Telephone Ringing Again? No, You Don't Have to Answer It!

History 1877 - The very first permanent outdoor telephone wire was completed. It stretched a distance of just three miles.

I first wrote about tyrant telephone callers four years ago, and recent unpleasantness has made me revisit this subject. What is it about the telephone that makes people think its imperious summons always has to be answered, right this minute?! Consider the following, please.

It's potentially deadly for non-professionals to answer a phone when they're driving a vehicle. However, unless it's your job to answer the phone immediately at work, for example, you don't have to race to answer the phone anywhere. The truth is, there are calls that don't have to be answered at all. Where, then, does society get the nerve to put pressure on people to drop whatever they're doing, to speak with someone else at an inconvenient time?

History 1955 - Saw the beginning of the laying of transatlantic telephone cables.

The very sounds that landlines and cell phones now make can be reason enough to snatch them up, I suppose, just to save your sanity. But why not just turn them off? The irritating rings, tones, and music can be as bad as the sound from a frustrated child; he's banging over and over on piano keys he doesn't want to play in the first place. Or the phones irritate as much as the two weeks of beeping from a low battery, before the Facilities crew gets around to replacing it.

Why do we bother to have answering machines at home and voice mail at the office, if we aren't going to use either one? There's not much that's more annoying than a spouse with a head cold, bellowing at you to answer the phone, when Caller ID clearly indicates either "unknown caller," or yet another toll-free call coming in. (Privacy Manager, from the phone company, is a dubious solution. It can sink you, if you're job hunting, so disable it or cancel it. Don't make it hard for would-be employers to reach you. )

History 1946 - Worlds first commercial mobile phone service put into operation. It could link moving vehicles to a telephone network via radio waves.

What many of us didn't realize until recently is that many invasive phone calls are now dialed by a machine. When we answer such a call, there's a silence, while we inanely say, Hello?…Hello?... Hello? During that pause, the machine is connecting us to a live telemarketer. So, if no one answers rightaway, we need to hang up immediately! They even have the nerve to call four times in 40 minutes, if you do ignore them.

History 1876 - Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, beating Elisha Gray by a matter of hours.

Outside of irritating a sick person in the house, intrusive callers don't know or care that you might be in the middle of downloading bug fixes and enhancements (otherwise known as SR1 and SP3) from Microsoft. Even with DSL, such upgrades can take a couple of uninterrupted hours, after you've reinstalled Office. The reason such callers don't care is that they regard themselves as the most important people in the world, and anything you're doing can be set aside.

History 1874 - Principal of the telephone was uncovered.

What's worse, perhaps, is that it isn't just telemarketers, solicitors and pollsters, who can be rude. People from your own volunteer activities (church, community, or profession) think it's perfectly OK to call very early or very late in the day. After all, it's for a good cause, right? And heaven help you, if your employer makes you carry a pager or a company cell phone. It never occurs to Type A pushers that the rest of us function much better, when we unwind in the evenings, and get a healthy amount of rest and sleep.

And mothers, are you guilty of this, too? That is, do you expect your grown-up kids to drop everything, so you can nag one more time? Or do you call to be supportive and reassuring, which is what they need from you the most in today's hectic world?

History 1888 - Common battery system developed by Hammond V. Hayes, allows one central battery to power all telephones on an exchange, rather than relying on each units own battery.

The bottom line is that the phone doesn't have to be answered on the first ring, unless you are expecting an important call and/or don't want to alert everyone else in the house. Even then, extensions make it easy for others to listen in.

History 1900 - First coin operated telephone installed in Hartford, Connecticut.

If you're the caller, you might try being a little more considerate. And if you're the one who's paying the phone bill, turn off the ringer and let the answering machine pick up the calls. You'll save more than your sanity.

Shirley Ann Parker is a full-time technical writer. She is also the author of Discoveries: A Journey Through Life, a delightful collection of short stories about the joys and frustrations of family life and friendships. Discoveries is available from http://www.bbotw.com and other online bookstores. Read more about Discoveries at http://www.shirleyannparker.com, and see more of Shirley's creative work at http://www.cafeshops.com/topazcoveplus

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

How to Make Free International Calls From Your Computer

Tips: Now that's not a bad list. The catch, a minor one, is that international calls for trial users are limited to one minute.

Did you know that it's possible to make free international calls from your computer? That's right - as long as you have an internet connection and the right hardware on your computer, it is really easy to make totally free international long distance calls.

You can now talk to your friends and relatives overseas for free using some simple software available on the internet. You should have a broadband internet connection for the best call quality, but it is possible to make calls over a dial up connection.

Here's how to make free international calls over the internet:

• First of all, make sure your computer has a sound card with a speaker and microphone jack.

Tips: Finally do your research find a provider that is suitable to your needs don't compromise on quality or you may be disappointed, and start saving on all your calls.

Look at the back of your PC and see where your speakers are connected; this is your sound card. A sound card usually has three small "holes" that are usually color coded light blue, light green and/or light pink. If you look carefully you might see symbols next to each hole indicating a microphone and speakers. Most computers that are under 5 years old will have a sound card.

