VoIP 101: Voice over IP for Beginners

VoIP 101: Voice over IP for Beginners

by: Rich McIver

For those who have never heard about the potential of VoIP, be prepared to radically change the way you think about your current longdistance calling plan. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is very simply, a method for taking ordinary analog audio signals and turning them into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet.

So what? Well, for those of you who are already paying a monthly fee for an Internet connection, this means that you can use that same connection to place free long distance phone calls. This process works by using already available VoIP software to make phone calls over the Internet, essentially circumventing phone companies and their service charges.

Interestingly, VoIP is not an entirely new thing. In fact, a number of providing companies have been around for some time. But it has only been with the more recent explosion of highspeed internet access usage, that VoIP has gotten any attention. Now the major telephone carriers are setting up their own VoIP calling plans throughout the US, another testament to the potential of the technology.

How VoIP Is Used

While there are a number of ways that VoIP is currently being used, most individual callers fall into one of three categories: ATA, IP Phones, and ComputertoComputer.

ATA or Analog Telephone Adaptor, is the most common way of using VoIP. This adaptor actually allows you to hook up the phone that is already in your house, to your computer, and then your Internet connection. What the ATA does, is turn the analog signals your phone sends out into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet. Setting up this system is quite simple. It simply requires that you order an ATA (its an adaptor remember), plug the cable from your phone which would normally go into the wall socket into the ATA, and then the ATA gets plugged into your computer, which is connected to the internet. Some ATAs include software that has to be installed on your computer before its ready, but basically itกs quite a simple process. Then you are ready to make some calls.

The next type of VoIP usage utilizes IP Phones instead of your home phone. The IP Phone looks just like a normal phone, with all the same buttons and cradle, the only difference is that instead of having a normal wall jack connector, it has an Ethernet connector. This means, that instead of plugging in your IP phone to the wall jack like you would with a regular analog phone, it gets plugged directly into your router. This option allows you to circumvent your personal computer, and it also means that you will not have to install any software, because its all built in to the handset. In addition, the fact that WiFi IP phones will soon be available, which will allow subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from any WiFi hot spot, make this option an exciting possibility.

The simplest and cheapest way to use VoIP is through computertocomputer calls. These calls are entirely free, meaning no calling plan whatsoever. The only thing you need, is the software which can be found for free on the internet, a good internet connection, a microphone, speakers, and a sound card. Except for your monthly internet service fee, there is literally no cost for making these calls, no matter how many you make.

For large companies, VoIP also offers some very unique possibilities. Some larger companies are already utilizing the technology by conducting all intraoffice calls through a VoIP network. Because the quality of sound is comparable to and in some cases surpasses that of analog service, some international companies are using VoIP to route international calls through the branch of their company nearest the callกs destination and then completing it on an analog system. This allows them to pay local rates internationally and still utilize the same intraoffice VoIP network that they would if they were calling someone in the next cubicle over.

Other Advantages of VoIP

While your current longdistance plan covers you for only one location, say calls made from your office, with VoIP, you can make a call anywhere that you can get a broadband connection. That is because all three methods above, unlike analog calls, send the call information via the Internet. This means you can make calls from home, on vacation, on business trips, and almost anywhere else. Anywhere you go, with VoIP you can bring your home phone along with you. In the same way, computertocomputer connections mean that as long as you have your laptop and a connection, you’re ready to go.

There are also some nifty benefits to having your calls transmitted over the Internet. For example, some VoIP service providers allow you to check your voicemail via your email, while others allow you to attach voice messages to your emails.

How VoIP Works

The current phone system relies on a reliable but largely inefficient method for connecting calls known as circuit switching. This technique, which has been used for over 100 years, means that when a call is made between two people a connection is maintained in both directions between callers for the duration of the call. This dual directional characteristic gives the system the name circuit.

If, for example, you made a 30minute call the circuit would be continuously open, and thus used, between the two phones. Up until about 1960, this meant that every call had to have an actual dedicated wire connecting the two phones. Thus a long distance call cost so much, because you were paying for pieces of copper wire to be connected all the way from your phone to the destination phone, and for that connection to remain constant throughout the call. Today, however, your analog call is converted after leaving your house to a digital signal, where your call can be combined with many others on a single fiber optic cable. While this system is certainly an improvement over the past copper wire system, it is still quite inefficient. This inefficiency is due in part to the fact that the telephone line can’t distinguish between useful talking and unneeded silences. For example, in a typical conversation while one person is talking the other person is listening. Thus the current analog system uses roughly half its space sending useless messages like this silence. But there is also more information, even down to pauses in speech, which under a more efficient system can be effectively cut out rather than wasting the circuit space. This idea of only transmitting the noisy bits of a telephone call and saving a great deal on circuit space, is the basis of PacketSwitching, the alternative method to circuit switching that the VoIP phone system uses.

PacketSwitching is the same method that you use when you view a website. For example, as you read this website, your computer is not maintaining a constant connection to the site, but rather making connections to send and receive information only on an as needed basis (such as when you click on a link). Just as this system allows the transfer of information over the Internet to work so quickly, so also does it work in the VoIP system. While circuit switching maintains a constant and open connection, packet switching opens connections just long enough to send bits of data called packets from one computer to another. This allows the network to send your call (in packets) along the least congested and cheapest lines available, while also keeping your computer or IP phone, free to send and receive messages and calls with other computers. This way of sending information, not to mention data compression, makes the amount of information which must be transmitted for every call at least 34 times less for VoIP than the exact same call in a conventional telephone system. For this reason, VoIP is so much cheaper than conventional calling plans.

