCZ: This is going to be called the Femto Jack)

I don't know if those diet pills in the TV ads work. (DCZ: Direct response marketing works) But magicJack does.

10 Reasons Why The FCC is a Joke

1) FCC evaluates competition locally and not Nationally. Are they stuck in the '90's?
2) FCC is funded by Verizon, AT&T & Comcast, and not taxpayers.
3) No transparency & FCC complaints go into a mysterious black hole

4) FCC thinks rural carriers have a fair competition with National carriers.
5) FCC violated our trademark and tried to replicate our dead zones service.
6) FCC trusts AT&T lies and propaganda.
7) It takes 10 years for FCC to force Verizon & AT&T to roam for regional carriers
8) FCC tried to ban cell phone signal boosters at the request of carriers
9) FCC refuses to acknowledge consumers getting screwed and our data.

10) FCC Staffers leaving to become a lobbyist for telecom companies.

Wireless Network Armageddon in 2012

The analysis compiled three notable studies on mobile data traffic growth from Cisco Systems, Coda Research, and the Yankee Group. The average of these three studies estimates mobile data traffic to grow 5x between 2009-2011, 20x between 2009-2013, and 35x between 2009-2014. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski indicated that these studies were done before the iPad/tablet boom and therefore the growth may actually be understated. Our study shows that cell site growth is 7% while decelerating and Wi-Fi growth is accelerating to around 40%. in the U.S.

There is obviously going to be a spectrum deficit and the pain that consumers are feeling is going to get even worse. Some solutions trying to tackle the problem include hardware at each cell site to optimize the radio networks, offloading data to Wi-Fi and femtocells. Media optimization and compression will likely be used as well and might be more cost-effective. However, ultimately there will be 10-20 times more Wi-Fi networks and soon there will be more organic Wi-Fi management companies like Boingo, Fon & Google Wifi (TBD) to help users access the almost free networks.

Why is T-Mobile WiFi Calling is Not Free?

Why is T-Mobile WiFi Calling Not Free

We just spoke with a friendly T-Mobile customer service representative who took the time to look up & read the actual billing policy. Wifi calling is be billed exactly like normal cell phone tower calls just like nights & weekends, my faves, & mobile-to-mobile. The Wifi usage minutes will be reflected on your bill, unfortunately. The question remains will this last forever as Google Voice and Skype start to steal revenue and minutes from the carrier. One of the benefits of making Wifi phone calls is to save money and not pay $1.25 per minute to make calls overseas. To do this most iPhone and Android users have used the Skype, Truphone or Google Voice apps to make cheap calls that range from .02-.05 cents per minute. Since you are not using T-Mobile's network and using free wifi, it doesn't make any sense to still pay the ridiculous rates of $1.25 per minute to make calls overseas and this will need to change.

T-Mobile has had a reputation for having an inferior network to Verizon, Sprint & AT&T in some areas. However, if you live in a major metropolitan area the coverage is pretty good. For many T-Mobile users who live in heavily wooded areas, the hills or simply where a cell phone tower signal does not reach into their home. Wifi is now an option to make and receive phone call.

Wifi phone calling endorsed by the carrier is a major industry breakthrough as all of the major carriers have been putting this development off for about a decade for fear of cannibalizing their overprice voice subscription business. For the millions of people who don't have a signal in their home or office all you have to is have an Android phone and it will update your system automatically to make calls.

T-Mobile has been the one US carrier that has not taken a femtocell strategy of fixing in-building coverage. Instead, they have partnered with Kineto app that allows Android phone users to make Wifi phone calls. This is interesting because Kineto was VC funded many years ago with a femtocell strategy and quickly changed course to adapt to the market that wasn't willing to pay $200+ for the network device.

EVDO Advantages Over Satellite & WiFi

EVDO Advantages Over Satellite Internet & WiFi

Always on with seamless roaming assuming coverage
Fully portable
You are your own hotspot and not relying on someone else's internet connection
Goes beyond the 300-ft range from a "hotspot"
Access corporate VPN (virtual private network) get a cellular signal via a secure, encrypted signal
Can provide service outside of cable-modem or DSL areas
Relative low cost with high capacity – allows rich web browsing and application usage.
VOIP compatible with Skype, Google Voice or Magic Jack

How Does EVDO Work

EVO stands for Evolution Data Optimized and works similarly to the way your cell phone operates in that it relies on signal from a wireless tower rather than a physical connection like a phone line or cable. An EVDO modem (often referred to as an "aircard") receives the signal and allows you to connect to the internet -it's as simple as that! EVDO modems come in as a 3G Router. Most 3G EVDO service plan have a 5 gig cap but some do not have any data cap.

