$3 Million in 6 Months With Adsense!

 The Power Play Interviews: Markus Frind - $3 Million in 6 Months

This is the first in a series of Internet Success Stories that you will begin to see on the Power Play Blog. Hope you enjoy them!

Markus Frind, the creator of Plentyoffish.com, is a success story worth noting, as he has managed to take a niche formerly ruled by giant corporations and give it his own brand of marketing savvy. A case of David vs. Goliath, where the little guy comes out on top in the end. Markus is the top "individual" AdSense publisher in terms of page views. Let's find out what some of his secrets are as he shares some advice with our readers. Feel free to comment!

Markus, what is your experience in computer programming, and how did it prepare you for becoming a webmaster?

The average page views a day is around 14 million for the last week. I'm getting another 80 million page views a day from users polling the site to see if they have new messages. Really intensive bandwidth-wise!

When I go to your website, I notice that the ads are targeted to my region, yet I have not even registered- can you explain to our readers how you accomplish this feat?

I'm just using ip2location.com- Basically, I take your IP, look it up in the database, and it tells me what your city is. I then bring up a list of users in your city, nothing magical about it at all.

Are most of your visitors coming primarily from search engines (SERPs), or are you finding that they come from other avenues? Do you actively advertise in the media?

Search engines account for something like 2% of my traffic. The vast majority of my traffic, like any other site with over 5 million page views a day, comes from word of mouth and repeat visitors.

The services on your site seem to be offered at no cost to the registrants. Is there some advantage you have over your competitors that allows you to do this?

I've developed new algorithms that allow me to create a mega site for next to no cost. Several years ago, I created an algorithm that was thousands of times faster than the algorithm used in the 1990s to find a string of 22 prime numbers. At the time, a professor used several supercomputers and hundreds of regular computers over the course of several years to find a record. I did the same thing on 1 computer in 2 weeks.

Fascinating! Are there any other sites you currently maintain, or is PlentyOfFish.com the only one?

It's the only site at the moment. I've got a few other sites I registered for friends so they could learn to do marketing/affiliate stuff. At this point, I think 1 site is enough.

Any tips for those looking to create a profitable endeavour on the internet?

If someone else thinks what you are doing is a cool idea, I'd say it isn't... Find something no one else thinks is important and build up a site with big traffic in that area. Also, keep in mind, sites that have low monetisation today but have traffic may be the gold mines of tomorrow. In the internet world, anything and everything will be monetised at some point, and traffic is king.

Traffic is King – very wise advice, Markus. One last question – how do you find the time to maintain such a large commodity on the internet? Surely you must have some other interests in life besides programming and website monitoring?

It only takes an hour a day on average, but it's very tiring work. I spend the other couple of hours reading and seeing what is going on.

A Concise Guide To MICR And Associated Technologies

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) was developed to utilize the benefits of computer technology in the banking industry. Before the use of a MICR line, checking sorting by account number was a manual process. Two systems were previously used to handle the large numbers of checks processed in the banking industry: Sort-A-Matic and Top Tab Key Sort.

The Sort-A-Matic system included 100 metal or leather dividers numbered 00 through 99. Each check was placed in the correct...

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) was developed to utilize the benefits of computer technology in the banking industry. Before the use of a MICR line, checking sorting by account number was a manual process. Two systems were previously used to handle the large numbers of checks processed in the banking industry: Sort-A-Matic and Top Tab Key Sort.

The Sort-A-Matic system included 100 metal or leather dividers numbered 00 through 99. Each check was placed in the corresponding divider by the first two numbers of the account. The sorting process was then repeated for the next two digits of the account number, and so on. When the process was complete, the checks were grouped by account number.

Under the Top Tab Key Sort system, small holes punched at the top of the checks indicated the digits. For instance, the first hole indicated the value of the first digit (0, 1, 2, 3...) A metal "key" was inserted through the holes to separate all of the checks with the same value in the first digit, and this step was repeated for each digit until all the checks were sorted.

Both of these systems worked, but they were time-consuming. With the advent of the computer and its movement from the laboratory into the business world, a sorting and matching task seemed ideal. Stanford University and Bank of America were the first to successfully use computers to sort and match checks. They developed what is now known as MICR. 

The Development of the MICR Font 

The MICR font was developed by Stanford University in conjunction with Bank of America and approved by the American Banking Association. The font is known as the E-13B font. E-13B has a total of 14 characters: ten specially designed numbers (0 through 9) and four special symbols (Transit, Amount, On-Us, and Dash). 

The letter E indicates the fifth version considered. The letter B indicates the second revision of that version. The number 13 is derived from the 0.013-inch module construction used for stroke and character width. This means that all character widths, both horizontal and vertical, are in multiples of 0.013 inches, ranging from 0.052 to 0.091. The significance of this will be explained more thoroughly later in this article.

MICR Readers 

Three types of machines are used to read MICR characters. The two that read the characters magnetically are referred to as MICR readers. The third machine is an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) reader.

E-13B characters are printed with toner containing iron oxide, which is capable of being magnetized. MICR readers transport the checks containing the E-13B magnetic characters past a magnet, thereby magnetizing the iron oxide particles. The magnetized characters then pass under a magnetic read head. The magnetic field (flux pattern) caused by the magnetized characters generates a current in the read head. The strength and timing of this current allow the reader to decipher the characters. 

Magnetic readers come in two types: single-track (single gap or split scan) and multiple-track (matrix or pattern) readers.

Single-Track Reader Characteristics

Single track uses a read head with one gap to detect the magnetic flux pattern generated by the MICR character. When a magnetized E-13B printed character moves across the narrow gap of the read head, the electric voltage caused by the magnetic flux from the character generates a waveform unique to each character.

Multi-Track Reader Characteristics

The multiple-track reader employs a matrix of tiny, vertically aligned read heads to detect the presence of the magnetic flux pattern. The small individual read heads slice across the character to detect the presence of magnetic flux. This sensing of magnetic flux over time produces a unique matrix pattern for each character.

An OCR reader does not use magnetic properties to detect the E-13B characters. Instead, it uses a scanner to detect the amount of light reflected from the character and the amount of light reflected from the background. A photocell column detects the presence of the dark area of a character.

Waveform Theory 

The readers move and read documents from right to left. The right-hand edge of the character, as a result, is the first to cross the read head. Analysis of the signal level created by reading the character 0 will help explain this in greater detail.