• If you have speakers connected, purchase a computer microphone and connect it to the microphone jack on your sound card.

If you don't have speakers, or want to have better sound quality, purchase a computer headset with microphone and connect it to the appropriate jacks on your sound card.

Tips: VoiPStunt Free International Calls to a Range of Countries At the time of writing, VoiPStunt were providing free software which allows free calls between peers.

• Download free internet phone software from the VoIP provider of your choice. VoIP stands for "Voice Over Internet Protocol", which is the method for making phone calls over the internet.

Popular VoIP internet phone service providers are Skype, Gizmo, Net2Phone and WebPhone. It doesn't matter which one you use - the important thing is that everyone you talk with uses the same VoIP provider.

• Install the software and register for a free account. Remember the user name you choose, as this is how the people you call will know you.

• Start the software and follow the instructions to configure your equipment and make a free test call to make sure everything is set up correctly.

• When your equipment and software is set up and the test call is fine, email your friends and family and ask them to do the same thing you did - get a headset or microphone and speakers, go to the VoIP provider's website to download and install the software, set up a free account and make a test call.

Tips: We show you how You CAN make cheap international calls and lower your phone bills through the use of cheap prepaid phone cards, call back services, cheap international Phone Cards, dial-arounds, VoIP, Internet calling and more...

• Share your VoIP internet phone service user name with everyone you want to make calls with. Everyone should enter each other's user names into the VoIP software's "contacts" list. This is how you will "dial" and connect with your international friends and family.

• Email your friends and/or family and decide on a time to talk. Make sure both parties are online, and that everyone has their internet phone service software running.

• Make your international call by clicking on the person's user name within your contact list and then clicking the "dial" icon within the program. You will hear a ringing sound on your side, and the other party will hear the ringing also. They may also see a message on their computer screen telling them that you are trying to call.

Tips: VoIP services are improving at an alarming rate, quality of sound is now on par with land lines, it is now possible to use your regular phone in conjunction with your Voip service

• When the person you are calling clicks on the "answer" icon on his/her internet phone service software, you will be connected. You can then talk to each other over the internet for free.

• When done talking, simply click the "hang up" icon on the VoIP software.

This type of VoIP internet phone service is called "softphone" because it requires a computer and software to make phone calls over the internet. Calls between users of the same VoIP service provider (i.e. Skype, Net2Phone, Gizmo, etc…) are always free, so it's easy to keep in touch with international friends and relatives. If desired, you can hook up an inexpensive webcam and make free international video phone calls too!

Tips: These are now digital signals (against the analog signals from your regular telephone lines) that your phone will be converting into a much clearer and better voice reproduction quality.

If you are interested in learning more about how to make free international calls with VoIP, visit Debbie's page on VoIP Softphone Service - Free VoIP

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Use your Computer to make Cheap Long-Distance Telephone Calls

History 1877 - The very first permanent outdoor telephone wire was completed. It stretched a distance of just three miles.

What is ‘VoIP'?

Simply put, VoIP refers to the carriage of voice signals over the Internet. PC to Phone VoIP refers to using your 'Internet-connected' computer to make calls to conventional telephones around the world. Whereas traditional telephone calls take place over fixed line ‘circuit switched' networks, VoIP calls are routed through the Internet using a far more efficient method known as ‘packet switching'.

Whilst carrying voice data more efficiently via the Internet is a benefit, the main advantage that VoIP has is one of cost. For example, a typical PC to Phone VoIP call to a telephone in the United States from anywhere in the world generally runs at just a few cents per minute. Keep in mind, the clarity/quality of PC to Phone calls is usually as good and in many cases better than that of a comparable Phone to Phone call.

History 1918 - was estimated that approximately ten million Bell system telephones were in service throughout the U.S.

How can it be so cheap?

Herein lies the beauty of PC to Phone calls. By using the Internet to route your calls, long-distance charges imposed upon you by the major telecommunications companies (Bell, Sprint, AT&T, etc) are all but eliminated. Furthermore, many of the governmental levies and fees associated with using the highly regulated ‘traditional' telephone networks are also avoided. The result? Extremely cheap, long distance calling to conventional telephones around the world with little or no loss of call quality.

History 1876 - Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, beating Elisha Gray by a matter of hours.

So how does it work?

In a typical PC to Phone call, your computer receives your voice input via a microphone and then translates your voice into a ‘data packet'. This packet of data is then transmitted via the Internet to as close as possible to the physical destination of the telephone you're calling. Your voice ‘data packet' is then switched to the conventional telephone network and routed to the phone that you are calling. All of this data transmission, translation and switching takes place transparently and extremely quickly. Chances are that the person whom you're calling would have no idea that you're talking to them using your computer.

So what do you need?

In order to start making long-distance telephone calls using your computer, you'll need a computer that's connected to the Internet, a microphone and speakers (a headset with a boom microphone is ideal). It's worth mentioning that although there are several companies that support both the Linux and Macintosh platforms (e.g., www.skype.com), the vast majority of PC to Phone software is designed for use on Windows' compatible PCs. As far as your Internet connection goes, the faster the better (e.g., high speed Cable or ADSL). However, PC to Phone does also work on dial-up Internet connections (the way I access the Internet).

