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Sunday, August 31, 2008

The Advantages of Using Proxies

Author: Wayne Cutforth
Proxy sites have been around for years; right from the birth of the Internet. They are pieces of software or hardware that act as a middle man, handling data on your behalf and thus cutting out risk on your part. They are useful if you want a different indentify when your surfing the Internet and can be used to remain private when surfing some websites that my harm your computer.

If you surf the Internet normally, websites can track certain pieces of information about you. The information that they can track varies but typically its stuff like IP address, geographical location, type of Browser you are suing, MAC address and much more. Using this information they can establish your ISP and roughly where you are from.

Not everybody likes this. Some people prefer to remain private for whatever reason they have. Just because you wish to remain anonymous it does not mean that you are doing things that you should not be; as some people believe. I know someone that likes using a proxy site for his Internet banking so to give himself extra privacy and an extra layer of protection from Trojans and viruses that could infect his computer. There is nothing wrong with this. With all the new viruses out today you have to take as many precautions necessary to keep yourself safe.

If you do not want to use a proxy site there are still some things that you can apply to minimise any risks. First of all, make sure that you Windows firewall is enabled. This will help filter out incoming viruses and dangers from data packets. Secondly, make sure that you have a good antivirus software package installed on your PC that allows you to do regular updates. Perform the updates manually and never rely on the application to do it automatically because sometimes it will not do this.

Also, I would advise using the Firefox browser instead of the Internet Explorer. This type of browser is more secure and has in built functions to further protect your computer from dangers. Internet Explorer is too volatile and does not provide you with as much protection and subsequently your PC becomes infected if not worse.

If you have some spare cash, you could always look into purchasing a package that offers you even more protection like encryption, for example. This will protect your data when transmitting from A to B and vice versa. If someone or something were to attempt to hack the signal, all they would get is gibberish and not the actual data being transmitted. This is probably the best form of protection that you could get. This will not come free though. You can probably expect to spend several hundred dollars for the top of the range packages.

I hope this article has given you insight into how proxies can be advantageous and how you can apply what I have talked about to a real life scenario. Good Luck.

Hair Loss Causes

Author: Rose gupta
Introduction

Your hair loss causes may have started with a few extra hairs in the sink or in your comb. But now you can't look in the mirror without seeing more of your scalp.

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

Signs and symptoms

The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. Pattern baldness(androgenetic alopecia), the most common type of alopecia, affects roughly one-third of men and women. It's typically permanent. Other types of alopecia are temporary, including alopecia areata. It can involve hair loss on your scalp or other parts of your body.

Treatment includes:

Oral treatments for hair loss must be taken continually to have a lasting effect. Finasteride is an oral solution for the hair loss following the male pattern baldness. Finasteride blocks DHT, the male hormone mentioned earlier that causes hair loss.

Topical solutions are popular for the treatment of hair loss. These involve applying a lotion or medication to the scalp as part of a routine. Minoxidil is a topical treatment for hair loss.

Best hair natural hair loss treatments:

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera balances the pH of the scalp and heals from within. It is also helpful in cleansing the pores. Jojoba:If you are affected with hair problems like eczema, psoriasis, dandruff or seborrhea you are requested to use jojoba oil. Jojoba oil works well for hypoallergenic skin, as is a good moisturizer. This is one of the best hair loss treatment products. Henna is a traditional Indian herb, which is a good natural conditioner and works great as hair loss treatment product. It heals hair shaft by sealing the cuticle and repairing, stops breakage and restores the silky-shiny effect of your hair.

Nettles are rich in vitamins A and C, several key minerals and lipids that can be beneficial to the hair:

Nettle Root Extract has been used successfully in Europe as an inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase in treating BPH. As mentioned earlier, 5-alpha reductase is a key component in turning testosterone into DHT, the substance that causes the atrophy of hair follicles. Therefore there is great promise in its use as a component in natural hair loss treatments. Nettle Root Extract is available at health food stores over the counter, and has few side effects.

How to Naturally Prevent and Treat Hair Loss

Hair loss conditions are a common problem amongst many men and women. DHT (dihydrotestostrone) is the cause of thinning hair in men while women in can be hormone related. Provillus hair loss treatment will help reverse these effects with natural ingredients including vitamin B6, biotin, magne

20 Easy Ways to Get Traffic to Your Site

Author: Seomul Evans
So you're interested in starting an internet marketing campaign for your product or service? The field of internet marketing can be overwhelming, and it may be hard to even know where to start. Here are 20 suggestions for getting traffic to your site...fast!