As the character moves from right to left under the read head, the gap detects the magnetism of the first right-hand edge (edge 1). This results in an increase in magnetism, and a positive peak is created (peak 1). As soon as the right-hand edge moves beyond the read head gap, no new magnetism is found, and thus the waveform returns to the zero signal level.

At the second edge, the vertical read head detects a drop in magnetism, which results in a -110 signal level at peak 2. Again, the waveform returns to zero until the next portion of the inner ring of the character is detected. At this point (peak 3), an increase in magnetism (+110) is indicated. Finally, the outer portion of the character is read, resulting in a negative peak (peak 4) of -130. 

The placement of the vertical edges must occur in increments of 0.013 inches from the first right-hand edge. Five characters have two positive and two negative peaks, similar to character 0, and also appear in a positive-negative-positive-negative format. They are 0, 2, 4, 5, and the transit character, which are differentiated from one another by the horizontal location of the peaks in the waveforms. The peaks do require different amplitudes, but ANSI standards allow them to vary from 50% to 200% of the nominal amplitudes (Canadian standards allow them to vary from 80% to 200% of the nominal amplitudes). This is why the placement of the waveform is so important and why the characters are shaped unusually. 

What Affects the Signal Level? 

Signal level can vary based on a number of factors. The amount of iron oxide (concentration) that is present in the character will affect the signal level. This is a function not only of the toner itself, but also of how it is laid on the paper and the pile height, which can be controlled by numerous other cartridge components (i.e., "hot" OPCs).

The taller the vertical edge of the character, the taller the peak (either positive or negative). A vertical edge that is not regular and/or not vertical will result in a reduction in the amplitude of the peak and will flatten the peak out. 

Keys to proper waveform detection are:

* All peaks in a character's waveform must be detected. The reader sorter must know that the peak is there. 

* The peak must be located at or near its anticipated location. 

* No significant "extra" peaks can be present. 

* There cannot be wide variations in the signal levels of peaks within a character. 

What to Look for in MICR Printers and Consumables

Printers that are used for MICR printing must have a unique MICR font that is modified to suit the unique printer engine, and it must be modified to the pixel level to match the magnetic toner provided for that printer. This is essential to ensure the correct waveform, dimension, and signal strength when a check is printed with the correct MICR characters. In addition, the MICR font must meet ABA-X9 standards to ensure acceptance of your checks by banking institutions.

The magnetic MICR toner that you choose must be specifically designed for the particular print engine in the printer. Ensure the toner has been thoroughly tested for consistent signal readings, image permanence, uniformity, and excellent edge acuity. Toner coverage must be solid with no extraneous toner lay down.

OEM cartridges are always a safe (but more expensive) bet. If you buy a "compatible" brand, ensure it has a new OPC drum, new primary charge rollers (PCRs), a new black velvet magnetic sleeve, and new image wiper blades. The hopper system must be filled with high-quality, low-abrasion MICR toner.

The vendor you choose should use the latest and most advanced MICR test equipment, such as a Verifier and Golden Qualifier, to conform to ANSI X9 Standards. It is also recommended that the systems exceed U.S. and Canadian check printing standards.

A Case For Cases. Ipod Cases That Is.

 Have you recently bought an iPod? Or are you on the verge of buying one?

Take a look around next time you're out and about. iPods are becoming as prolific as cellphones. Of course they are! The iPod is such a great gadget! Do you know the first thing you must do after buying an iPod?

You need to protect it! Most people don't. Even though the iPod owner spends as much as $30 - $60 USD on iPod accessories. That's 30 to 60% of the original iPod price.

The majority of people are buying fancy accessories such as FM transmitters, docking stations, and wireless remote kits. Don't get the wrong idea, these are great gadgets, BUT the first accessory you should be buying is protection for your iPod.

Get the basics before getting the fancy goods. iPod skins and cases come in a huge variety of styles and quality. Whatever your style, there is a case for you!

By purchasing a Skin or Case, you'll be protecting your iPod from these common problems:

* Click wheel scratches

* iPod screen scratches.

* Mirrored back scratches.

Despite the superiority of the Apple iPod, it still suffers from some major issues. Being easily scratched and has a short battery life. These issues lower the resale value of an iPod. This may not seem important, but if you want to trade in your older one for a newer one, these things will matter. Aside from that, who wants their own pristine, beautiful iPod all scratched up? Every time you take your iPod out of your pocket, it causes microscopic scratches!

There are many accessories out there, but most do not fulfill the basic needs of your iPod. Protection. You need to protect your iPod before anything else. Make sure you first equip your iPod with a good-quality case, skin, or sleeve.

The most popular iPod cases are as follows:

Cellphone sleeve converted to a case.

This is the most common and is most easily available. Unfortunately, the mirrored backs of the 3G and 4G iPods are easily scratched by the sleeve as they rub against it. If you can afford a 3G or 4G iPod, then you can afford not to go this route. Protect your purchase and buy something specifically for your iPod.

iPod Silicone skin.

This is the most common case today. They come in every shape and size, color and texture. Be aware though there are mass-produced low-quality cases produced in China with questionable materials that tear easily. The cheap silicone skins also pick up dirt and lint easily. You can find better and branded products from the USA or Japan. 

iPod Leather Cases.

iPod leather cases are also extremely popular. Unfortunately, people have reported that the Apple-branded one scratches the mirror back and does not have a cover flap. There are many quality leather case suppliers on the web. Check the stitching on the case for good workmanship. Belkin and Digital Lifestyle are a few that come to mind. 

Water and Shock Resistant Cases.

There is an increasing need for these types of cases due to our active and mobile lifestyles. There are a plethora of cases in this market, but be forewarned that a case can only be water-resistant, not water-proof. Water resistant means it can withstand water splashes, certainly not to be immersed in water, and definitely you would not bring it diving! There are many aluminum cases available that offer superb shock resistance.

With the new knowledge you have, you are now ready to find the case that best fits your needs and, most importantly, your style! Happy case hunting.

A Buyers Guide to Dictaphones and Digital Voice Recorders

 Dictaphones or Digital Voice Recorders (DVRs) are ideal for recording voice memos, interviews, conferences, meetings, and phone conversations. The term Dictaphone is a brand name that refers to the version that uses cassette tapes to record, as opposed to the newer Digital Voice Recorders (DVR) that save the audio to memory.