The Future of VoIP

While most analysts believe it will be at least a decade before companies and telephone providers make the full switch to VoIP, the potential for the technologyกs use today is already quite astounding. A report by the Forrester Research Group predicts that by the end of 2006, nearly 5 million U.S. households will be using VoIP phone service. With the savings and flexibility that the technology already offers, and new advances just ahead on the horizon, we can expect those numbers will only increase in the future.

About The Author

Rich McIver is a contributing writer for VoIP Now: Voice over IP News ( http://www.voipnow.org ).

This article was posted on March 15, 2005

by Rich McIver

The Lowdown on VoIP

The Lowdown on VoIP

by: Mike Schuda

It seems like technology is headed for a massive telephone change over. The traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is looking to be replaced by VoIP. VoIP is short for Voice over IP. VoIP is the routing of conversations over an IP network or the Internet. VoIP uses a packetswitched network instead of the circuitswitched voice transmission lines used by traditional telephone networks. VoIP does not need an Internet connection to work. A company that has a LAN connection with all of its computers can utilize VoIP technology.

VoIP is a great technology, but has a variety of issues with implementation. VoIP may face problems with latency because IPs do not provide Quality of Service guarantees, nor do they provide their packets of information in sequential order. Highspeed Internet connections are required for VoIP and firewalls often prove tricky for VoIP technology. To combat this, many people use Session Border Controllers (SBC).

VoIP technology has many advantages. There are more new features with VoIP because of the lack of an International Telecommunications Union. VoIP is still very much an open market for developers, so the technology is constantly being improved. VoIP also has a lower cost than traditional sources because of the monopolies that exist or traditional phone companies being controlled by the government. Some users even see VoIP phone calls as free because they do not have to pay extra for the service. The user only pays the Internet service provider, and therefore the usage of VoIP seems to be free. You can also take your VoIP phone wherever you go because all you need is a network connection to make it work. VoIP technology will also benefit network agents who work for call centers. Agents can help callers from anywhere in the country with an Internet connection. Finally, because VoIP is on the computer, there is increased functionality. Conference calls can be held, information can be sent, and things like address books can be updated and shared over VoIP.

While VoIP has many advantages, there are a few drawbacks to the service. One of the biggest drawbacks is reliability. Telephone lines have back up generators in case of power outages, so phones can keep working. Because VoIP is connected to the Internet, a power outage will end a VoIP call when the computer shuts down. To combat this, users must buy an expensive uninterruptible power supply or a generator that must then be installed on the premises. Internet connections are also subject to disconnection, depending on crowded networks, and the quality of the ISP. If the Internet connection drops, then the VoIP call will be dropped. VoIP is also a problem for emergency calls. Because of the nature of the Internet and VoIP systems, emergency workers cannot trace calls. In the event that someone with an emergency has a problem but is unable to give an address, the emergency worker will not be able to trace the call and find the person. VoIP carriers are already attempting to fix this problem by implementing a technical workaround. Finally, it will be very difficult to integrate VoIP on a massive scale, because while the standard Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) has a common standard, VoIP does not.

VoIP has many advantages as well as some large drawbacks. The main roadblock in the way of global VoIP adoption is reliability. When VoIP proves that it can be just as reliable as traditional telephone services have been over many years, then it will start to be adopted. VoIP technology is always improving, so the problems with VoIP today are likely to be solved sooner than many people expect. VoIP can truly revolutionize both the business world and home life.

About The Author

Mike Schuda is fascinated by new technologies and writes for VoIP Lowdown ( http://www.voiplowdown.com ).

This article was posted on September 10

by Mike Schuda

10 Things You Should Be Monitoring On Your Website

10 Things You Should Be Monitoring On Your Website

by: David Leonhardt

Every business needs to know how it is doing. Thatกs the idea behind exit surveys, customer feedback forms, suggestion boxes and other devices. Without feedback from the customer, monitoring inventory, expenses, revenue and other benchmarks, a business can take a quick slide down a slippery slope, without the owner ever seeing it coming – or being able to stop the slide.

Webmasters also have things they should be monitoring on their websites. Most of these can be classified as traffic related or server performance related. Here is my top ten list.

Traffic totals. You want to know how much traffic you are generating. If the line on the graph is heading down, you know you have to find out why.

Referrers. Itกs not enough just to know how many visitors you are getting. You need to know where they are coming from. I discovered I was getting a lot of visitors from a Thanksgiving site. They were all being funneled into my Thanksgiving Happiness article. Suddenly I knew I should get more links from other Thanksgiving sites. Valuable information.

Searches. Much to my surprise, my happiness site started getting a ridiculous number of hits from the search for กhairdressersก. It just so happens I wrote a humor column on a hairdresser experience. I was surprised to see it getting so much traffic for such a generic, competitive search term. If that had been a term of a little more relevance for me, this information would have lead me to properly optimize the page and get even more traffic.

Pages viewed per visit. If people visit only one page per visit, you have some work to convince them to visit more pages, like those that make you money.

