Posts Tagged ‘communications’

Business Telephone Systems – Guidelines For Buyers

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

When it comes to buying a new telephone system for your business there are a number of things you need to factor in to your decision, these are:

Capacity – For a business that is growing you will want to ensure you have the capacity in your telephone system to cover any future growth. The majority of telephone systems can cover 12 incoming lines and 24 extensions at their limit. For a small entry level telephone system you need to bear in mind that the parts will not be transferable to larger models, with this in mind you need to make sure the system you buy will be able to grow with your business.

Direct Lines – The second thing to consider is how many direct lines you will want. If you want direct lines that allow direct dialing, the display of caller ID and the feature of displaying the number no matter which line you pick up on or where it has been transferred from, you need to get a system compatible with ISDN, which is a service most countries are able to provide.

Voicemail – You need to decide if you want a voicemail function for your telephones, applicable to each individual handset. A voicemail option will often be available if you have direct lines but you will need to decide on certain aspects of it, such as the amount of messages that can be stored and whether you want the ability to forward messages to other phones or as emails.

The Handset – This should go without saying, but when you upgrade your telephone system you will need to get new telephone handsets. The handsets you choose should be right for the type of use you expect to get out of them. You will be offered basic handsets but will have the option to spend a little bit more to upgrade and get handsets that have more features, better build quality and will look better. You may not think it is worth the money but in the end you will be relying on these phones for some time and so it may be worth spending more money to get better quality phones.

Installation – Once you have decided what system you wish to go for, all that is left is to have it installed. The company you buy the system from will doubtless offer an installation service but they may not necessarily be the best option. You can get a different service to install the system if you wish who may be more adept at installing it to your requirements. There is no point spending money on a new telephone system only to have it installed in a half hearted manner. Ensuring it is installed properly and that the connections create a high quality line to talk on is important.

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Broadband Technology – What Changes Can We Expect In The Future?

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

Since the introduction of DSL (digital subscriber line) broadband. Internet access speeds have escalated massively to the point that we are at today where, in some countries, data transfer speeds of over 50 Megabits per second can be achieved. To put that into perspective, these speeds mean it is possible to download a high definition movie within a matter of minutes, compared to 10 years ago, when it would have taken possibly a few weeks! The future is looking bright for many countries that have the time and resources to improve their current internet infrastructure as current data transfer infrastructure cables are not capable of carrying the speeds that internet service providers will be able to offer in the future. Though it is not an easy process to replace all the currently installed telephone cables with newer technologies such as optical cables that will be able to support hugely increased speeds. One direction that internet broadband access may be utilizing in the future is via overhead or underground electricity cables. Although it is technically possible as broadband data and electricity flow on different frequencies, recent research has shown that when data is transmitted through overhead, under-insulated cables it can interfere with some radio wave bands. However, if a solution is found to this problem that does not require the replacement of electrical power cables, then people in the future may be able to enjoy broadband access speeds of up to 200 Megabits per second just by plugging into an electrical outlet. One of the most hotly anticipated technological advances in broadband access is WIMAX, also called 4G. WIMAX could potentially offer users a maximum data transfer rate of 70 Megabits per second, a vast improvement from 3G standards. and something that could eventually instigate the demise of plug-in broadband. The last possibility for the future of broadband access is satellite systems. Satellite internet connections are potentially able to offer users broadband internet connection speeds of up to 3 Gbps, or 3000Mbps. Many people around the world already receive data via a satellite in the form of satellite television, though the costs involved in setting up internet access can range up to $3000 including installation. Also another problem facing satellite connections is weather patterns, which can occasionally disrupt signal transfer as current satellite television users known well. With the aforementioned technologies on the way, the future of broadband is something to look forward to with interest.

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Mobile Broadband – Convenient, Portable & Flexible

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Mobile broadband is defined as broadband access (e.g. cable and DSL) in the cellular environment. Wireless internet has been around for a number of years but mobile broadband has only recently (within the last few years) become popular due to the costs involved. Mobile broadband is a step up from local wireless data applications such as WiFi which gets rid of the wire, but not the confinement. A user must be stationary and in a WiFi hotspot (generally inside) when using WiFi technology. WiFi could be considered as the data transfer counterpart of the cordless telephone, whereas mobile broadband corresponds to the cellular phone, which enables access to high speed data almost anywhere in the world. The recent improvements in mobile broadband technology has meant that businesses can communicate with their employees and customers much more efficiently and effectively that ever before, changing the business environment quite drastically. Wireless broadband is shaping the business world.

Mobile broadband works in a similar way to mobile phone communications that use radio waves and frequencies to send and receive data. This digital information is sent in packets to and from the cell phones and telephone communication towers. With standard mobile telephone calls, the data that is transmitted and received is only in an audio format. Alternatively, the digital data that is communicated through cell phones and towers is in various formats such as web page data, audio data, visual data such as videos and also emails.

There are a few different types of mobile broadband, which can make life confusing. Below is a list detailing them:

-The first form of mobile broadband was EDGE, also known as 2.5g. Though it was quite slow and expensive, so take up was poor.

-The second format that was introduced was 3g, known on GSM formats as UMTS. Though transfer speeds were also quite slow, it began to offer users an alternative to using WiFi.

-Following 3g was HSDPA. It is quite fast, though not as fast as WiFi.

-Currently HSUPA is the standard, with bandwidth similar to WiFi speeds.

A new format that is currently being developed is called WIMAX. WIMAX, or 4g, will be able to give users broadband connection speeds faster than the WiFi speeds currently offered in popular hotspots. It will also have a very wide network coverage ratio, which means more people being able to access the internet from more places. With the constantly improving mobile internet access speeds, accessibility to the internet is increasing non-stop. In ten years we could begin to see a reduction in the number of people signing up to cable DSL, instead turning to companies offering mobile broadband connections. It would be possible to have just one internet service provider that you could access from anywhere in the world, on any type of device, from PCs to consoles to PDAs.