Digital Voice Recorder (DVR)

• Use your USB port to save typing time by directly transferring audio files from your DVR to your computer 

• With the DVR, there is no need to rewind; when you finish recording, you simply press the play button to playback immediately

• Each audio file you record to your DVR is automatically saved under a number with a time-and-date stamp 

• The DVR usually has between 2 to 5 folders to separate audio for better organization

• Some DVRs allow you to move messages between folders and split or delete messages

• You won’t cause a distraction during meetings or conferences, changing tapes, and you won’t miss anything important whilst doing so

• Some DVRs come with software that automatically converts the voice file to text for easy transcription

• Newer DVRs have expandable memory and come with external memory cards. Look out for this, as it gives you more flexibility with recording time and makes it easier to download audio to your computer

• The DVR is normally powered by 1 or 2 AAA alkaline or rechargeable batteries

Cassette Tape/Dictaphone

• Choose between Mini, Micro, or Standard; Mini cassettes (15min per side) hold half of the content of Standard and Micro (30mins per side)

• Cassette Tape Dictaphones can be played on any player that takes the respective size

• With digital, you only have a limited amount of space to store recordings (if you have no external memory card) - whereas with a cassette tape Dictaphone, you can simply exchange tapes if you run out of room

• Battery life is longer in a Dictaphone than in a Digital Voice Recorder

• A Dictaphone is a cheaper alternative

• There is no digital storage on a Dictaphone cassette tape

• Reuse the cassettes - you can buy a machine that automatically erases micro and mini cassettes

• Many come with equipment specifically for recording phone conversations 

Desktop or Portable Voice Recorder?

Desktop DVRs or Dictaphones are generally cheaper and are ideal for recording phone conversations or are used in conjunction with transcription software. There are numerous models of portable Dictaphones varying in size and ability, but they are all ideal if you are on the road or need a Dictaphone or DVR for times of inspiration.

Push Button or Thumb Slide Recorders?

Push-Button Cassette Recorders usually can insert dictation, but it can be very difficult to find the point you want. With the Thumb slide switch, it is much easier to review and control with rewind review capability, rewind, insert, play, and stop. 

Which Mode?

There are three levels of recording quality and differing recording times. The longer the recording time, the lower the quality.

High Quality (HQ) - 43 mins approx.

Short Play (SP) - 65 mins approx.

Long Play (LP) - 121 mins approx.

Advertisers usually display the longest recording time, so keep in mind that the Dictaphone or DVR will record at less than half of that on high quality. This is particularly important for DVRs, as the higher quality mode uses much more memory, and you don’t want to be halfway through a meeting or interview and find you are out of memory.

There are usually two levels of sensitivity available on a Dictaphone or DVR. LOW is the best for dictation, as the microphone tends to be unidirectional in this mode and will focus on your voice. HIGH sensitivity picks up sound in all directions, along with unwanted background noise.

Dictaphones and Digital Voice Recorders: Other Features to Consider 

• Voice Activate System (VAS) - Dictaphones or DVRs with VAS will automatically record when they hear your voice (or other sound) without having to push any buttons. Great for when your hands are tied up.

• Alarm - to remind you when to record, or a timer that you can set to automatically record between two times

• Tie clip microphone - for hands-free recording

• Earphones - for playback when you do not want to disturb others

• Rechargeable batteries and a battery level indicator

• Microphones can either be built in or detachable. If you want your Dictaphone or DVR for a higher quality of recording, such as music, then look for one with a microphone jack 

• Speakers – most are built in, but some models have detachable speakers that can be used for presentations.

• Digital storage - some come with more than others

• Hands-free or foot control - keep your hands free for typing or playing an instrument

• Automatic backspace - automatically reverse the desired number of seconds for input or playback

Transcribers and Docking Stations

All digital transcription systems require you to use a foot pedal connected to your computer. This enables you to transcribe files from your Dictaphone or DVR from audio to text by listening and typing a few seconds at a time.

Docking stations make it very easy to download the files you have recorded to your computer. Some docking stations also recharge the batteries on your recorder, which is ideal if your Dictaphone is in high use.

10 Web Site Backup Essentials That You Should Live By

 More and more webmasters nowadays do not value the importance of a complete website backup (files and databases). They have left this to chance and good luck, which poses a great risk to their online presence. 

Can you relate to this? Then read this important article, which might save you an arm and a leg later. 

Website backup is the most ignored task of webmasters simply because it poses no immediate threat to them until something worse happens to their hosting server. Many times, this task is set aside, delayed, and even regarded as a nuisance to the busy website owner. 

They just don't realize what is at stake here.

So, before your website is wiped out of the internet by unexpected accidents like server breakdowns, hard disk failures, hacking, and DDOS attacks, among other bad things, let me share with you the 10 Backup E-S-S-E-N-T-I-A-L-S you should not live without online.

EXPECT - Know that your webhosting company (even the biggest and the most boastful out there) may encounter problems and that your diligence to back up will pay off later on. Online computing has never been so unpredictable that the worst of times will happen when you least expect it. With the proper mindset, you are ensuring the continuity of your online endeavour in any eventuality. In short, be ready. 

SCHEDULE - Your backup process should not compete with your busy schedules. Create your own backup schedule at the most convenient time for you in the week. If you're like me, you do this during lunch and dinner times. Sometimes, I have to leave my PC overnight, working on the backups. If you can make it so as not to conflict with your busy schedules, you will be able to keep up with the demands of this job. In short, don't complicate.

STICK with it - Just do it. Patience is key to your backup tasks. Once you have a schedule, stick with it. You must do this diligently every time it happens. This is a tough challenge, especially for busy people working online. But the sooner you discipline yourself and make backing up your files a habit, the more you will benefit from a worry-free online environment. In short, get a good habit.

EVALUATE - After a while, test your backup files. A good backup can be tested by simply restoring it on another system. Evaluating your backup results from time to time is a good way to know that you are keeping what you should keep - a good and working backup. In short, be sure.

NO Complacency - After some time, your backup schedule may slip away, and you will tend to forget or intentionally miss it. Don't succumb to this temptation. Man has never been so busy in his lifetime as he is today in this era of high-tech trends, new developments, and discoveries. In short, don't be lazy to back up.

TRASH - Know which files to keep and not to keep. You need to do this to keep your backup process as short and as efficient as possible. It also saves you valuable resources like hard disk space and backup media. Backup only what you need. Keep out the trash and dump it. In short, don't sweat with the trash. 

INTUITION - Have faith in your backup results. Believe that what you are doing is for your own good later on. Like vitamins that keep your body healthy, backups keep your mind away from stress and worries. A good working backup will make you smile even in the worst of times because you are insured by your patience. In short, believe in good results.