History 1911 - American Telephone and Telegraph (AT & T) acquire the Western Union Telegraph Company in a hostile takeover. They purchased stocks in the company covertly and the two eventually merged.

The next thing to do is choose a PC to Phone Service Provider. These are the companies that provide the software and infrastructure necessary for you to make calls to conventional telephones via the Internet. There are many Service Providers and each have their own benefits and rates so it's a good idea to shop around. Almost all of them allow for pay-as-you-go usage (i.e., on a per minute basis) however some also offer unlimited calling plans to certain destinations for a low monthly fee. Some of the better known Providers include

History 1936 - Research into electronic telephone exchanges began and was eventually perfected in the 1960's with the electronic switching system (SES).

net2phone.com

iconnecthere.com

skype.com

Once you've chosen a Service Provider, you'll need to open an account and deposit funds into that account. If you're reluctant to use your credit card online, many of the PC to Phone companies offer alternative forms of payment (e.g., PayPal, direct deposit, wire transfer, etc.). Next, you'll need to download the ‘softphone' application from your service provider. A softphone is merely the interface program through which you dial the number of the person you're calling and usually only takes a few minutes to download on even the slowest ‘dial-up' Internet connections.

Softphones generally resemble the keypad on conventional telephones and work in much the same way. Depending on your service provider, the manner in which you ‘dial out' will vary. Typically, the softphone will take into account where you are in the world and adjust the dialing settings accordingly. In other words, you'd dial the exact same series of numbers into the softphone that you would if you were using a conventional telephone.

History 1900 - First coin operated telephone installed in Hartford, Connecticut.

Once you've made a few calls to friends and family around the world using your computer, you'll quickly realize the fantastic cost advantages of making ‘PC to Phone' calls versus ‘Phone to Phone' calls.

So what's the catch?

Whilst PC to Phone is terrific, it isn't perfect. There are some disadvantages that you should be aware of and these include:

History 1955 - Saw the beginning of the laying of transatlantic telephone cables.

a) Quality: If you access the Internet via a ‘dial-up' connection (i.e., through a normal telephone line), you may experience call quality degradation if you are surfing the web and talking to someone via PC to Phone at the same time. In other words, the ‘bandwidth' or ‘capacity of your Internet connection' may be limited and this could affect your calling ability.

History 1874 - Principal of the telephone was uncovered.

b) Echo: If you're using computer speakers to hear the person you're talking to, that person may hear an ‘echo' of their own voice. This happens for reasons similar to that encountered with the ‘speakerphone' function on conventional telephones. At the same time as you hear that person's voice coming through your computer speakers, your microphone will also detect the voice and re-transmit the signal back to the person you're talking to. This ‘echo' can easily be avoided by using either a computer headset or by turning your speaker volume down so as to minimize the chance of your microphone picking up and retransmitting the incoming voice signals.

History 1946 - Worlds first commercial mobile phone service put into operation. It could link moving vehicles to a telephone network via radio waves.

c) Cost: If you're calling relatively small and/or remote countries, you should check the rates of the PC to Phone Service Providers' to those countries before signing up for their PC to Phone service. For example, calling a country like Fiji in the Pacific Ocean is almost as expensive using PC to Phone as it is using a conventional telephone.

The reason for these high rates to certain countries is usually due to the PC to Phone Service Provider not having the necessary switching equipment (required for switching your call back to the traditional telephone network from the Internet) physically located in that country.

In these scenarios, your calls are routed through the traditional telephone network for a good proportion of the distance they travel and as such they attract many of the long-distance charges that the traditional networks impose. If you'd like to call one country in particular, it's definitely worth shopping around to find out whether prospective PC to Phone companies have the necessary switching equipment located in that country (and hence, can pass on the savings to you in the form of cheaper rates).

History 1888 - Common battery system developed by Hammond V. Hayes, allows one central battery to power all telephones on an exchange, rather than relying on each units own battery.

So give PC to Phone a try. You've really nothing to lose and have the potential to save yourself a lot of money.

Nathan Smith

Nathan is the operator of http://www.netphonedirectory.com - a directory of PC to Phone and free PC to PC VoIP Service Providers. Nathan currently resides in New Brunswick, Canada

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Choosing an Answering Service: Part II

Tip! It's always in the best interest of small companies to hire an answering service provider to work for the company during the extended business workday, say from 8.00 AM to 8.

In my last article, we covered four basics: 1. take advantage of any free trial periods, 2. watch out for long contracts, 3. get references, and 4. don't be too concerned with high prices. For this article, we will assume that you have diligently followed the 4 steps in the first article and are ready for the next evolution - how to your answering service running smoothly. We will explore a few industry tips & tricks on how to keep your service professional and reliable.

First & foremost, don't ask too much of your call center. This is not meant as don't expect your answering service to do their job, but instead, keep their responsibilities short & sweet. As with any individual, the more tasks they are required to do, the more room arises for error. The main point here is "Shortness Equals Success".