Pages visited. So you threw up on your site something cool as an addon. How were you to know that other webmasters would link to it and send a whole bunch of traffic your way? Well, now you know, so add some copy to the page to pull visitors into the rest of your site.

Forms. Are they all functioning? A good website monitoring service can keep tabs on them for you. The last thing you want is to have lost hundreds or thousands of subscribers because a signup form stopped functioning

Shopping carts. Slow and complicated shopping carts are responsible for an estimated $25 billion in lost sales. Make sure yours is functioning properly. A good website monitoring service can watch this for you, too.

Download speed. Clear your cache and test your pages. Hmm. Maybe those images are a bit large. Time to compress them, or even remove some. Remember that some people are on a much slower connection than you are. I use a satellite connection sometimes, but when I don’t, my connection speed is 28K.

Server speed. Are there problems with server speed? Maybe not where you are, but on the other side of the world. Global website monitoring can alert you to a transatlantic connection problem, so you can take it up with your web hosting service.

Server accessibility. All the web hosts promise 99% accessibility. But is that for real? Who monitors them? By one estimate, 75% of inaccessibility is not on the hosting server, but rather on the Internetกs backbone network and in global routing. A global website monitoring service can help identify the problem, so that you can work with your web hosting company to resolve it before too many sales are lost.

Fun. If you are not having fun, audition for that drummer position in the local band. There is no point spending your life doing something that bores you. Webmastering should be fun.

About The Author

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer, and an online and offline publicity specialist. Contact him at:

mailto:[email protected]

Executive class website monitoring:

http://www.dotcommonitor.com

For free website monitoring, select กLifetime Lite Iก at:

https://www.dotcommonitor.com/SSL/Client_JoinForm.asp ,

then pick up a stamp for your home page to begin monitoring:

http://www.dotcommonitor.com/stamps.asp

More server side topics at:

http://www.monitoringcentral.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 28, 2004

by David Leonhardt

BT Broadband

BT Broadband

by: Neil Shevlin

Approximately 4 million people in the UK use ADSL with an extra 2 million using a cable connection, meaning 6 million people in the UK have an alwayson internet connection. Of these over 1.7 million are subscribed to BT’s broadband package, making them the UK’s main broadband provider.

Back in August 2000 BT first launched its highspeed internet connection to customers. Initially only available to around one third of UK households and costing £500 a year it was the first step in many to Broadband Britain.

There are currently only 2 ways to connect to ADSL in the UK. Recently a technique called Local Loop Unbundling means you don’t need to have a BT phone line, but at the moment only 1% of people on broadband in the UK use this method. The only other way to connect transforms an existing BT phone line into a highspeed digital line. This is only available with a BT phone line though, so even if you don’t subscribe to BT’s package your ISP still has to pay BT money to maintain and connect your line. Because of this BT has been able to dictate the availability of broadband in the UK for a few years now.

For fear that UK telecoms watchdog Ofcom would breakup the company because they held a monopoly by owning all the phone lines and means to connect to broadband, BT has agreed to offer rival companies access to the ขLocal Loopข, which is the network of telephone lines around the country. By doing this BT could stand to lose many customers as other companies can offer their broadband directly and without having to pay BT expenses.

Since the introduction of ADSL in the UK many potential customers found their local exchanges were simply out of date and the lines too old to be able to handle this new technology. Campaigns run countrywide as BT will only upgrade exchanges if there is adequate interest. ADSL is still not available in many villages and more rural areas of Britain but BT is vastly expanding and upgrading its network to try and cover all the country, Broadband is currently available in more than 96.6% of all UK households.

BT’s standard package is 2Mbps with a 1 GB monthly download limit. This means you can only download 1 GB’s worth of content, be it WebPages, music or movies, a month. This is more than enough for typical WebPages, but excessive music downloads will result in your account being suspended or limited for the rest of the month. You can upgrade your broadband to a 15 GB monthly limit for a little extra a month. BT also offers Pay As You Go dialup and unlimited dialup contracts.

BT Broadband also offers a variety of packages and upgrades designed to suit every user. You can upgrade to a gaming account to play xbox and PS2 games online, you can setup parental filters for your children, and there’s protection against spam, junk mail, popups, virus’s and online intruders.

One of the main reasons people will continue to signup to BT is its reliability. They have broken the mould of all ISPs having poor customer service and are incredibly helpful with setting up your connection.

BT are aiming to trail their 8Mbps connection soon, intending it to be in common use by the end of the year. BT’s ultimate goal is making broadband available throughout the country, including rural areas.

About The Author

Neil Shevlin is the owner of UK Cheap Broadband which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles.

For more information go to: UK Cheap Broadband www.ukcheapbroadband

© Copyright 2005

Please feel free to copy and paste this article and itกs resource information.

This article was posted on August 18

by Neil Shevlin

5 Stress Reducing Computer Tips

5 Stress Reducing Computer Tips

by: Sharron Senter

For most entrepreneurs computers are an intrical part of our business. An entrepreneur can not afford for their computer to be inoperable even for a minute. Implement some of these quick and affordable computer tips to keep your computer healthy and making money for your business.

#1 Double Internet Speed

Comcast recently doubled cable modem download speeds. Now you can surf the Internet and download files twice as fast. However, you need to power cycle your cable modem [unplug it for 30 seconds and reboot computer] for the new configuration to be automatically downloaded to your modem.