AUTOMATE - Look for alternatives to the traditional backup process that can make your life simpler. There are several technologies and software you can use now to generate the fastest and safest backup files you will need to restore in case of an emergency without you lifting a finger. Automation is king in this lazy man's world. In short, be efficient.

LIBERATE - Free yourself from worries and anxiety of the unexpected. A death sentence that can be prevented will not kill you. So think about what you can do more (like sleeping more at night) than to think about what harm may come. With your own backup systems established, you can retire at night calmly knowing that the next day, if you don't see your websites as they should, you know you can publish them back within the day, even if your web host cannot recover them for you. In short, relax and enjoy life to the max.

SECURITY - Nothing beats the feeling of being secure. This is the reason why the insurance businesses have flourished over the years. But more importantly, your commitment to back up your files will not only save you from stress, humiliation, frustration, anger, and guilt, but also lift your spirit and confidence because you know that at the end of the day, your self-reliance is well worth it. 

And that, my friend, is a great and wonderful feeling.

10 Steps To A Safe, Smooth Running PC

 10 Steps To A Safe, Smooth Running PC By Michael A Silva

These ten steps will help you increase your computer's security. From discovering viruses to learning how to avoid them, this article is a must-read!

Windows password. This is the easiest way to make sure you know who is using your pc. Choose a lengthy password that contains capital and lowercase letters. Including a few numbers will greatly increase your security. Having a Windows password means that only people you have granted access to can log on to a Windows session.

Password manager: You should never write your passwords down. Using the same password all the time will also make it very easy for hackers to reach your personal information. So if you can’t write it down and you’re not

supposed to use the same one, how are you supposed to keep track of all of your passwords? The easiest way to do this is to use a password manager. We prefer to use Roboform. Roboform is an easy-to-use password and profile manager that docks neatly into your Internet Explorer toolbar and keeps track of all of your passwords for you. Roboform also uses a master password system. You will have one password that accesses all of the passwords in the program. This way, you can keep all of your information safe and secure. You can download Roboform for free from http://www.roboform.com.

Spyware Remover. Next to spam, spyware is the internet’s biggest annoyance. By definition, spyware is “any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Once installed, the spyware

monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.” The amount of spyware that exists on your pc is dependent on the amount of internet surfing you do. A good rule of thumb here is to scan for spyware once per week or whenever poor system performance surfaces. If you don’t have a spyware scanner, we recommend http://www.webroot.com.

Antivirus. This should go without saying, but if your computer is connected to the internet, you need antivirus software. With weekly scans and program updates, you should be protected from most threats. For added protection, we

Recommend using more than one antivirus scanner.

Firewall: A firewall will keep unwanted visitors out of your computer. You can obtain a firewall either by using a software application like ZoneAlarm or Black Ice Defender, or by using a router with your internet connection. For more information on routers, please visit http://www.Linksys.com.

File sharing. Basically, file-sharing programs are the single biggest security risk you will come across. This is because the only facts you have about the files you are downloading are the file name and the file size. It is quite simple to change a filename to dupe someone into downloading a virus or other malware, like keystroke recorders. Our advice – stay away from file sharing at all costs. If you need to use it, make sure you have updated antivirus software installed and running.

Research in a sentence – know what’s out there. http://www.Symantec.com  has a section on its website that will serve you well. Knowing what types of viruses exist and how to avoid them will make you a much smarter internet user.

Email protection. Most of the antivirus applications available offer email scanning. If yours does not, you will want to get one that does. Email scanning will make sure all of your incoming and outgoing emails are safe for both you and the recipient. Email viruses spread very quickly by using your address book to propagate. Never read emails from people you don’t know, and always make sure your email scanner is active.

Network security. Another way that viruses spread is through computer networks. We have a few quick tips to keep your network safe. Always scan any files that come in from other computers. Even if it’s a file you have brought from home. Never allow a file to be placed on your network until it

has been scanned. The main server should be the only computer with file sharing enabled. By not allowing computer users to transmit files, you can quickly neutralize a threat.

Maintenance: Performing weekly virus and spyware scans will go a long way to keeping your computer safe. Defragmenting weekly will also greatly improve performance. If you put in the effort, you will be rewarded with a safe and smooth-running pc. Not to mention fewer headaches!

By following these ten guidelines, you will greatly improve the performance of your computer. You will also generate peace of mind as you gain a new sense of security.

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For more information on affordable hosting packages, website builder software, dedicated and shared server packages, website design and promotion services and specialized fund raising and campaign websites please visit us at http://www.ipowereurope.com

10 Reasons Why To Print with Printer Anywhere

PrinterAnywhere has developed a new technology and software that allows any user with an internet connection to connect and print any document all over the world. Users now have the power and provision to connect to any printer all over the world without any networking. The users just need to download and install the free software that PrinterAnywhere provides. That too, without the requirement of any special knowledge by the user or the owner of the printer!

With the software that Printer Anywhere provides, the user is now able to print anything directly from their applications, like the Photo Editor, Outlook Explorer, and so on. Also, the page the user wants is printed thousands of miles away from your own computer. 

The software is developed with such precision that it uses high security as well as quality standards for printing the page at the desired destination. The software also uses a high-quality encryption algorithm and securely sends the printable media through electronic pulses to the desired destination. This also adds to the user’s security because the imitation of the original copy is sent. 

The Printer Anywhere software also bans the forwarding of the document; thus, unlike e-mail, it solves the problems faced for the privacy issues. It is also unnecessary for the user to have an email ID for the printing of a document anywhere in the world. The user also has the authority over how many copies are to be printed. 

There are ten basic reasons to print documents around the world using the software that is provided by Printer Anywhere. The ten reasons are:

1. To ensure that the documents are not only received but also printed:

Many times, it happens that the important documents that are sent through email are received properly, but are either misplaced or deleted from the receiver's computer. With PrinterAnywhere, the user can be assured that the documents are not just received but printed so that the receiver has a hard copy of the documents.

2. The user does not want to send electronic copies of the documents:

With the sending of emails, all the privacy issues pop up. The emails, for example, can be forwarded, and the privacy of the document is compromised. Instead, if the user chooses to print the document using PrinterAnywhere, the user has the benefit of preventing the abuse of privacy.

3. The recipient does not have the application to open the document: 

With the technology advancing all the time, there is an acute possibility that the recipient does not have the proper application to open certain documents that have come from other parts of the world. Hence, it is very useful to have the software provided by PrinterAnywhere, which facilitates the printing of any document in any part of the world. This saves time in finding and installing the correct application to open the document.