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How To Choose A Broadband Provider

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

Have you been thinking of adding a broadband connection to your home or changing your existing broadband provider? If so there are a few points that you need to think about.

Why Do You Need broadband – First you need to take your household needs into consideration. If you do not use the internet for much more than email and occasional searches then you do not need an expensive broadband package, some providers will even offer plans at a discount for casual users. However, if you or your household uses the internet constantly you will want a broadband service that offers unlimited bandwidth.

What Services Are Available In Your Area – After you have decided what type of service would best suit your needs, you need to find a provider. If you have access to an internet connection, you can find any number of sites that will help you find a list of providers for your area and what deals they offer for broadband service. Available services may be impacted by several factors, such as proximity to a telephone exchange. If you live a great distance from an exchange, high speed broadband may not be possible. Another factor to keep in mind is whether or not your area has a cable connection.

What Type Of Equipment Will You Need – This is really a two-part question : how many computers you will use and what type of connection does this require? Many people today have more than one computer, usually a desktop and a laptop. To ensure that each computer in the household has internet access, a wireless or mobile connection is usually set up. This will require a router and some form of wireless connector. The router supplies an “always on” link to the internet, and is the piece that is connected directly to the cable. Any computer that wishes to use the router’s signal must have the proper access code in order to connect. Most laptops include the wireless technology to connect via a router, but a desktop will probably require the addition of an internet card or plug-in dongle for wireless access. You may also connect the desktop directly to the router via your LAN (local area network) or an Ethernet cable.

Terms Of Use – Broadband works by connecting many users to the “pipe”, essentially allowing customers to rent the access to the connection. Because of this system it is important that there is a way to allow all users to fairly have the same connection speed. When searching for a provider it is vital that you make sure they have a fair usage policy. Some providers may limit your download speeds if you go over a set amount of bandwidth or if you make a habit of downloading at peak times in the day. These restrictions generally take the form of reduced speed or extra charges, so you need to carefully read the policies before settling on a broadband provider.

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Mobile Broadband – Convenient, Portable & Flexible

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

What mobile broadband does is provide access to the internet via a 3G phone network. To get connected, you just have to plug a ‘dongle’ into your computer’s USB port. The first time that you plug-in the dongle, you’ll immediately see that it’s a great piece of technology. It takes these devices only a couple of minutes to install. Once installed you can connect to the internet. In contrast to a home broadband ADSL setup, there’s no ISP settings to enter, no routers to configure, and no fiddling around with security settings. You just put the SIM card into the dongle and plug it into your computer. Dongles aren’t the only mobile broadband device though – other ways to access mobile broadband include: mobile data cards, phones with data modems, USB modems and laptops with mobile broadband capabilities built-into them. A common mistake for new users of 3G technology is to think it is the same as WIFI. However, 3G mobile broadband and WIFI are almost totally different. WIFI is the act of connecting to the internet through a wireless router either in your home or business or in a WIFI hotspot area. 3G (which refers to the third generation of mobile phone technology) mobile broadband can be accessed anywhere at any time, without the need for a wireless router. The increased access speeds of a 3G mobile broadband connections gives network operators more scope with regards to offering services to their end users, such as video calls, wide-area wireless voice telephone and broadband data transfer rates. Below are some reasons why 3G mobile broadband technology is so popular:

Convenience and portability – Mobile broadband is very convenient to use. You can connect to the internet from any location so long as you have a device with mobile broadband capabilities, a computer and a network reception.

No land line necessary- Whether you want to access the internet at home or whilst traveling, you don’t won’t have to use any cables. One day in the not too distant future, home broadband via a fixed telephone network will probably be a thing of the past.

Flexibility – The USB dongle or mobile phone data modem, or any other device used for connecting to the 3G mobile broadband networks are able to be used on all computers with a USB socket. It can be used in laptops during the day at work, in desktops at home after work, or even in netbooks when you are on holiday away from home.

Learn More : Compare Broadband

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How To Check The Speed Of Your Broadband Connection

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

A broadband speed test is a way of checking your current DSL internet connection to see if it is performing to the standards that your internet service provider states as the expected speed of your connection. The broadband speed test is conducted by sending and receiving packets of data to servers located around the world. There are many internet web sites that offer reliable broadband speed tests for users to check their data transfer speeds with servers in different parts of the world. There is also software that has been developed to do the same thing, though web sites are much more popular. To conduct a broadband speed test, follow these steps:

-Initially, you must either load the desired test software or visit an internet web site that offers testing facilities.

-Some applications will then ask you what area in the world you would like to test the data transfer speeds with your connection. Though with most applications, there is a default server attached to the website or software that you are using.

-Once you click ‘Go’, the application will first establish a connection with the server and attain a Ping speed. This is the amount of time it takes for the server to respond to a packet or request. The ping speed, or latency, will nowadays be under 100 milliseconds for internet service providers in developed countries connecting to each other and ideally under 300ms if you are in or connecting to an internet service provider located in a developing country.

-The next stage will be a download speed test. Your computer will then attempt to receive packets of data sent by the broadband speed test applications server. The speed at which the packets are received by your computer will determine your internet download speed.

-After the download speed test will come the upload speed test. Your computer will then attempt to send packets of data up to the server. The speed at which the server receives that data is then going to identify your current upload speed to that server.

-The maximum speeds for uploads and downloads will be taken from the highest speed at which the data was transferred from and to your computer.

Always bear in mind that with broadband speed tests, your highest speeds will most likely be attainable within your country of residence. The further away the server for which the speed test is taking place, generally, the slower the connection.

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