#2 Connecting to Work from Home

Having trouble with your corporate VPN connection when working from home? Oftentimes this can be fixed with a simple firmware upgrade to your network router or a slight change in settings.

#3 Sudden Lost Connection

Has your Internet connection suddenly stopped working? Frequently computer users with softwarebased firewalls suddenly find their Internet connection no longer available. Oftentimes when you download a software update, it can change your original configurations. As a quick test, disable the software firewall. If connectivity returns, it’s a misconfiguration issue.

#4 Slow Email and Internet Browsing

Has your computer been working wonderfully, but suddenly email or Internet browsing is painfully slow? It could be your cable connection went out. And although the connection has returned, your computer and the cable modem may be having difficulty communicating. Try power cycling your modem.

#5 Eliminate Popups

Google offers a free popup blocker with its toolbar. Download the toolbar at www.toolbar.google.com. System requirements: Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later. The popup blocker requires Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.

About The Author

Sharron Senter is cofounder of http://www.VisitingGeeks.com an on site computer repair, security and networking company serving north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks’ technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, popups and securing and making computers perform faster. Learn more about Sharron at http://www.SharronSenter.com.

This article was posted on November 09, 2004

by Sharron Senter

UK Broadband

UK Broadband

by: Neil Shevlin

Ever since August 2000 when BT first launched their broadband internet package, speeds have been increasing and prices have been dropping. The end aim of the UK government and all broadband providers is highspeed internet in every home in Britain.

Broadband is the name given to alwayson, highspeed internet. Highspeed internet is a connection that runs at 512Kbps or faster. Currently 6 million homes in the UK have a broadband connection, either through ADSL, Cable or LLU, of which 4 million are connected by ADSL.

The fastest commercially available internet connection out there is 8Mbps. With such a fast speed users can download music in seconds, stream live television and be shared between a household of computers so all the family can have a decent internet connection.

Wanadoo Broadband, the main competitor to BT broadband is running a LLU trial over summer 2005. Local Loop Unbundling is currently only used by 1% of households but if trials prove successful Wanadoo could be switching to this instead of BT’s ADSL which is really what all other ADSL providers use. LLU is only possible now BT have been forced to surrender their open loop (their network of telephone lines over the country) and will involve Wanadoo installing their own equipment at BT telephone exchanges to bypass BT’s network and onto their own. For the customer this means Wanadoo internet will be cheaper and faster in the notsodistant future.

BT have 1.7 million people subscribed onto their broadband where Wanadoo have 0.7 million. Other main contenders in the broadband war are Tiscali, Homecall, Pipex and AOL. All offer their own competitive prices. The main Cable provider in the UK is NTL.

Recently many ISP’s have been increasing their internet speeds to fight off the competition. The standard ADSL connection at the moment is 2Mbps, with 8Mbps at the high end and 512Kbps at the low. As well as increasing the speed and price ISP’s have also been putting up the bandwidth allowances for their customers. Typically your bandwidth allowance may be 3 GB, with 1 GB at the low end and unlimited at the high end.

ISP’s implement bandwidth allowances with the increasing popularity of downloading music, TV shows and films from the internet. 12 GB is more than enough for normal WebPages and chat room access but limited if you wish to download a lot of music and video files. Since most people download such files illegally it isn’t a large problem, but if you accidentally go over your monthly limit you could spend the rest of the month with a limited internet speed or no access at all.

The main complaint of users in the early days of Broadband Britain was accessibility. Many BT exchanges were simply out of date and the phone lines incapable of handling such fast data streams. Today 96.6% of all UK households are within a broadband area and BT is constantly upgrading their existing network, aiming to cover the entire country as soon as possible.

Broadband in the United Kingdom is expanding faster and faster. Package prices are decreasing and speeds are increasing with heavy competition on all sides. The future sees Internet becoming an ever increasing presence in each UK household, replacing televisions, radios and telephones.

About The Author

Neil Shevlin is the owner of UK Cheap Broadband which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles.

For more information go to: UK Cheap Broadband www.ukcheapbroadband

© Copyright 2005

Please feel free to copy and paste this article and itกs resource information.

This article was posted on August 18

by Neil Shevlin

Set up Your Own Webcam

Set up Your Own Webcam

by: Silvina Georgieva

These days, web cameras are everywhere. Your friends have one, maybe your office or the university that you study in also do. So, you decided to finally go with the crowd and get a camera. Now that you have it at home and connected to your computer, you probably wonder: "How do I make this thing show a picture online?" We are here to explain.

Setting up your own web camera is easy: all you need is a computer, the cam itself, webcam software which will do the broadcasting, and an Internet connection.

Streaming Video vs. Still Images

The first decision you have to make before putting your camera live is if it will show streaming video or still images. If you have visited a webcam directory such as OnlineCamera.com and looked at a few cams, you have most probably noticed that some of them show a continious stream of live video, while others refresh the page in your browser and show a different picture at a preset time interval. The first flavor, the streaming ones, are without doubt more attractive to a viewer, but can you support such a camera? If you have a broadband Internet connection, and you can afford setting aside much bandwith for your camera to stream, the answer is yes. If not, youกd better stick with the still image camera that will make the proccess lighter for both you and your cameraกs viewers, and such a connection can work without problems even if you access the กnet through a dialup connection. Also, this will give you the chance to show the world images with higher picture quality larger and without grains, although those images won’t be moving the way they do on TV.