1. Blog. Don't stop at posting on your own blog. Frequent other blogs and leave comments. Link to other blogs and ask other bloggers to link to you.

2. Add an RSS Feed to Your Blog: Even if a potential customer really likes your blog, she may forget to bookmark it. But if you've enabled RSS, she'll be notified every time you update your content.

3. Write Lots of Articles: Aim for 500 to 2000 words in each article, and make sure each article is well-written and relevant. Then submit your articles to sites such as Ezine Articles, Article City, Submit Your Articles, and GoArticles. Make sure to include your URL in the byline.

4. Make Yourself an Expert: Go to Amazon and tout yourself as an expert in your field. Then review books and products within your market. To do this, you'll have to create a profile. Make sure each review includes your URL. You can also submit reviews to Epinion and Revoo.

5. And Since You're an Expert: Head on over to Yahoo Answers and answer questions there. Put a link back to your site after every answer.

6. Give Something Away on CraigsList: CraigsList has an unbelievable number of users. When you're designing your ad, be sure to send readers to a page on your site where they have to sign up for something (like your enewsletter) in order to get the freebie.

7. Get Yourself Listed in the Best Directories: This costs money, so many marketers don't do it. But it's worth the money to increase traffic to your site.

8. Sign up on a Social Networking Site: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Squidoo are all very popular. Just make sure you have a link back to your site!

9. Everything Gets a Social Bookmark: This includes every page of your site and every blog entry you post. This may be time-consuming, but it won't be long before you see the results.

10. Use your Delicious Page to Make a "Recommended by" List: Tag blogs, articles, and other content that you think your readership might find important and relevant. Offer this page to your readers as a helpful resource site. Be sure to link to this page on your website and in your email signature.

11. Make Sure You Have an Email Signature Line: You'd be surprised by how many people take note of and follow these links.

12. Join Yahoo Groups: Find the groups that are relevant to your products and promotions, and participate!

13. Try Podcasting: Did you know that you can record a podcast over the phone? Once your podcast is recorded using an online podcasting resource, simply hit "send" and the podcast will be sent to 27 podcast directories.

14. Create an Email Newsletter: Make sure it's as interesting and relevant as your articles. You may be surprised to learn that many of the recipients will pass it on to others. And never go anywhere without your email newsletter sign-up sheet.

15. Publicize Your URL Anywhere and Anyhow: Make sure you mention your URL whenever you're interviewed or quoted in a magazine or newspaper.

16. Create an Ebay Store: You're allowed to list your URL in your online store, so why not give it a shot?

17. Put a Video on YouTube

18. Get Plenty of Inbound Links: Pursue links from high-traffic, high-quality sites that have a page ranking of 4-6.

19. Sign 'em Up: Get all those people coming to your site to sign up for something like a newsletter. All you need is an email address in order to remarket to them, even if they don't actually buy something the first time.

20. Use an SEO Expert: SEO service abound, so enlist their help as you figure out how you can increase traffic to your site

Ventrilo: How to Better Your Guilds Raiding Experience

Author: Jarrod Ploof
"MMoRPG games have become increasingly popular in recent years. These take the old party based Role playing games and turns it up a notch by allowing multiple players to take on the various characters. This has led to a variety of interesting options for game play making the games more challenging as well as more fun. It has brought with it however, its own set of difficulties.

The biggest difficulty is the ability to communicate with the members of your team in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page during game play. In fact, it has prompted even the Top guilds to get involved with Ventrilo. Ventrilo is a voice over IP service that works similarly to conference calling. Ventrilo how to install and use options are easy. It is a freeware application that allows up to eight connections at a time. This is perfect for most MMoRPGs since most parties are between five and eight characters.

What Ventrilo does is allow players to communicate with each other without having to take their hands off the controls. As a result game play is enhanced. With the quality that Ventrilo offers also helps to increase the entire experience when playing multiplayer online games. The quality standard is the same as the average telephone call. Codec options for higher quality connections are available and bandwidth usage is low enough to allow dial up connections to use Ventrilo at a lower quality.

Luckily, the program is easy to install and operate; even making connections to your teammates is easy. This is why Ventrilo has become the favorite of even the top guilds. It is also important that the quality of the servers be on par. This means less downtime and interruptions in service. It also takes up less bandwidth and memory than other voice chat programs making it more convenient to use. After all, having a program that gives you the option to speak and coordinate with your teammates only works if you can still play the game or if there are no lags in the chat program.