4. The user wants to print paper photos on someone else’s printer:

The software is very useful in printing your archived photos on any printer in any part of the world. So, instead of sending the photos through email and then letting the recipient download and print the photos, the user can directly print the photos on the recipient’s printer.

5. The user wants to ensure that the documents are printed on loy on the specific printer:

The software provided by PrinterAnywhere ensures that when a document is sent for printing, it goes to the right recipient.

6. The user wants to print directly from the applications as if it were a local printer:

The user now has the opportunity to print the required document directly from the application by just commanding the application to print and then giving the correct link to the address of the recipient printer.

7. Microsoft printer sharing on the home network of the user doesn’t seem to work:

The Microsoft printer sharing may not work correctly; hence, PrinterAnywhere is a better option for all users.

8. The document is too big to print, or the user wants to save paper:

If the user does not want to waste paper on something that may be useless yet necessary, then with PrinterAnywhere, the user has the option to directly print the document at the recipient’s printer.

9. Fax quality is not good, or the international fax calls are very expensive:

The Fax calls are very expensive in case you want to send a fax overseas. In this case the PrinterAnywhere is a very good option.

10. The user wants to print right at that moment, and for free:

PrinterAnswers is the best option to print documents on the spot and for free.

With all these reasons, PrinterAnywhere is the most irresistible.

10 Benefits Of Smarthphone Bluetooth

 10 Benefits of Smartphone Bluetooth. Below are 10 benefits and reasons to use Bluetooth technology.

1. Wireless. As you probably already know, there are many benefits and advantages to using wireless devices. Along with improving safety as a result of eliminating wires you don't need, wireless also offers you plenty of other advantages. When traveling with your laptop or other wireless devices, you'll no longer have to worry about bringing connection cables.

2. Bluetooth is actually inexpensive. The technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies to implement, which results in lower costs for the company. These savings are then passed from the company on to you.

3. Bluetooth is automatic. Bluetooth doesn't require you to set up a connection or push any buttons. When two or more devices enter a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will automatically begin to communicate without you having to do anything. 

4. Standardized protocol Bluetooth is a standardized wireless protocol, meaning that a high level of compatibility among devices is guaranteed. Bluetooth will connect devices to each other, even if they aren't the same model.

5. Low-interference Bluetooth devices almost always avoid interference from other wireless devices. Bluetooth uses a technique known as frequency hopping, and also low-power wireless signals.

6. Low energy consumption. As a result of Bluetooth using low-power signals, the technology requires very little energy and will use less battery or electrical power as a result. This is an excellent benefit for mobile devices, as Bluetooth won't drain the battery.

7. Sharing voice and data. The standard for Bluetooth will allow compatible devices to share data and voice communications. This is great for mobile phones and headsets, as Bluetooth simplifies driving and talking on your cell phone.

8. Instant PAN (Personal Area Network) You can connect up to seven Bluetooth devices to each other within a range of up to 30 feet, forming a piconet or PAN. For a single room, you can also set up multiple piconets.

9. Upgradeable is the standard for Bluetooth. There are newer versions of Bluetooth in the works, which offer many new advantages and are backward compatible with older versions.

10. The technology stays Bluetooth technology is a worldwide, universal wireless standard. With it being as popular as it is, you can count on it being around for years to come. As more and more devices start to use Bluetooth technology, more manufacturers will be eager to make their products compatible. A chain reaction will occur, making Bluetooth the standard for cutting-edge wireless.

7 Tips For Buying Cheap Laptop

Laptops are gaining in popularity these days. Almost everyone is carrying one now, either for work or entertainment. Laptops with the latest technology are introduced to the market every day, and these new laptops come with a huge price tag. However, that does not mean you cannot get a good and cheap laptop. I have put together a guide that may help you out in your hunt for a cheap and good laptop.

Buy a cheap laptop with older technology.

The rapid advance in technology makes it meaningless to buy the latest technology at a high price. When laptops with wireless capability first came to the market, a unit with this technology could cost up to US$2500. Now, after 2 years, you can get a relatively fast Centrino laptop for less than US$1000 

Buy a used or refurbished laptop.

The depreciation of a laptop's value is so high that after one year in the market, a laptop can easily lose half its value. So if you are looking for a cheap laptop, look for one that is close to one year old. Not all used laptops are in bad condition. You will be surprised to find that some used laptops are still in good condition because their owners are power users or gamers.

Buy a laptop from power users or gamers.

I like to buy electronic gadgets, including laptops, from hardcore power users or gamers. Let me share with you why. Gamers or power users usually require the latest and most powerful technology to run their games or power-hungry applications. They often will not settle for second best. They also have the tendency to chase after the latest technology. So after one year, they will be bored with what they have and will look to sell off their laptops so that they can buy a new one. Now, if you are looking to buy cheap laptops with up-to-date technology and you happen to have friends who are gamers, do ask them if they are looking to sell off their laptops. Who knows, maybe you can buy a good and cheap laptop from them.

Scan through gaming forums and the local gaming community

If you do not already have friends who like to play computer games, then scanning through gaming forums on the internet is another way to get good and cheap deals for a used laptop. The Internet makes it easy for you to do this. Go to google.com and start searching for gaming forums. Visit each and every one and see if they have a Trading Section. You will definitely find many posts from gamers looking to sell their gaming laptops.

Scan through local bulletin boards. 

Do a scan through local bulletin boards near you for cheap deals on a laptop. Especially if there are software companies around the area. Software companies do offer their used computers or laptops for sale when their software projects end. I personally had gotten a few good deals for my family and friends.

Look for a cheap laptop with at least 512mb memory.

This is especially important for a used laptop. If the processor speed is slow, then having more memory can compensate for the lack of speed. In fact, the size of memory plays a big part in determining how fast a laptop runs an application. Just by increasing the memory size, you can see a huge difference in speed. A cheap laptop with at least 512mb memory can run most non-graphically intensive applications easily.

Get a cheap laptop from a reputable manufacturer.

This is very important because if you are buying a used laptop, then the chances of requiring servicing are higher than with a new laptop. So if you buy from a reputable manufacturer, you will save a lot of trouble and time if your laptop does require servicing.

7 Great Computer User Tips - For Windows® Users Only

 

An Easy Performance Enhancement

If you’re using the NTFS file protocol on your system, instead of FAT32, you can get a bit more speed by disabling Windows® Indexing. The downside to this is that searching your drive for a specific file might take a moment or two longer, but everything else should run faster.