What do I mean by that? First, keep your answer phrase short (i.e. how the operators pick up your line). Second, keep the information they gather from the caller at a minimum. Third, make sure your contact information is not a labyrinth of pager numbers, e-mail addresses, home phone numbers, and cell phone numbers (i.e. call Jim at home, if he is not there, e-mail him, if he does not respond page him and call his cell phone, etc.).

Try to make sure your employees keep their cell phones with them at all times as this seems the best way to keep steady contact with the call center.

Tip! Engaging the services of a call center can provide a number of benefits to businesses, which includes increased sales. However, businesses should consider a number of things first before they sign with a call center because doing so will help them get a reliable answering service that can help them grow their business.

Second, place regular test calls to your call center. Consider your answering service your employee. As with any employee, if left un-supervised, they will start to evolve into a less than model representative of your business. Make sure every 10 or so days you place a test call to your answering service to see how they are managing your calls.

Don't always call at the same time of day, instead try to stagger the times when you call as sometimes the afternoon staff is more efficient then the evening staff or vice versa. If you experience any problems, notify your call center liaison immediately and place another test call shortly thereafter to ensure the problem was rectified.

Tip! A telephone answering service is comprised of a group of individuals who are trained in customer service. Their job is to answer phone calls when someone else can't.

Third, make sure you have a healthy relationship with your call center. Treat them as you would treat your own employee. Be friendly and courteous and you will be treated the same. Imagine your own business and your own clients.

Are there clients that are never satisfied no matter what you do? Would you rather lose their business than spend 10% of your day managing their complaints? Rather then the "the more I yell, the more efficient they will be" premise, try to base your relationship on "the nicer I am, the nicer they will be" premise.

Tip! An answering service could also be used to accept orders for sales. Customers speak directly to a representative who processes the order.

Fourth, perfection is not immediate. Based on the conjecture that your answering service is your employee, they are probably not going to "get it right" the first time you forward your phones. As with any employee, they need time to grow and learn about your business and their duties relative to your needs as a business owner. Have patience, be helpful, keep it simple, and they should flourish.

Todd Cardin is the eastern regional sales manager for Specialty Answering Service (http://www.specialtyansweringservice.net). For more information on Specialty Answering Service, please e-mail us at info@specialtyansweringservice.net or log on to http://www.specialtyansweringservice.net. This article may be reproduced as long as it remains wholly intact.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Choosing an Answering Service: Part I

Tip! An answering service can be used to process applications and schedule appointments. These tasks can also lead to more sales.

What does it take to create an amazing call center? Many businesses have tried answering services and been turned off for reasons ranging from they don't understand my business to pricing issues to rude operators. But, the reality is, small business owners need a break from their business. Finding an efficient live operator answering service to answer calls is a priceless commodity. Throughout this article, I will highlight a few necessities business owners should look into before committing to a service.

First, and most important, test out the answering service before you commit to any contracts. Many services offer a free trial period…one word - "priceless". The only way to know if a service will work for you is to test them out. Watch out for services that offer a trial then have long contracts you must sign. This is reminiscent of a "bait & switch tactic". Services will answer your phones amazingly during the trial, get you to sign a long contract, and then drop the ball. Bad news is, you're locked in to a horrible service.

Tip! Joel Meadowridge is a writer for We Answer where you can find a telephone answering service that delivers superior service for an affordable price.

This brings up the second point, watch out for long contracts. Many answering services are known to switch owners often and hire grossly incompetent operators which result in a serious disruption of quality services. The ideal answering service contract is on a month-to-month term. This forces the call center to be in the hot seat every month. If you have a problem, leave them without penalty.

Thirdly, ask for references. Make sure you get at least 3 references and make sure those references vary by industry. This will prove if the answering service is able to adequately manage calls for many industries. Don't be shy to ask these references the questions most important to you, for instance, 1) how are their hold times, 2) how is their customer service, 3) Are there hidden charges, 4) how long have you been a customer, etc. Also, make sure you call these references after hours so you can see how they manage calls first hand for other businesses.

Tip! A telephone answering service is comprised of a group of individuals who are trained in customer service. Their job is to answer phone calls when someone else can't.

Fourth, price is NOT paramount. More often than not, the cheaper the answering service, the worse the service is. Imagine if you have a $15.00 an hour employee compared to a $6.00 an hour employee. Who do you think will care about your calls more? Which employee is more dedicated to their job? Which employee is "job" oriented, and which one is "career" oriented? Along the same vein, it is not a bad idea to ask what the average operator gets paid.

If you are looking at a few answering services and the price is right for one but the service is more impressive with the other, go for the more expensive service. Remember, main goal of using an answering service is to expand your business. If you have an unreliable service, regardless of how much money you believe they are saving you in the short run, they are ultimately costing you thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

Todd Cardin is the regional sales manager for Specialty Answering Service's Philadelphia office (http://www.specialtyansweringservice.net). This article may be reproduced as long as it remains intact.

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Do You Need An Answering Service?

Tip! Ira Spere is a writer for EFLS . com where you will discover a wealth of resources on an answering service and other related information.