Ventrilo servers offer the best options when it comes to chat programs to use for your gaming experience. You can easily turn a regular multiplayer game into something extraordinary. Ventrilo is good enough to be used by the top guilds in the multiplayer role playing gaming community. The quality of a Ventrilo server gives you the capability of chatting with phone call quality sound. You have the option of increasing that quality with specially designed codec options if you have high speed internet and even low quality users such as dial up users can find a good quality connection with Ventrilo.

It is also easy to install and operate. If you are looking for something that is going to revolutionize your gaming experience consider adding Ventrilo to your guild. You will surprised at the difference it makes in game play and the interaction between teams, groups, parties and players."

Using Voice Recognition With Bluetooth Cell Phones

Author: Kenh Jones
When you are on the road you need to be able to receive calls on your mobile phone. It is unrealistic of legislators to say that no calls should take place while you are driving. I do agree that you should not use a hand to hold your phone to your ear. I also agree that any use of the cell phone must remove the need to look away from the road to operate it. But with the introduction of better voice recognition applications there is simply no need to use a cell phone in an unsafe way.

Bluetooth headsets are absolute boons to working folks across the world. As phones increasingly support the wireless standard, these headsets allow them to talk hands free and concentrate on other activities, such as driving or merely walking around. It sure is much more enjoyable to walk around when you don't have to hold a phone to your head, and it's much safer to drive when you can keep both eyes on the road. If you want a headset that is good for talking on the phone but not much else, then a Bluetooth mobile headset is the choice to make to save you money.

The voice recognition systems mean that when a call comes in you can answer it with your voice. When you want to make a call you simply use your voice to instruct the mobile phone to make the call.

Voice Recognition Advances

The early voice recognition cell phones were not very good. They were difficult to set up and did not work with all voices. Now that processor technology has improved so much, the audio signals can now be deciphered quickly and accurately. The software has been developed to take account of regional accents and dialects. The most important improvement is that the software "learns" the voice of the owner over time. So the accuracy becomes better and better over time. This voice technology has vastly improved the functionality of Bluetooth cell phones. The voice recognition software is also being applied to desktop computing and other business uses.

As a result of these improvements drivers can make and receive calls safely. They do not need to look or even touch their cell phone

Bluetooth mobile phones detect the driver's voice and place the call automatically, and then the driver can talk without holding the phone to an ear by using a Bluetooth enabled headset or using the Bluetooth cell phone's speaker phone functionality. Keeping hands on the wheel and eyes on the road makes driving that much safer, not just for the driver but for everybody on the road.

The other reason that voice recognition works better is that the Bluetooth headsets are more comfortable and the microphones are more sensitive. The microphones are also good at filtering out unwanted noise and other sounds. The combination of better voice recognition and Bluetooth headsets makes hands free calls in your car as safe as it can be. What needs to happen is for drivers to buy in to this voice recognition technology and stop using their hands and eyes to make calls. It always amazes me that someone will drive a ?30,000 car and not spend another ?100 on a decent Bluetooth headset to help them drive safely.

Tips For End Users of Excel 2003 and 2007

Author: Nick Pegley
Here are some tips for end users of Excel, both the 2003 and 2007 versions. In this article, you will learn how to print a portion of a spreadsheet, print column headings on each page, and change the default font - in both versions of the application.

Excel 2007 - Printing a Portion of a Spreadsheet.

First, select the cell range you would like to print. Then, under "Page Layout," go to the print area icon; select "Set Print Area." Next, print out the worksheet. Finally, select "Clear Print Area" and the entire worksheet will print next time (instead of just the selected area). There is also a section at the end of the article which describes the format painter.

Printing Column Headings on Each Page.

First, go to "Page Layout Menu" and click the "Print Titles" icon; then click the "Sheet" tab. Then, to print column headers on every page, enter the rows containing column labels under "Print titles" under "Rows to repeat." When ready, click "Print."

Changing the Default Font.

In Excel 2007, the default font and size is Calibri 11.

First, click "Microsoft Office" and then click "Excel Options." When creating new workbooks in the "Popular" category, click the font you want to use in the "Use this font" box, then enter the font size you'd like to use in the "Font Size" box.

NOTE: you must restart Excel to use the new default selection, affecting only newly created workbooks.

Excel 2003 - Printing Part of a Spreadsheet.

To begin, select the cell range you'd like to print. For the next step, in the file menu, go to "Print Area." Then click "Set Print Area." After, print the worksheet. When saving, your print area is also saved.

Printing Column Headings on Each Page.