To disable this feature, open My Computer and then right-click on the drive you wish to reset – usually the C-drive. Now, click on Properties and then uncheck “Allow Indexing Service.” It will take Windows® a few moments to accomplish this task, based on your processor speed. If you have other hard drives, perform the same process for them. After this is done, it’s a good idea to empty the Recycle Bin and then defragment your hard drive(s).

FREE Software

If you have a system and it does not have an office suite, such as Microsoft Office, and you don’t want to pay several hundred dollars to have one, try OpenOffice. This is a great alternative to other suites, and it’s free! Simply direct your browser to www.openoffice.org and follow the instructions for downloading and installation. Make no mistake, this free office suite is an extremely powerful set of software tools – easily a match for any competitor.

Internet Explorer (Microsoft’s Internet browser) is unarguably the standard in computers. This is why hackers develop so many malware applications to invade it. If you use a different browser, you have a much lower chance of an invasion by malicious software. There is a great alternative available, and it’s free. You can download a copy of Firefox at www.mozilla.org/products/firefox. You can even move your Internet Explorer settings into Firefox automatically – so you don’t lose your Favorites, etc.

Laptop Printer Fix

If you’re using a laptop that is running Windows® ME, and you’re having trouble printing through the USB, try this simple fix. Go to the website for the company that manufactures your printer. If you use a Hewlett-Packard, for example, go to www.HP.com and download the appropriate drivers and install them. ME has drivers that recognize the USB printer is present and attached, but not the drivers needed to make it print. Which drivers you download and install will depend on your printer. After installing new drivers, update the printer as necessary in the Control Panel.

Save $$$ When Shopping Online.

If you’re making a purchase online, and you know the item you want to buy, you can easily compare pricing across the Internet. This can amount to a very substantial savings.

At this writing, I went to www.mysimon.com and typed in that I wanted to buy a printer: a Canon PIXMA iP4000. The service instantly checked the Internet and returned prices ranging from $62.00 to $286.00. This kind of price spread is not at all unusual, especially for computers and electronics.

The My Simon website service only checks pricing; it does not provide a platform for purchasing anything, though it does link to such places. It also gives a rating for the sellers and other users’ input regarding their experiences with the company. You can order the results of the search for your product by price, so that you can quickly find the lowest price from the highest-rated dealer.

Windows® XP Professional Only

A feature of Windows® XP Professional, which is not available in the Home Edition, is the ability to encrypt files. This encryption prevents others from opening the files in the folder you encrypt. To encrypt one or more folders, follow these easy steps.

Click Start, then My Documents. Now, locate the folder you wish to encrypt and right-click on it and choose Properties.

On the General tab, click on Advanced. Put a tick mark in the box for Encrypt Contents to Secure Data. Click okay two times, and the confirmation dialog box will appear, allowing you to select the folder, the folder and all files, and/or the subfolders within it.

Now you'll be able to place files in this folder (or folders), and since they're encrypted, others will not be able to access them.

Internet Safety

You should never reveal your username or password to anyone who emails you and asks for it. This information is frequently asked for by an Internet scheme called “phishing.”

In a common phishing scam, you receive an email that looks quite official. It usually appears to come from a bank or credit card company. A common title for these e-mails is “We need to verify your account information.” Another is “Please log in to your account and verify your settings.” If you do click where instructed, you’ll end up on a site that appears to be the real one. If you fill in the username and password for your online banking account, you can expect serious problems within twenty-four hours.

If you believe that a company or business with which you do online business really does require your information, then simply contact them. This way, you will know where you are sending your information and what it will be used for.

CD Burning Error Fix

Burning music, video, and data CDs has become quite popular over the past few years, and the evolution of the supporting technology has yielded hardware and software that is better than ever – and very reasonably priced. CDs offer a great place to store substantial amounts of data in a small, easily retained format. They also give us new control over aspects of our entertainment.

A relatively common error received during CD burning informs you that the CD cannot be burned or that there was an error during burning. Of course, you could actually have a defective CD drive, but this is usually not the case.

If you receive a message indicating that your CD cannot be burned, go to the website of your CD drive manufacturer. Look for the list of CD types (manufacturers/numbers) that are compatible with your device. Most often, you’ll find that your CDs are not listed. The two types that seem to have the least difficulty being burned are manufactured by Sony and TDK. These cost a bit more, but they burn very reliably.

Along the same lines, HP has introduced a new CD burner. This new burner requires the use of special CD blanks, but after you burn your data into the CD, you can flip it over and close the drive again. Then you can use the laser to burn a title for the CD directly onto the CD itself. It’s new technology, but perhaps it will catch on and we’ll see newer, better such devices in the near future.

7 Steps to Connect with your Angels

 The room you are in is filled with Angels! 

The next room you go to will be filled with Angels, and Angels will be at your side with every step you take today. The Angels are with us and are eager to help us.

How do I know that? That's my specialty - I am an author, workshop leader, and Ordained Minister whose specialty is Angels. For the past 10 years, I have been helping people in private sessions and in workshops to connect more deeply with their Angels for help and assistance.

Angels are truly universal. The Pew Foundation reported that 72% of Americans believe in Angels. This is a much higher percentage than Americans who believe in any world religion, because Angels are fundamental to most of the world's major religions. We find them in Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Mormonism, and many other spiritual traditions. 

St. Augustine, an authority on Angels, said, "Make friends with Angels." He recommended that we make personal relationships with Angels and that we let our relationships with them deepen, much as we would with any important, intimate relationship. 

Asking an Angel for help is one of our most powerful spiritual practices. We can ask the Angels for immediate help at any time and in any place. Here are some techniques that will help you:

1) Ask for help - Angels offer us help 24/7. The more receptive we are, the more help they can give us. If you diminish your receptivity, you limit the angel's ability to help you. Create your own invocations, or prayers, that specifically call for the help you need. Realize that when you call upon an Angel, what really happens is that you open yourself to greater receptivity to their assistance. (See the Angel Messages at www.AskAnAngel.org for examples of invocations.) 

When asking for help, it's important to realize yourself as fully worthy of Angelic assistance. Angels work with everyone regardless of personal histories and beliefs. Angels are infinite and omnipresent - your request does not diminish them in any way, nor does it affect their ability to help the rest of us at the same time. They exist beyond our experience of time and space and respond to everyone with complete unconditional love. 