It is nothing short of annoying when a person does not have an answering service. Let's face it. In this day and age, everyone should be able to manage at least an answering machine, right? When it comes to business transactions, it is even more important to have some sort of answering service available to your customers.

Whether they are calling in with orders or calling in to answer questions, you need to have the proper tools for the job and that includes a well qualified answering service.

But, how do you find something that will work for your specific needs? For example, if you need an answering service that is able to make and take appointments for you, then you need someone live on the other end to do this work for you as well as software to help them fit the appointments into your schedule, right?

No, you may be able to find and hire an answering service that simply conveys this information back to your secretary or to you and tells the individuals that are calling that you will call to confirm the information.

Tip! Because a live answering service can do so much more for you than just take messages, choosing which company to work with is a critical decision. Most live answering services are available nationwide and have their own websites where you can check out their specific packages and prices.

There are many set ups for these answering services. You have software programs that can virtually do all the work for you. You have a wealth of live people to call on in various situations as well in organizations and companies that do the work, live, around the clock.

Depending on the quality that you need and the specifics that you are looking for, you'll have the ability to find just the right type of answering service for your needs in no time. Even better is the simple fact that you can find these options ready and waiting for you right here on the web. It is great to know that answering services are able to take care of your business when you are not.

Tip! Others types of answering services include paging services and answering machines. They operate differently, but allow prospective clients and service providers to communicate.

for more information please see http://www.answering-service-help.co.uk

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Telephone Tips, Techniques and Etiquette

History 1888 - Common battery system developed by Hammond V. Hayes, allows one central battery to power all telephones on an exchange, rather than relying on each units own battery.

Whether using the telephone for business or personal use, using this communication tool effectively means being timely, communicating clearly and having the other person's interest in mind.

1 - Plan and schedule your telephone calls so that you can allow time for off-track discussions. If you plan a 10:30am telephone call "schedule" it like you might schedule a face to face meeting: a little extra time, particularly for those you know like to talk!

2 - At the beginning of your call, mention you know you can cover the points needed within time enough for you to make your next appointment, at a stated time. Then as you want to wind up the conversation you can backtrack to restate the appointment you mentioned. Or, you may find that someone will remind you, "Oh, you have to get on to that appointment, right?"

3 - Maybe you prefer to wait until you are into the conversation before needing to ask for an exit. As you near time to say goodbye and find it difficult to end, try saying, "Oh my gosh, I have a long distance call I need to take. Can you hold while I take it?" Your customer or friend will likely say the conversation can pick up later. And, once again, it is the other person who ends the call.

4 - If you have to leave a voice mail, certain elements are important to include: your name, when you are calling, a brief message about your purpose, and a telephone number to return the call to you. If you work in a staffed office and there's another extension of someone as an alternate contact, leave his or her name and extension as well. This last point is being considerate of the other person's time.

5 - When leaving a voice mail make it easy for the person who is taking and likely writing down this information. First, you can say the number slowly by area code, exchange and last digits. For example, say it just as you might write it in the United States: 777-555-1234. Alternately, or even in addition to the divided method, you can repeat your telephone number a second time. Or, you can combine both methods!

6 - Your outgoing message (om) is as important to etiquette as the message you leave when you are the caller. For business protocol it's wise to identify yourself by name. At home, if you want more security, you may want to just state, "You have reached, 777-555-1234." In either environment, state for the caller to leave their name, telephone number and a brief message. If you include the date, "Monday, February 21st," in your om, be certain you change it everyday. If you ever have anyone run out of time with leaving his or her message, you may also want to include, "and there is a 30 second (or whatever time) for your brief message."

7 - The cliché that "time is money," is particularly true for the working person. That we all have the same amount of time is true for everyone. Return your telephone calls on a timely basis, within 24 hours is professional and considerate in either a business or personal setting. Try one of these tips next time you find yourself wanting to be in charge of the telephone.

History 1876 - Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, beating Elisha Gray by a matter of hours.

Copyright© Patricia Weber, http://www.prostrategies.com.

Pat Weber is a coach, certified telelcass leader, and corporate trainer. With her incisive, effective communication skills, her services can help you to accelerate professional and personal results you want, by helping you increase your choices and build your self-confidence. With personal coaching, a teleclass, an online email course or on-site workshop, get what you want, more easily and more often. Visit her website at http://www.prostrategies.com. Contact her for a free coaching session.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Telephone - Cell Phones

History 1911 � American Telephone and Telegraph (AT & T) acquire the Western Union Telegraph Company in a hostile takeover. They purchased stocks in the company covertly and the two eventually merged.

In this article we're going to discuss what is arguably the greatest invention since the first telephone was made over 100 years ago, the cell phone.

The telephone was certainly a great invention. No question about it. We could make calls to our friends to invite them over for dinner, our boss to tell him we'd be out sick and our spouses to tell them we'd be home late for dinner. But once we were out of reach of a phone, our communication with the outside world came to a complete stop. If we had to make an emergency call while out on the road we had to either find a pay phone or some business kind enough to let us use theirs, which wasn't likely.