It is also important to consider the image size of the shots being taken by your webcam: the greater the image, the lower the refresh rate. A 640×480 pixels image can be great looking, but it can be great trouble for users with slow Internet connections, especially if the refresh rate of your camera is set to an interval such as 3 seconds. Take a look at the options of the broadcasting software that came with your webcam, and think of how different options that it offers would look on other peopleกs computers. If you have friends and relatives living away from you who have Internet access, you could ask them to test your camera. Set it to different combinations of image size and refresh rates, and ask them to look at it and tell you how it looks. This way you could have some great fun with your camera even before you show it to the public. In case you don’t have people to experiment with, keep the following tips in mind: a reasonable image size can be 320×240 pixels if refreshed every 2030 seconds. If you want the picture to update more often, try with an image size of 160×120 pixels. Using that, you can have refresh rates of up to 10 seconds. If you stream live video, try to keep an image size of 160×120 so slow Internet connections can see your webcam without problems.

Methods of Delivering the Webcam Shots

Client Pull

This method is the most popular, designed to show single snapshots from the webcam. It is the most easy method to set up, and the one that works perfectly for dialup Internet connections. It also won’t take much bandwith from your connection, so youกll still be able to surf the web, get email, and other things while your webcam snaps shots. However, you won’t be able to serve live video feeds with this method.

This method is usually accomplished with an FTP connection that sends the last shot captured by the WebCam to the site hosting your web pages.

Server Push

This is the most resourceconsuming method, and thus, the least implemented. You should use it if youกd like to stream live video from your cam to viewers. It has its limitations, some of which are:

It requires a high bandwith connection. You must put a limit to the video stream for each user connecting to it.

You can’t use a dialup connection for this method. If there is a firewall in your network, it can disallow you to use this method, or can limit you in some way or another. Only the most recent browser versions support server push.

To set up a server push webcam, youกll need a fixed IP (dynamic IPกs are also possible, but you need more resources) and server push software. How to Refresh the Image Once youกve decided which kind of webcam you are setting up, you need to decide how to make it refresh the image.

To get the latest shot captured by the camera, your viewers will have to reload it (usually by pushing the F5 button on their keyboard), unless you add some extra HTML, Javascript code or Java applets which will autoreload the picture after a given period that you can define. (This does not apply to the server push method, since it is continously streaming a video feed).

META Tag Command

Altough this is the oldest method of refreshing a webcam image on a web page, it is in use in many places, and works perfectly. This way of refreshing is done via a little HTML code.

There is an HTML tag than can make a page automatically reload after a period of time (in seconds) is reached. The syntax for this tag is as follows:

<HEAD>

<META HTTPEQUIV=REFRESH CONTENT="seconds">

</HEAD>

At the interval in seconds, the browser will reload the current page, and do it over and over again until the user closes it. The most significant disadvantage of this method is that the whole page is reloaded, so a heavy graphics site will be a pain to reload on slow connections and will result in high bandwith usage.

If you decide to use this method of refreshing your image, keep in mind that some old browsers don’t allow an image to automatically refresh after some reloads. To work around this bug, add the following code to your pageกs HEAD tag:

<META HTTPEQUIV="Expires" CONTENT="Tue, 01 Jan 1980 1:00:00 GMT">

<META HTTPEQUIV="Pragma" CONTENT="nocache">

JavaScript Refresh

If you don’t want to make your viewers wait for the whole HTML page to refresh, you can use the JavaScript language to make just the image refresh. Note that the visitor of your webcam page will have to enable JavaScript in order to see the image changing (nowadays, 90% of the audience does have JavaScript enabled).

Java Applets

Java applets are small programs embeded inside a web page, which load the webcam images freeing the browser form that job. There are hundreds of Java applets for this purpose available online, such as OnlineCamera Java Viewer. You can put them anywhere in your webcam page and theyกll refresh the image for you, without refreshing the whole page, just the image.

Stay with us to learn more in the coming parts of this tutorial.

About The Author

© 2005, OnlineCamera.com, All rights reserved.

Silvina Georgieva is Managing Director of OnlineCamera.com.

Founded in 1996, OnlineCamera is the leading independent webcam directory on the Internet. It has more than 3000 web sites currently listed, and grows with more every day.

Contact: http://www.onlinecamera.com/contact.htm

This article was posted on September 14

by Silvina Georgieva

Introduction to VoIP

Introduction to VoIP

by: Mike Bromley

What is VoIP?

First things first, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. At a base level that means phone calls over your broadband connection. You really do need a highspeed connection to take advantage of VoIP to get phone calls comparable to a normal landline phone. Traditional กdialupก connections are not really sufficient.

VoIP works in a different way to your home phone. Your home phone is based on an analogue network, whereas VoIP is based on a digital one. Essentially when you speak into a VoIP enabled phone or headset your voice is converted into digital packets; it is then compressed to help your Internet connection run more efficiently and then it is transferred down the connection much like an email. Once it reaches its destination the process is reversed.

Why might I want to switch to VoIP?