2) Connect with your inner divine child as you call upon the Angels and ask for help. Your inner divine child is whole, innocent, and true, and recognizes Angels as trustworthy gifts of the Creator. This will help create openness, receptivity, excitement, eagerness, and wonder as you prepare to receive the gift your Angels have prepared for you.

3) Hand everything over to the Angels when you ask for their help: every issue, problem, worry, and fear, as well as every good intention and positive outcome you imagine as the result of your request. Release all expectations of how your request will be answered.

4) Express Appreciation and Gratitude - Find and express genuine appreciation and gratitude for things exactly as they are. If you are struggling with this, ask the Angels to help you find the love that is present in whatever difficulty you are facing. Have patience with this and let go of any expectation of how this love may be revealed to you.

5) Know that it is done - Every request is answered, and help is always given. If you fear that your request will not be answered, then also ask for help in understanding. Trust that you will see the love in every answered prayer. You are known completely and loved unconditionally by the Angels, and nothing that will serve you is ever withheld from you.

6) Act quickly on the guidance you receive. Accept the opportunity and act upon it immediately. Angelic help is infinite and unlimited - you can not use it up or run out of it. You cannot ask for "too much," and the Angels are joyously happy to give to you without limit. The faster you act, the faster you receive more assistance!

7) Celebrate yourself exactly as you are in the moment. Leave any critical judgments or negative feelings about yourself, your life, or others in the hands of the Angels for healing. Even if it is just for a few moments, let go of everything that is not of love for yourself and everything around you. In this moment of surrender, much more can be done for you by the Angels than you can accomplish on your own. Thank yourself and the Angels for deepening the relationship between you.

7 Drawing Tips for Beginners

 A child's first scribbling is something that they try to express if you give a pencil in their hand.  Drawing is relatively very simple and an easy skill, and is something with which you can have great fun. It is also not a very expensive hobby and can start with paper and a pencil.  It can go on till acquiring a costly pen and tablets, a computer hardware through which you can draw on your computer.  It is very costly; however, the precision for perfection is very high.

Unlike earlier days, getting information on drawing and sketching is very easy and inexpensive.  You can search for information on Google and get various sites that teach drawing.  Also, nowadays this art form is liked by many youngsters.  Like all other art forms, with constant and systematic practice, one can become a great artist.

Listed below are a few drawing tips which can help anyone improve their skill and become an artist. Reading and practicing these in your daily routine will improve your skills.

1. If you are drawing and you are right right-handed person, ensure that the light is from your left side. This will prevent your hand shadow from falling on your paper.

2. First step when you practice drawing - you should practice drawing lines, straight lines, curved lines, scribbled lines, and your hand should obey the command of your thoughts and visions. You should control your hand, and you should be able to bring out what you want.

3. You should further develop drawing circles, oval shapes, crossed lines, and bold and thick lines.  Just like how a baby develops from the crawling stage to the walking stage, your art should also develop step by step.

4. These lines and curves are like pillars to a building. The foundation should be strong enough to have a good building; similarly, these initial small lines and curves will go a long way in your career. You should also start controlling the stress on your pencil. You should be able to bring the correct darkness and thickness to the lines that you draw.

5. Initially, you will not be able to draw a circle or an oval shape correctly; nevertheless, don't get discouraged. You should practice and practice until you get perfection.  You should also keep all your drawings carefully from the start to know how you are improving. You could also date your sketches and preserve them for the future.

6. You should concentrate on the area where you feel you are weak.  If you are not able to shade properly, then learn more to do that.  You can try out your own style of shading.  Build your own individuality; never copy from another artist.  

7. Last but not least, use good-quality materials. 4B and 6B pencils and good chart paper or a notebook with good-quality paper should be sufficient to start with.  Quality definitely matters, hence never compromise on quality.

If you are a person who is interested in learning to draw, you will be interested in checking these Free Drawing Tutorials, and you can also search for tutorials from a drawing search engine.

A Breif Histoory Of Video Games

 Video games have become a billion-dollar industry. They represent both a pastime and a hobby for both adults and children. Retailers have exploited the popularity of video games, and now clubs, magazines, conventions, and other social events are all offered with a video game theme. T-shirts, backpacks, lunchboxes, and sweatshirts all come printed with video game logos. These are mostly unnecessary, since video game players have an uncanny, radar-like ability to find each other at parties and turn the conversation into a discussion of video game techniques, graphics, and sound effects.

But it's good to know origins, just as a film devotee needs to understand what made Citizen Kane so special, avid video game players may want to know what games were popular in the past.

Many video game authorities (don’t you wonder what they’re like?) cite Spaceman as being the first video game. It appeared in 1964 and was developed by a lone student programmer. Spaceman was a comparatively simple game that pitted two players against each other and armed them with a pair of classic sci-fi rocket ships complete with tiny missiles. The computer mouse controls were limited to thrust, rotate right, and rotate left. The game featured an unpredictable hyperspace panic button for emergency situations, but the use of this panic button could have all sorts of effects, some desirable and some not. All action took place on a single screen that featured a sun that exerted a powerful gravitation pull on the combatants. Most players steered clear of this, but some intrepid players were able to use the sun's attraction as an asset.

Although it came along in 1972, most people believe that Pong was the first video game developed. Pong was composed of simple black-and-white visuals, and play consisted of simple back-and-forth table tennis-like movements.

Pac-Man is probably the most widely known and popular video game of all time. Japanese designed in 1980, in an attempt at a game that would interest girls.

Evidently, they decided that eating was something girls enjoyed because they designed a character that looked like a circle with a chomping, wedge-shaped mouth. Pac-Man was simply a hungry yellow creature who lived in a maze that it proceeded to eat its way through. However, foes 4 colorful globby ghosts lived in this maze as well, who existed solely to end Pac-Man’s career as an eating machine.

Doom came along in 1994 and engaged the game player in an ultra-violent, blood-soaked battle against the forces of Hell. The game has a sort of amorphous quality since it did nothing to define or represent a hero. The player takes the active role and is thrown into the middle of the action, with a health indicator at the screen's bottom to indicate the game’s progression.

Since then, many video games have been developed to follow this course of blood-spilling games with increasing levels of violence. But in 2000, video games made a surprise U-turn when The Sims came out. Here, the game consisted of a sort of Lego virtual reality where the player could build and furnish his or her home. It appealed to the nesting instinct, and players created ongoing sagas that revolved around decorating their virtual homes and raising children. The Sims is a wish-fulfillment vehicle where the player can create an ideal life and forget their own. It is rumoured that a second version of the game is planned wherein the Sims and their neighborhood cope with falling real estate values when the characters from Desperate Housewives move in.