History 1946 � Worlds first commercial mobile phone service put into operation. It could link moving vehicles to a telephone network via radio waves.

Today, that has all changed with the invention of the cell phone. Actually, the concept of the cell phone began in 1947 when researchers looked at crude mobile car phones and realized that if they used small cells they could increase the traffic range of mobile phones. Unfortunately, the technology needed to do this did not exist yet.

History 1900 � First coin operated telephone installed in Hartford, Connecticut.

It wasn't until 1973 when a man by the name of Dr. Martin Cooper, a former GM for Motorola, made the first call on a portable cell phone in April of that year. He made the call to a rival of his, Joel Engel, who was Bell Labs head of research. Ironically, though, it was Motorola that were first to incorporate to the technology into a portable device, the first one to be designed to be used outside of the car.

History 1874 � Principal of the telephone was uncovered.

In 1977 AT&T and Bell Labs constructed their first cellular system. A year later were the first public trials of this new system with over 2000 trial customers. Two years later, in 1979, the first cellular system was put into use in Tokyo.

It wasn't until 1982 that the FCC finally authorized commercial use of cell phones in the United States. One year later the first cellular phone service was established in the United States called the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS). It was made available in Chicago by a company called Ameritech.

History 1876 � Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, beating Elisha Gray by a matter of hours.

In spite of the incredible demand for cell phones, it took cell phone service 37 years to become available in the United States. But by the year 1987 there were over one million cell phone subscribers and the airwaves were already overcrowded. Because of this, improvements needed to be made, which included increasing frequencies allocation, splitting of existing cells and improving the technology.

Today, we have probably the most sophisticated cell system that anyone could ever want, including cell phones that even take photos. But this hasn't come without many prices to the consumer and the general public around them.

History 1877 � The very first permanent outdoor telephone wire was completed. It stretched a distance of just three miles.

Aside from the high cost of cell service, especially if you go over the minutes allocated to you, there are the increased hazards and annoyances that these phones cause to others, such as going off in the middle of the big finale at a Broadway play or the danger of people using these phones in places like hospitals where the operation of sophisticated equipment can be affected.

Yes, we have our cell phones and all the wonders and headaches that go with them. Like they say, you don't get nothing for nothing.

------------------------------------------------------- Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Telephones -------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Answering Service Reliability

Tip! Because a live answering service can do so much more for you than just take messages, choosing which company to work with is a critical decision. Most live answering services are available nationwide and have their own websites where you can check out their specific packages and prices.

When companies engage the services of a call center for their answering service needs, there are a number of things they should consider before signing with a call center. These include looking at a number of things, like the contract being offered by the call center, and checking out the references that call centers provide.

However, doing so does not ensure that the call center is reliable because the reliability of a call center is measured using a different set of criteria, which involve looking at the actual operations of the call center. The good news is that there are a number ways companies can assess a call center's reliability, including asking the right questions with regard to the operations of the call center.

Tip! Ira Spere is a writer for EFLS . com where you will discover a wealth of resources on an answering service and other related information.

Questions to Ask

To help them in assessing the reliability of a call center, there are a number of questions that companies should ask about the service. One of these include asking about the experience of the call center in terms of how long they have been providing call center services and their clientele. Another important question to ask is on the type of equipment that the call center uses.

This is very important because the type of equipment that a call center uses plays an important role in its operations. As much as possible, companies should engage the services of call centers that use the most up to date technology. Another very important question is about how the call enter ensures the quality of the services they provide through the control systems that they have put in place in their company. Doing so can help companies assess the way a call center ensures that it provides consistently good customer service.

Tip! Just about any business can benefit from an answering service; however, there are some that will benefit more than others. Construction workers and other general contractors need an answering service because their job could depend on it.

As with anything related to business, reliability plays a major role in the success or the failure of a business. This also applies to the answering services that a company engages because, as an extension of the company, call centers should be able to provide reliable and consistent customer service to the clients of the companies they represent. Fortunately, there are a number of ways companies can assess the reliability of a call center, including asking them very important questions about their operations.

Answering Service provides detailed information on Answering Service, Phone Answering Service, Live Answering Service, Internet Answering Service and more. Answering Service is affiliated with Inbound Call Center Pricing.

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Telephone - Answering Machines And Services

History 1888 � Common battery system developed by Hammond V. Hayes, allows one central battery to power all telephones on an exchange, rather than relying on each units own battery.

In this article we're going to discuss one of the most important inventions to compliment the telephone since its creation, the answering machine.

The telephone was invented for the purpose of one person being able to call another person and speak to them. For the person making the call, well, they're the one making it so their role is already completed. But what about the person at the receiving end? They do have to pick the phone up in order for the call to be completed and therein lies the problem with this system. It isn't exactly fool proof. The person on the other end could be in the shower or out of the house altogether and end up missing the call, leaving the person on the calling end frustrated. Can't even leave a message to call them back.

History 1911 � American Telephone and Telegraph (AT & T) acquire the Western Union Telegraph Company in a hostile takeover. They purchased stocks in the company covertly and the two eventually merged.

The answering machine to the rescue.