It’s a good question. We all have a working phone in our homes or business, why should we change? Lets look at the advantages and disadvantages of VoIP

Advantages

Well to put it simply cost. VoIP makes calls significantly cheaper. And (Depending on your package) for a low cost monthly subscription local and national calls can be made for free, and international calls made at a significantly lower rate.

When you subscribe to a VoIP service it is possible to get a phone number for life. You will be able to take your number with you whenever you move (or even travel) with obvious benefits.

The contract packages that companies who are offering the service contain for the most part all the features and more that your current phone service supplier offers. You are likely to find most VoIP companies offering free voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, 3 way calling, speed dialling and much more.

VoIP is very much in itกs infancy; the technology is progressing all the time. Future benefits that we may not be able to envisage yet are certain to appear, you current analogue phone system will not be able to compete.

Disadvantages

Your VoIP phones system will be exclusively based on your broadband connection, if you ISP has a period of service downtime then you will not be able to make calls. Additionally if your electricity supply has a power out then you will not be able to make any calls, this includes calls to the emergency services. Some providers have already got a work around with the emergency calls, so make sure when you decide on a supplier they provide this.

A further disadvantage currently is the set up of the VoIP is not the simplest procedure to undertake, though many suppliers will assist with installation.

The quality of the call via VoIP can be slightly less than your current analogue phone, but the technology is steadily improving, and before long you will not be able to tell the difference in call quality between the two mediums.

© Mike Bromley 2005

About The Author

Mike Bromley runs a site about VoIP Service Providersat www.speakonline.co.uk.

This article was posted on September 13

by Mike Bromley

Understanding Broadband Are You Ready To Upgrade

Understanding Broadband Are You Ready To Upgrade?

by: David Jackson

Are you ready to upgrade your residential service to DSL or business service to real broadband or T1? Well, the answer lies in what you need. Before you can realize your needs, you must understand more of what the word broadband really means. Below I will try to give you some realtechnical terms broken down for a better understanding.

First of all, you must know some of the jargon! The word broadband itself simply is defined as a high speed Internet service that gives you continuous access to the Internet on a consistent basis. Broadband includes a technology called ADSL which stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line and requires a special modem to access the line. This technology uses standard copper telephone lines to provide Internet access speeds from 1.5 to 9 megabytes per second. DSL technologies or Digital Subscriber Lines use a higher frequency than standard telephone communication.

There are several types of DSL configurations including ADSL or Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines, HDSL or High data rate DSL, and VDSL or Very High Data Rate DSL. A DSL line dynamically increases the capacity of ordinary copper wire. Since the signal is stronger the closer you are to the DSL Access Multiplexor or DSLAM the faster your signal will be the closer you are to the DSL providerกs Central Office or distribution point. DSL lines are typically used for small business and residential customers. Of course as your needs grow, it should be understood; that the more data you need to transfer, the larger the pipe (Internet access line or physical copper wire) you need to transport the data. This is where more sophisticated forms of broadband come in for business use. The technical terms for this type of broadband is measured by the amount of data that the line transfers. T1 Transmits data in the range of 1.5 million bits per second and primarily used by small and medium sized business with heavy upload and Internet traffic. A T1 line is usually leased by bandwidth used. Typical uses are large graphic files, photographs, sound files, music, video, etc. However, your company should evaluate the amount of data and computers that are connected for Internet Access at the same time. T1 lines in the United States carry a 24 pulse code modulation (PCM) signal using timedivision multiplexing (TDM). These lines use copper wire which usually connect major metropolitan areas. There are a number of high quality companies that offer T1 Broadband and you will find that prices do vary so it is important that you compare.

You may also find that your local cable provider may have introduced their version of broadband which actually can emulate one side of a T1 connection. However, you should be aware… you may actually get 1.5 mpbs on the download side, but when you try to upload a file, your bandwidth is cut down to about 1/10th. A cable connection is made for residential customers to surf the Internet with great speed and download files, but not made for you to upload with great speed. This slow upload limit is the major difference between a real T1 line and cable.

There are many types of broadband connections that are much faster circuit than T1, these range from T3 (3 times faster than T1) to OC48, and a frame relay connection which really are the same thing just MUCH larger pipes (lines) that can transmit the data. I have found while working with broadband providers you really need a persona coach to help guide you through the process. Not only can personal coaches such as ImageLink Networks guide you through the red tape, the efficiency that comes from our presence and telecom knowledge will save you time and money in the end. It is important to seek an unbiased opinion and research for the best real time price for your T1 line. Broadband is a commodity, and changes as new subscribers come online in specified areas. To make a long story shorter, you are ready for a broadband connection if you are tired of waiting for a standard dial up to connect and download.

Do not be confused, dial up companies use a standard phone line to connect you to their server to bring you an Internet connection. One thing is for sure, if you ever experience a broadband connection via cable, T1, T3, DS3, or better you will never ever go back to dial up.

About The Author

David Jackson

ImageLink Networks is a subdivision of ImageLink Incorporated a Maryland based consulting and software company. If you are interested in finding a personal coach to help with your broadband decisions, you can start by using our dynamic rate pricing tool to find the best realtime broadband quote for your area.

Visit http://ImageLinkNetworks.com for more information or Contact David Jackson via email: mailto:[email protected]

This article was posted on November 19, 2004

by David Jackson

Lotus Domino: Application Integration – a programm

Lotus Domino: Application Integration – a programmer view

by: Eugene Polyakov

There are two approaches for application integration:

Programmer’s approach – for applications integration it is necessary to create some program codes;

Integrator’s approach – in this case special software products are to be used and the integration process set up by those software settings.