Why Use EVDO?

Line of site issues
Data latency
Can't get DSL or broadband at your home or office
Can't get satellite broadband
Gamers and traders people who want fast persistent connections.

Who uses EVDO?

There are countless reasons to use EVDO and we have helped customers get set up for a huge variety of applications! Below are just a few common ways people use EVDO:

Mobile applications: Cars, trucks, RV's, commercial service/fleet vehicles, shuttles, carpool/vanpool, transit (busses, trains, ferries), taxis/limos, private/commercial vessels Portable uses: Mobile work teams, trade shows, conferences, conventions, vacations, commute access, emergency response setup

Fixed-location customers: Backup to cable/DSL/T-1, dial-up alternative, satellite alternative

How does EVDO compare to other technologies?

The best aspect of EVDO (to most users) is the mobility it offers, but EVDO is also FAST! With a good signal, EVDO Rev A averages about 600-1400Kbps download with upload speeds averaging between
500-800Kbps. Here is how it stacks up to other common internet technologies:

EVDO Rev A: 600Kbps - 1,400Kbps Down (with bursts to 3.1Mbps); 500Kbps-800Kbps Up (with bursts to 1.8Mbps)
EVDO Rev 0: 400 - 1000Kbps Down (with bursts to 2.0 Mbps); 50 - 100Kbps Up (with bursts to 144Kbps)
1xRTT: 50Kbps - 100Kbps with bursts up to 144kbps Down/Up
EDGE (2G): 50Kbps - 100Kbps Down/Up
HSPA: 700-1700kbps Down; 500-1200kbps upload
DSL: Varies based on provider. Average appoximately 1500Kbps Down; 128Kbps Up
Cable: Varies based on provider. Average appoximately 1000-5000Kbps Down; 200-800Kbps Up
Satellite: 512Kbps - 1500Kbps Down; 128 - 256Kbps Up
Dial-Up: 56Kbps Down/Up

Skype on Android Phones is Finally Here

Skype has finally released their an application for the Android phone enabling voice calls over VoIP. 50% of homes and businesses do not have seamless wireless voice coverage for quality conversations while Wifi and broadband is growing rapidly. Skype is a great alternate solution to fixing coverage inside a home or office building where a cell phone signal is not present. Its also a great solution while you are traveling overseas and want to avoid the hefty roaming rates that carriers charge while using other networks.

Try pulling your SIM card out of your smart-phone for a few days and just use Wifi services. Using Skype and Google Voice over Wifi works pretty good and you are less likely to drop calls. Who knows you just might find yourself reducing your data and voice plan down to the minimal amount and save yourself lots of money each month.

Skype has released a client for Android mobile handsets, running Android OS version 2.1 or higher. With Skype for Android, smartphone users globally can now experience the benefit of Skype while on go using either a Wifi or mobile data connection. Market or consumers can visit https://www.skype.com to find out more details about how to get the application.

Skype for Android enables users to:

· Make free Skype-to-Skype calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G)* to other Skype users anywhere in the world using Skype’s SILK codec for CD-like audio quality.

· Make low rate Skype Out calls to landline or mobile phones

· Send and receive instant messages to one or a group of friends on Skype

· Synchronize contacts between Skype and the native address book and after synchronization place Skype calls directly from the native address book.

· See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or chat

· Import names and numbers to the Skype application from the native address book

· Receive calls on their Skype online number

T-Mobile Customers Can Unlock Their Phones

To my surprise, if you are a loyal T-Mobile you can unlock your phone for free with the carrier and it will not void the warranty. As a loyal customer, this will NOT void the warranty on the phone and entitle you to the same service and return policies. I experienced this excellent customer service today as I was preparing for my trip to Europe. I asked them if I could unlock my phone so I could purchase an international SIM card to make calls while traveling in Europe and Ireland. The answer they gave me was we can help you unlock your phone just give us your IME number and we will send you an email instruction you how to do it. I would like to give T-Mobile an award for this tremendous customer service and they should be recognized for this leadership. If any AT&T or Verizon customer has had the same experience I would like to know about it. I won't hold my breath waiting.