Even though the answering machine is a fairly new invention it actually goes back to something that was created way back in 1898. In that year, a Danish telephone engineer by the name of Valdemar Poulsen patented what he called a telegraphone. This was the first practical machine for magnetic sound recording and reproduction. It was actually able to record telephone conversations. On a wire, it recorded the varying magnetic fields produced by a sound. The magnetized wire was then used to play back the sound.

History 1946 � Worlds first commercial mobile phone service put into operation. It could link moving vehicles to a telephone network via radio waves.

However it wasn't until 1935 that we got the first automatic answering machine which was invented by Mr. Willy Muller. The first answering machine was laughably huge at three feet tall. It was very popular with Jewish people who were not allowed to answer the phone on the Sabbath.

History 1955 � Saw the beginning of the laying of transatlantic telephone cables.

But the first answering machine sold in the United States was the Ansafone, which was created by inventor Dr. Kazuo Hashimoto for Phonetel. It figures that it would be the Japanese would be the first to come up with our first commercially used answering machine.

The contributions by Phonetel weren't the end of our progress with answering machines, however. Casio actually created what is known as the first commercially viable answering machine in 1971. They created what was called the Telephone Answering Device (TAD) which was the model 400, now seen in the Smithsonian Institute.

History 1876 � Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, beating Elisha Gray by a matter of hours.

Also in 1971 Phonemate gave us its first answering machine which was also the model 400. It worked a little different from Casio's machine in that it weighed 10 pounds and held up to twenty messages on reel to reel tape. It came with an earphone that allowed the user to retrieve messages privately.

The first digital TAD was given to us by the same person who gave us the first Ansafone. He invented it in 1983 and it was given Unites States patent number 4,616,110 and was called Automatic Digital Telephone Answering.

History 1877 � The very first permanent outdoor telephone wire was completed. It stretched a distance of just three miles.

Other enhancements and additions were made to answering machines which now include what is known as voice mail, which was actually created before the digital TAD patent (patent number 4,371,752) but didn't become popular until afterwards. Voicemail was actually invented in 1979 by Gordon Matthews. He sold the first system to 3M company.

History 1874 � Principal of the telephone was uncovered.

------------------------------------------------------- Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Telephones -------------------------------------------------------

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Samsung SGH-x427m Portable Digital Telephone

History 1946 � Worlds first commercial mobile phone service put into operation. It could link moving vehicles to a telephone network via radio waves.

Switching cell phone providers allows consumers the opportunity to purchase [or get for free after rebates] a new phone periodically. I recently made the switch and was given the usual list of phones to choose from. Being the thrifty guy that I am, I chose the one that had the least cost to me once rebates were factored in. No, I did not get the plain jane freebie model, rather I snagged Samsung's SGH-x427m phone. Let's take a look at this unit and see how it stacks up.

History 1936 � Research into electronic telephone exchanges began and was eventually perfected in the 1960's with the electronic switching system (SES).

When I showed the Samsung phone to a friend, he asked me if it was a camera phone. Nope. However, it does have multi media messaging capabilities unlike its companion model the SGH-x427. The phone's main features include 40 ring tones, a calendar, a 500 name phone book, a to-do list, a memo pad, and a wireless Web browser. Most cell phones boast a speakerphone, which the Samsung curiously does not have. The screen is bright and colorful and the buttons are easy to access.

The SGH-x427m weighs a paltry 2 1/2 ounces. It is a flip phone housed in a tiny, but attractive gray case. This particular model was made for Cingular, a similar model was made for AT&T, and the cost of the phone retails for around $100-120. With rebates your outlay should be minimal if not free. Of course, that means signing up for the two year plan with Cingular.

History 1888 � Common battery system developed by Hammond V. Hayes, allows one central battery to power all telephones on an exchange, rather than relying on each units own battery.

Reception has been good with few dropped calls. I haven't experienced much static, but then again all my calls have been in the vicinity of a metropolitan area.

For the features that this phone offers, the price, the cell phone plan and for battery life -- which is good -- I give this phone a 3-star rating. It isn't the plain jane freebie model, nor is it the top of the line can-do-everything model. Consumers interested in something better will want to shop elsewhere.

History 1874 � Principal of the telephone was uncovered.

When Matt isn't doing product reviews he runs the Aviation Employment Board at http://www.aviationemploymentboard.com and the Corporate Flight Attendant Community at http://www.corporateflyer.net and http://www.cabinmanagers.com

Get Free Articles From ArticleBuilder.net

Telephone - Caller ID Any Good?

History 1877 � The very first permanent outdoor telephone wire was completed. It stretched a distance of just three miles.

In this article we're going to discuss the pros and cons of a fairly new invention in relation to how long the telephone itself has been around, caller ID.

The first thing, for those who may not know exactly what caller ID is and how it works, is to give a brief explanation of caller ID.

History 1874 � Principal of the telephone was uncovered.

To trace caller ID's history you have to go back to the 1980s. During this time, state public utility commissions from all over the country were trying to agree whether or not to approve telephone company requests for Caller Number ID service (CNID) which had come from the ever increasing annoyances of telemarketing and prank calls. At the time Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) brought up some concerns that were published in their news letters and newspapers printed around the country. Because of these concerns, Public Utility Commissions (PUC) decided that they better get involved in the proceedings that were taking place across the country.