The following tools may be used for the first approach:

ODBC. In Lotus Domino codes may be used:

Three @functions (@DbColumn, @DbLookUp and), which work with registrated ODBCdrivers . @DbColumn returns the whole column from external table, @DbLookUp process search by the key, and @DbCommand runs a command of ODBCdriver or external table (for ex, UDATE or DELETE);

Three inside LotusScript Data Objects (LS:DO), which support connection process, running of SQLrequest and provide operations with received result table. This tool is more flexible than usage of described above @functions (specifically, transactions mechanism, errors handling, etc);

Free NotesSQL ® ODBCdriver allows calling Lotus Domino databases by SQL. This method is available only for simple Lotus Domino databases, as them are not relation databases and SQL is not good to work with (problems with multiple fields values and different fields set in documents);

JDBC. For direct using of JDBC mechanism, free IBM JDBCdriver may be downloaded, which allows calling Lotus Domino databases from Javaapplications. This approach is better then use NotesSQL ® ODBCdriver, but can not be use with complex databases. JDBC technology also using in some integration mechanisms, but JDBC itself is hidden from the programmer(as example, using build in JSP Custom Tag Libraries);

OLE. Using of this technology is in the Microsoft platforms frame. If this limitation is acceptable for a task, then using of this technology allows data exchanging from LotusScript to OLEapplications. Specifically it is possible to export data from Lotus Domino to MS Excel or MS Word. This technology often is using to create reports for Lotus Domino data. In Lotus Domino exists Notes/FX mechanism, which implicitly uses OLE technologies. This mechanism allows to process automatic data exchange between fields of Lotus Domino forms and information stated on OLEserver. Lately Notes/FX are used in really applications very seldom;

XML. Using of this technology in Lotus Domino R 6 allows processing of Lotus Domino objects’ stream transformation (documents, design elements, ACL, etc.) into XML and back, apply in a stream XSLT to XML, put filters on translated/received information, as well as review XML by build in LotusScriptclasses, processed DOM and SAX parsing;

HTML. If an HTTP task is started on Domino server, then from external applications is available sending/receiving data by of the same name protocol;

CORBA. This technology used in Lotus Domino more in Java content. Applets, servlets, Domino JSP Custom Tag Libraries, using this technology may exchange data with Lotus Domino;

Apart in integration solutions line are DECS (Domino Enterprise Connection Services), DCR (Data Connection Resources) and LEI (IBM Lotus Enterprise Integrator for Domino) technologies. These technologies except of coding request administration settings to be tuned and may be refer as to first (programmer) as to second (integrator) approaches to integrate applications.

DECS technology allows direct connection with DB2, Oracle, MS SQL Server, Sybase sources, and external sources by ODBC and OLE technologies.

DECS technology requests of the same name task on the Domino server, as well as some settings in « DECS Administrator» database. Two types of documents can be created in this database:

Connection, which provides the possibility connecting with an external system. Without details, let say that this document provides the path to external source and login and password for this connection;

Activity, provides correspondence between Lotus Domino fields and information from external source. The correspondence is assigned by special Lotus Domino form and fields. This document can support up to four case types (form open in Lotus Domino, data changing, deleting or new record creation in Lotus Domino). After Activity document is activated the same processes in external source will be started if the tracking cases happen in Lotus Domino. For example, imputing and saving the new data in Lotus Domino (in case if them are tracking), analog data arrive in external source.

DECS mechanism works correctly in case if external source data are worked with only by Lotus Domino. Otherwise, if the data arrived in external source omitting Lotus Domino they do not automatically transferred to Lotus Domino.

DCR technology appeared in Lotus Domino R 6, is an interface extension for DECS technology and work only with corresponding task on Domino DCR server. Without details, the new design element by name DCR may be considered as analog of Connection document from « DECS Administrator» database. By the way, analogies of Activity documents are determinated directly in Lotus Domino forms.

LEI technology may be considered as developing of DECS. Using of LEI allows to developers much more possibilities for data processing with build in Lotus Connector Classes for LEI.

Good luck in your system setting up and contact us for any help in Moscow +7 (095) 9183314, +7 (095) 9183111 , in USA: 18665280577! [email protected]

Alba Spectrum Technologies

USA: 18665280577, 19615918, Deutschland (0177) 8349 806, Moskau (095) 918 3314, [email protected]

About The Author

Eugeny Polyakov is a technical writer in Ronix Systems (http://www.ronixsystems.com) the European branch of Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), IBM and Microsoft Business Solutions Partner serving clients in Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, Vienna, Roma, Munich, Madrid, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Denver, Phoenix, London, Sidney, Sao Paulo.

[email protected]

This article was posted on March 18

by Eugene Polyakov

Burning Bridges is Bad, But Firewalls are Good

Burning Bridges is Bad, But Firewalls are Good

by: Heather Wallace

When you signed up for that ultrafast DSL or Cable connection there was probably one very important piece of information that your ISP failed to mention. By accessing the Internet via a highspeed connection, you have tremendously increased your chances of being victimized by a computer hacker.