Why would I want to purchase a SIM card versus roaming on T-Mobile? The cost in Europe for US customers is $15 per megabyte to download data and $1.25 cents per minute to make phone calls. I can't blame them for charging this but its a bit outrageous and may surprise many customers who don't turn off data roaming while traveling outside the US.

Another alternative is to take out your SIM card and make calls on Wi-FI with Truphone, Nimbuzz Skype on some phones or another VoIP mobile app. The sound quality is pretty good and the rates vary from .02 cents per minute up to .20 cents per minute depending on if the call is to a landline or a mobile phone. You can also purchase a SIM card from a company like Truphone Local Anywhere for $30 so you can take advantage of the local data plans and calling rates. This will avoid the costly international roaming charges.

My plan while traveling to Europe is to take two phones. My old G1 Android phone without a SIM card for making WiFI VoIP phone calls and my Samsung Vibrant for data roaming with a new SIM card that I will purchase when I land. If anyone has any suggestions of data SIM cards to buy while traveling in Ireland and the UK please let me know?

10 Things A Facebook Phone Could Improve

Creating a better mobile phone experience could help Facebook as it competes against Google for location based advertising dollars. Google might not be #1 at social, but it’s clearly trying to get better, and it will soon will better social media and sharing features. One of Google’s best assets is its growing user base of Android phones and this Facebook needs to leverage this. A Facebook Android phone could help give the social media giant more leverage and have a huge impact on their mobile advertising-based platform. Here are 10 things a Facebook phone would do for its' users and the changing industry:

1) Improved address book features and automatic updates.
2) Better instant messaging, VoIP and video chat with people you know and trust
3) Never use voicemail or get a busy signal again with presence indicators
4) Improved GPS applications & privacy settings for location-based application
5) Improved group scheduling, notification and RSVP features
6) Group chat or instant location conference calls for events and meetings
7) Mobile payments and a new "Groupon like" coupons
8) Location-based advertising for stuff I actually might want.
9) Group cell phone buying plans for unlocked phones (500M+ users)
10) Better social gaming and location-based sharing features.

Which carrier would Facebook likely choose in the US? I think Facebook would like launch as a Sprint MVNO using the new 4G network.

Skype Mobile Not Available on T-Mobile

T-Mobile Spokeswoman Catherine Zeta Jones Should be Angry

Verizon seems to have cornered the Skype market as Skype Mobile apps are no longer available in the Android Marketplace for my T-Mobile phones. Its a shame that Skype has sold itself out to Verizon and it doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. I guess an IPO will make you reach out for any revenue possible and sometimes that mean screwing your loyal customers. Making phone calls over Wifi used to be possible with Skype and not with Google Voice. Google Voice does not seem to work in Wifi only mode and I am very disappointed to see this. Making calls while traveling internationally is a major rip off and Skype used to be the solution for this. I will have to start using another VoIP app like Truphone to make my calls via Wifi while traveling.

How to Save Money on Phone Bills

One of the biggest expense items for companies who have large mobile workforces are the monthly cell phone bills. Companies typically do their best to get all employees under one carrier in order to theoretically save money and get a deal. However, how do you know that you are getting a deal?

1) Are you buying new phones for each employee to be on the same plan?
2) Are you auditing the monthly call activity over your employees?
3) Are they getting the best service possible in your area?
4) If all of your employees are on one carrier are you locked into a "good" price?
5) Should you be encouraging your employees to use free WiFi more often instead of the expensive 4G or WiMax plans?
6) What if you could give each of your employees a choice of which carrier and the handset or smart phone they wanted to use?
7) Are you employees spending too much time managing their phone services and reporting expenses?
8) Are you wasting valuable productivity time provisioning phones to your new employees and getting phones back from employees no longer with the company?
9) Are you using VoIP for international calls?
10) Lastly, are you auditing and keeping track of the coverage service quality that your employees are getting and using this as leverage when you renew your contract?

Here are some companies that might help you make cheaper international calls with VoIP and audit your cell phone call activity through the carrier. Auditing your call activity is very important these days as dropped calls and coverage quality is actually getting worse as data speeds increase. Most of these hosted solutions working with cell phones using unified communications tools and are sold directly to small businesses and directly to consumers.

Google Voice - Gives small businesses a second business number and makes voicemail more efficient. It will also save money on international calls.
Skype - Great for video conferencing and making international calls and for businesses of any size.