3 Reasons Why Zune Could Beat The Ipod

 There is a lot of hype around the release of the Zune player. Microsoft claims that its portable media device is a real iPod killer. But the reality may not be that easy. There are 3 reasons, though, that make us believe that the Zune can succeed. Two of them are already announced, but the third one is more on our wish list for now.

Wi-fi connectivity

With the introduction of the Zune in November, Microsoft brought portable media players to new grounds. The Wi-fi feature will enable users to socialize within their music universe. The social web has taken all the attention on the internet in the last year or so. With the Zune, a part of that trend becomes “portable”. Exchanging a song or a video may look boring, but doing it with the Zune and at the speed of a Wi-fi network will be very attractive for young people. On a negative note, the DRM feature (Digital Rights Management) could eventually generate frustration among Zune users.

Integrated Marketplace

The subscription-based Zune Marketplace could be a real skyrocket feature. Being able to access an online database of new music without having to download it first to your computer will make the Zune a real and first “portable media device”. The other important aspect of the Zune Marketplace is the ability to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee. If we can access the Zune Marketplace through a public wi-fi network, it will be a real technology and music orgasm!

VoIp Phone

This feature has not been announced by Microsoft (yet!), but it would be like a cherry on a sundae to have it. Imagine if your Wi-fi portable device could connect to the internet to access a VoIP network. This feature should not be very difficult to develop because most of the required hardware is already there (besides the microphone). A VoIP phone would be a lot easier to release compared to a real mobile phone, which requires a lot more integration work and approvals.

3 Rad Ways To Pimp Your Cell Phone

Nine times out of ten, you're thinking of dunking your cellphone into the fire or mixing it in the blender because everyone else seems to be sporting a snazzy, sexy cell phone, while you are stuck with one that's snarky, ugly, obsolete, and so unhip that it's started to look like a pig's behind. Chances are that you are planning to call it an antique and shove it down the throat of some wacko buyer on eBay. 

Let's move on to the next step – your new cellphone. Now you need to pick up something and jazz it up so much that you can show it off and make your buddies go green with envy. So, here are the latest ways using which you can pimp up your cellphone:

1. Turn your cellphone into an ecosystem: In other words, convert your cellphone into an environmentally friendly product and check out the "oohs" and the "aahs" you get when you gently explain to the opposite sex, how your cellphone actually protects the ozone layer. Don't buy cellphones that use non-biodegradable plastics; don't go near cellphones that coat their phones with flame-retardant chemicals, such as bromine-based flame retardants; conserve electricity by charging your phone as much as is required – better still, there's a new kind of phone that's made using bamboo and is powered by solar cells. Go for that. Our planet is getting hotter by the day; at least make your cellphone look cool!

2. Go for total convergence: First, get your cellphone hooked into a mobile radio service – there are many mobile services available and many, many more are on the way. Next, get a mobile TV service going – it's about 10 bucks a month, but that's nothing if you want to really pimp your buddy up. Now, get mobile VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) going – make calls to anyone in the world using your local connection! Bang, that's gonna get you some cool eyeballs! Now – here's the sucker punch – build all these features into a full-screen phone! Mobile companies are coming out with full-screen phones where everything is touch-operated and the screen lights up when touched! Imagine a full-screen phone with radio, TV, and Mobile VOIP! Cool!

3. Make it burglar-proof: There are applications available in the market that make your cellphone scream out like Bruce Springsteen did while bellowing out "Born In The USA". Okay, the Bruce Springsteen bit was a joke, but, seriously, mobile applications are available that make your cellphone scream if it is stolen. Not just that, these applications lock in your private data, which can be recovered when you find the phone. Imagine what a technosavvy image you will project! Move over, Neo, you two-bit son of an antique!

These are the top three ways you can pimp up your cellphone. Not only will your cellphone increase your social rank, it will also offer you protection from theft and provide you with entertainment when you need it the most – while at work or while studying. Plus, it will massage the ozone layer for you. Now what more can you wish for – Go for it, dude!

3 Mobile Launch Skypephone

 3 Mobile has teamed up with Skype to offer free calls across the Internet using their new Skypephone. The Skype network has, within a very short space of time, become hugely popular for making free Internet calls through handsets that are attached to your PC, and has built up a large customer base that recently prompted a buyout by eBay. If popular, this brave step by 3 could prompt an end to pay-as-you-talk tariffs and push other mobile phone networks into action to try and offer similar competitive deals.

The new Skypephone from 3 has all the functionality you would expect from a modern-day mobile phone, including 3G, a 2-megapixel camera, an mp3 player, mobile TV and internet, plus the handset looks stylish and comes in either black or white with pink or blue trims. The Skypephone includes 16MB internal memory and comes with a 256MB micro SD memory card, which is also expandable up to 1GB. The large Skype button in the center of the handset allows for quick and easy access to the Skype menu, where you can simply make a free call or write a text message to people within your friends list.

The biggest challenge for the 3 Skypephone is encouraging people who are not already signed up with Skype, or whose friends are not members of Skype, to buy the phone. If this hurdle can be cleared, then it could create a domino effect, which would push all other mobile phone networks to provide a similar service and may make Skype a major player in the world of telecommunications. Once you are signed up to Skype, you will not only be able to call people using the 3 Skype phone but also talk to friends connected to Skype through their PC.

3 Mobile offers the Skypephone on either pay-as-you-go or monthly contract deals. The payg deal currently costs £49.99 for the Skypephone handset and requires you to top up your phone with at least £10 credit for standard voice calls and texts. The contract deals start from £12 per month with a minimum tie-in of 18 months.

The Skype deal from 3 is also available with other compatible mobile phones, such as the Nokia N95 or the Sony Ericsson W910i, which makes the offer a lot more flexible and doesn’t tie customers to a single handset. For none 3 Mobile customers Skype is also compatible with mobile phones that run the Windows Mobile operating system, plus it is possible to connect to Skype using Fring (a third party mobile VoIP application that enables free mobile internet calls and live chat to other fringsters and PC-based services including Skype, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger and Twitter) through a mobile phone with the Symbian operating system.

This fantastic offer could help encourage a reduction in prices of mobile phone calls, and other mobile phone networks will likely be keeping a close eye on how the collaboration develops. Flexibility is the key, and by allowing customers to choose whether they make calls through Skype or through normal network services, the Skypephone should be a huge success.