Dialup may not have seemed like it could have held any advantages, but it actually did have one upside. It is much less prone to hacking. Every time you dialedin your computer was assigned a new IP address. That unique IP address made you a moving target that was more difficult for hackers to hit.

With a highspeed connection you are assigned a static IP address (it never changes). So, your computer went from being a moving target to staying still with a bullseye pasted on the side. That, coupled with the fact that with a highspeed connection your computer is always online, are ideal conditions for a potential hacker attack. That seemingly beneficial alwayson connection gives hackers a 24/7 open invitation to try and hack your system. Once inside they can access personal or financial details, compromise your computerกs operating system, or unleash a virus, worm, or spyware.

Which Firewall is Right For You?

Now that you know how vital a firewall is to the protection of your PC you have to decide which firewall is right for you. Software or hardware.

A software firewall is designed to monitor your computers activity at all times. Think of it as a bodyguard who won’t let anyone into your computer if he doesn’t like the look of them. With a software firewall you may to have to assist in protecting your system. The firewall might alert you to certain activity and ask you if you want to grant or deny permission. Itกs just like the bodyguard that was mentioned before. He needs the okay before telling someone to scram. After you give either the thumbs up or the thumbs down the firewall will take the appropriate action and remember your reply so that you won’t be asked in the future.

If you feel comfortable installing and configuring hardware, then you might want to consider a hardware firewall in the form of a Cable/DSL router. The hardware firewall handles everything on its own without any input from you and you also won’t have to read any reports or make any decisions. The firewall handles everything on its own. Installation, however, can be tricky, so this option is definitely more suited to the advanced computer user.

My Firewall is Installed. Now Iกm Safe, Right?

With your new firewall in place you are probably thinking that your computer is impenetrable, right? Well, maybe not. As important to the security of your system as a firewall is, some do have their limits. Most software firewalls won’t scan your system for viruses that can harm your computer and there aren’t any hardware firewalls on the market that offer virus protection. That means that you are still vulnerable to attack.

The best line of defense against viruses that can harm your system is antivirus protection.You can either buy a seperate antivirus program or shop around for a software firewall with antivirus protection builtin. You may never be able to make your computer 100% hackerproof, but the installation of a firewall coupled with antivirus protection will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a hackerกs next victim.

About The Author

Heather Wallace is a writer whose work has been published in national, regional, and online publications. Additionally, she has written articles as a newspaper correspondent. Visit http://www.fetchingsites.com/FreeFirewall.html to download a free firewall that is easytouse and will block hackers and other unknown threats.

This article was posted on December 12, 2004

by Heather Wallace

Broadband

Broadband

by: Neil Shevlin

Broadband is the name given to a highspeed Internet connection that provide large bandwidth. It is a quick connection, typically ขalwaysonข and capable of transmitting data at a much faster rate than a standard dialup modem connection. Broadband also won’t tie up your phone line, allowing you to use the internet and telephone simultaneously. Broadband can be provided from a dedicated line such as Cable or ISDN, or over the top of your phone line such as ADSL.

Lowband Internet access is typically running up to 56kbps using a dialup modem. Midband Internet is a phrase given to dialup that operates at 64kbps or 128kbps. Broadband starts at 512kbps (approximately ten times faster than typical dialup) and is also typically available at 1mbps, 1.5mbps and 2.2mbps. Some companies offer broadband at 4mbps and 8mbps. The maximum possible for cable is around 26mbps and 24mbps for ADSL although these speeds are not sold commercially due to the high cost required to upgrade telephone lines to be able to transmit at this speed.

With broadband you can quickly download or stream music and video. Many websites are designed especially for broadband users with intense integrated graphics, flash and video. Another popular use of broadband is online gaming. Xbox and PS2 consoles include broadband support, by subscribing to gaming packages from your ISP you can play Xbox and PS2 games live with other people over the internet. Online PC gaming has been around since the early days of the internet, but now with faster speeds there is less lag (slow or jerky response from the computer making it hard to play) and you are no longer keeping an eye on the time as you play, making it much more popular. Many recent games are released requiring an internet connection, without them you simply cannot play.

With users so keen on downloading music and video most broadband providers have introduced a maximum limit on the amount you can download. This can be as low as 1 GB up to 30 GB for power users, or unlimited for the extreme. Exceeding your ISP’s download cap will result in you having a limit connection for the rest of the month or none at all.

The future of broadband is the possibility of Internet Television. Currently there is not enough bandwidth (the amount of data you can send and receive down the line) to give as good an image as of a standard television. But with ever increasing internet speeds Internet Television will soon be with us. You can already legally download clips from your favourite shows, music videos and other content you would normally find on your television, just not in real time. Another use developed because of broadband is online telephony. Software that enables you to turn your computer into a telephone and talk to people from across the world without any extra cost is not only commonplace but of a higher quality recording than standard telephone lines. It seems with ever increasing Internet speeds, Broadband will be able to replace television, telephone and will soon become a welcome addition to every home. Broadband is helping the internet become an extensive resource that’s easy to access and fun to use.

About The Author

Neil Shevlin is the owner of UK Cheap Broadband which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles.

For more information go to: UK Cheap Broadband www.ukcheapbroadband

© Copyright 2005

Please feel free to copy and paste this article and itกs resource information.

This article was posted on August 18

by Neil Shevlin