Second Voice - Large enterprises can audit and manage employee phones by adding a second number to an existing employee cell phone.

Toktumi - Hosted PBX that gives employees a second number and has apps for your smartphone

Truphone - Cheap VoIP calls from your mobile phone over WiFi
Ring Central - Get 800 numbers and virtual PBX with VoIP for calls
Vonage - VoIP phone service target to home users
Fonality - Viritual PBX in a box for small to medium sized enterprises
Virtual PBX - Hosted PBX for small business
Vbuzzer - VoIP software for PC

Free Google Voice + Video + IM + Gmail = Awesome

Free Google Voice + Video + IM + Gmail = Awesome

The "holy grail" of unified communications has arrived . . . a solution that ties my email (Gmail), instant messenger (Google Talk), Video Chat, Free SMS, Voicemail (Google Voice), Google Calendar, and Google Docs all together into one organized and simple hosted solution. You can't beat the price which is currently free and it just might fix your cell phone coverage as well. What finally blew me away was the last step of choosing my new phone number and you can search by keywords, numbers, and zip code. I typed in my mobile phone number and my new number was only one digit in the area code different. I now have a (310) and a (317) phone numbers and that is cool!

As a small business owner, this is an ideal solution and could save you thousands of dollars per year if you take the time and get organized. It's also a solution for the many millions of office and home cell phone users who don't have any mobile phone reception in their homes or office. It is now so simple to simply dial the number with one click that you can leave your cell phone in the car (if you forward your phone number). No more dead zones or dropped calls that seem to be getting worse on smartphones that consume more data.

This is a timely announcement by Google as VoIP competitor Skype now has over 500M+ users and is positioning itself for an IPO. I think Google Voice will now quickly catapult itself as a big competitor to Skype. The recent announcement of Google calls from PC to Phone is somewhat unique as Skype currently charges for these calls with their Skype Out product. It is cheap as well but I assume Google Advertising has thought through the math and figure that they can make it free and make more money on the advertising served up. SMART!

It will also be very interesting to see how tightly integrated the new Google Voice features are with the Android operating system and the New Features on the T-Mobile G2 Phone phone that will be coming out in November.

Click to Dial from your Contacts or Instant Messanger

Google Voice Transcription on PC or MAC

Google Voice on iPhone and Android

10 Reasons Why Skype Will Make You Rich

How to Get a Free Sprint 3G Femtocell

Sprint Airave 3G EV-DO Femtocell

Sprint will apparently begin offering FREE femtocells for its "qualified customers" that have reception problems on their 3G / EV-DO phones. Sprint's new Airave femtocell now supports 3G which technically should be 3X faster (500-700 kbps kilobytes per second ) than their 2G Samsung femtocell of 150 (kbps). The updated Airave Access Point (aka what is a femtocell?) uses a customer's broadband internet connection to route calls back to the Sprint network and is being marketed by Sprint as a mini cell tower. It covers up to 5,000 square feet and supports up to six calls simultaneously. The Airave will be available in stores to customers with specific in-building reception issues.

Sprint 2G Airave femtocell has been around for almost 3 years since 2007 and sells for $100. For some reason that makes no business sense, Sprint will still continue to offering its' 2G data version of Airave for $99.99, plus a required $4.99/month plus an activation fee of $10 for a single line or $20 multi-line plans. We don't have a clue why they would continue charging for a old product other than possibly trying to avoid cannibalizing their existing customers.

Sprint is riding the data wave that AT&T creating launched their AT&T femtocell earlier this year. Sprint seems to be doing it right and offering the device for free which is how it should be. We are not quite sure what criteria will get you the "qualified customer" status yet but here are some ideas below that might help get you a free femtocell:

Find out if the Sprint 3G femtocell is available in your market.
Use Sprint Dead Zones Map map to share reception problems in your neighborhood (see map below)
Complain a lot to Sprint customer service that your home reception is poor
Document your dropped calls on a daily basis using your monthly bill
Show Sprint that you have been a customer for many years
Show Sprint that you have multiple Sprint phones in the house
Show Sprint that you have multiple subscribers in the house
Show Sprint that you are a Clearwire customer
Become friendly with your local Sprint store sales manager
Find out when your contract expires and use renewal as leverage

If you know of any other factors that could help influence Sprint to give you a free femtocell please submit in the comments below or email us. See our map below to build your case to the carrier and use the map to show problems in your area.