The decisions of each state varied. Some agreed with the CPSR analysis that not having the ability to block one's number from being identified led to right to privacy issues that we are still battling today. In California they actually requested that CNID would not be allowed in their state. The commission however decided to allow it with the provision that the number would only be visible if the person making the call gave permission for this to be done. By default, no numbers would be shown, which effectively made caller ID in California pretty useless. Because of this restriction, telephone companies in California decided not to offer caller ID at all. Meanwhile, in Oregon, certain privacy concessions were made so that the caller ID service was approved.

History 1911 � American Telephone and Telegraph (AT & T) acquire the Western Union Telegraph Company in a hostile takeover. They purchased stocks in the company covertly and the two eventually merged.

Because of the problems that they faced in many states, telephone companies petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue rules on CNID that would apply nationwide. What this ended up doing was just making things worse. The FCC decided to make number blocking the default nation wide, which actually overruled many of the individual state's decisions. Many of the states appealed but the FCC denied all their appeals. This cleared the way for telephone companies to offer CNID with weak privacy protections nationwide. That is what we have today.

History 1955 � Saw the beginning of the laying of transatlantic telephone cables.

But what good is caller ID anyway? Most numbers that call us we probably won't recognize anyway unless they are close friends. What if a company we actually do business with tries to call us? We may not recognize the number. Do we answer the phone or not? The truth is, and many people believe this, answering machines do a better job of screening calls than caller ID. The machine actually answers the call and then if it's important the caller will leave a message and a phone number so we can get back to them.

History 1936 � Research into electronic telephone exchanges began and was eventually perfected in the 1960's with the electronic switching system (SES).

The bigger problem with caller ID is that this allows businesses to collect phone numbers for marketing purposes, which brings up the privacy concerns again.

Whatever side of the fence you're on, caller ID will certainly be a greatly debated topic for many years to come.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Telephones

Get Free Web Content From ArticleBuilder.net

Buying a Business Telephone System

History 1911 � American Telephone and Telegraph (AT & T) acquire the Western Union Telegraph Company in a hostile takeover. They purchased stocks in the company covertly and the two eventually merged.

When buying a new telephone system, it's absolutely vital to go with a major name brand. Would you spend $3,000 on a new big screen TV from a company you never heard of? How about $25,000 on a new car from a no name company? Of course you wouldn't and you shouldn't risk your business on a phone system from a manufacturer you've never heard of either and here's why.......

History 1900 � First coin operated telephone installed in Hartford, Connecticut.

Choices....

Major brands, like Toshiba, Panasonic and NEC, have rigorous screening processes for dealers. Teleco http://www.teleco4.com is New Jersey says "It takes a huge commitment of time and resources to become an authorized dealer." This helps ensure that you'll be buying from a reputable company. There are also many dealers in every state. NEC has over 50 dealers serving NJ alone. This assures you competitive pricing, fast service, and a host of options. Teleco http://www.teleco4.com also says "Sometimes it's a disadvantage for us. We often quote against the same system being offered by 3 or even 4 other dealers. That makes price really important. But while it's not great for us sometimes, it's great for the customer."

History 1936 � Research into electronic telephone exchanges began and was eventually perfected in the 1960's with the electronic switching system (SES).

No name brands often have protected territories. That means that your dealer might be the only one for 50 or 100 miles. If you have any problems with your dealer you might find your self with a system that can't be serviced or service that is extremely expensive. This also means that there is a limited supply of certified technicians. The more dealers for a system, the more technicians are qualified to work on it. That will make a big difference 5 or 10 years after your purchase.

History 1918 � It was estimated that approximately ten million Bell system telephones were in service throughout the U.S.

Longevity......

Major brands, like Toshiba and NEC, sell hundreds of telephone systems a week. This allows them to support systems for many, many years. Major brands make new parts for discontinued systems for 5 to 7 years. This means you will always be able to get parts in the future. Remember, a telephone system should last at least 10 years, so you need to be sure you will be able to get support for a long time.

Features........

Just about every feature is standard on all telephone systems made today. A few features may require optional equipment, but just about every feature imaginable should be standard or at least available on all telephone systems made today. The most common question I hear is how do I decide what's the right system for my business. The answer is there is no right or wrong system. All telephone systems are designed to work perfectly for a wide range of businesses from doctor's offices to factories to retail stores. The only thing you need to worry about is size. You just need to make sure the system will handle any growth that might occur. Beyond that, just look for a major name brand, a good price, and a vendor your comfotable with.

History 1888 � Common battery system developed by Hammond V. Hayes, allows one central battery to power all telephones on an exchange, rather than relying on each units own battery.

www.telephonesystems101.com

Andrew Taub http://www.teleco4.com is an expert in the sale and set up of PBX, Hybrid, and Key business telephone systems. For over 10 years, Andrew has sold various brands and set up complex installations.

Get Free Web Site Content From ArticleBuilder.net