If you have spreadsheet data spanning several pages and want column headings on each, this will help:

First click "Page Setup" on file menu, then click the "Sheet" tab. Next, to print column labels on each page, enter the rows that contain column labels under "Print titles" in the "Rows to repeat at top box." Finally, click "Print."

Changing the Default Font

First, click "Options" on the "Tools" menu. Then click a font in the "Standard font" box on the "General" tab. Finally, click a font size in the "Size" box.

NOTE: You must restart Excel to begin using this new default font and font size. This new default will be effective for new workbooks you create - existing workbooks are not affected.

What is the Format Painter?

Those who prefer to do simple Word documents might not be the heaviest Style users. If you'd like to reuse styles you're already created in a document, the Format Painter is an excellent tool. In order to apply a paragraph style from one paragraph to another one: first put the cursor somewhere in the styled paragraph, then click the Format Painter (Ctrl + Shift + C).

Click the paragraph where you'd like to apply the style. If you'd like to apply the style to multiple paragraphs, just double-click the Formet Painter. Then click in every subsequent paragraph in order to apply this same style.

Six Simple SEO Techniques to Improve Your Search Engine Ranking

Author: Peter Nisbet
There are some very simple SEO techniques available for you to improve your search engine ranking. In the course of my normal analysis of competitors' websites, I find an amazing number that does not employ all of these techniques, yet every one can help you get closer to that coveted #1 position.

Using these will not in itself allow you reach the top position for your keyword, but they definitely help, and there is no single factor that will enable you to hit the top. A #1 position on Google is attained by a combination of many factors, such as internal and external linking strategies, relevance of your content to the keyword and the overall look and feel of your site. Plus those detailed below.

So let's get started on these: these are the nuts and bolts of SEO, and if they are not right then you are starting off on the back foot. These are the essential SEO techniques that you must have as a minimum if you want to improve your search engine ranking, and although intended mainly for beginners, many established web pages do not contain every one of these.

I write 'pages' deliberately, because Google and the other main search engines list web pages, and not entire domains. That means that every single page in your website should be optimized in the same way: each should contain every single one of the SEO techniques listed below.

TITLE TAG

The title tag is contained within the 'HEAD' tags of your HTML, before the 'BODY' tags. This states the title of the page, and must contain the major keywords of the page. The contents of your title tag do not appear in the text of the page: its purpose is to inform the search engine spiders what the topic of your page is, and what words are important (i.e. your main page keyword). For example, the TITLE tag of a page based on this article would be "SEO Techniques - Improve your Search Engine Ranking".

DESCRIPTION TAG

The description Meta tag is used by Google, and other search engines, in the search engine listings. I have tested this with them all and Google uses it as is, while Yahoo uses part of it. You should provide a description of what the web page is about, and a simple check of the descriptions in other sites using your keyword on Google will show you how many words you can use to have the whole description included. About 20 words are fine.

KEYWORD TAG

Search engines rarely use the keyword Meta tag: Google ignores it completely. However, it doesn't hurt, and can help in a small way. Include your brand name and your own name. That way some engines might show your pages if somebody is looking for your name. The other Meta tags have no SEO value, and do not help to improve your search engine ranking whatsoever.

HEADING H TAGS

Heading tags (H1, H2, . . .) are used by Google to determine the importance of the text contained in your headings. Use H1 tags for the main title of your page (you also use it in the TITLE tag, but that isn't seen by readers, only by the spiders). Put subtitles in H2 tags. You can change the font size of the text within these tags.

TEXT FORMATTING

Text in bold, italics and underscored are seen by the search engines as having greater weight, and so will be used in determining the relevance of your site. Always bolden your titles, and it also helps to underline it if it doesn't make it look out of place.

WRITING STYLE and CONTENT

Do not write for algorithms (spiders): write for your readers. Always write for humans and you won't go wrong. If your page content reads well, and has good vocabulary relating to the topic, then it will have a better chance of a higher listing than if you stuffed it full of keywords. I rarely use more than 1.5% - the keyword densities of the terms 'SEO', SEO techniques' and 'search engine ranking' (the main keywords) of this article are 1.5, 0.87 and 0.87 respectively. Too many keywords is bad SEO, and could result in a poor listing for your page - if it is listed at all.

So there you are: six simple SEO techniques to improve your search engine ranking. It is surprising how many experienced webmasters fail to apply all of these: there is no excuse, and they are failing to get the nuts and bolts properly fitted and tightened on their web pages.

Apply these to every page and not only will you improve your SEO, but also your chances of a good search engine ranking. It is amazing how many web pages lack these basic SEO techniques.

Optimize Your Florida Based Web Site With Search Engine Optimization

Author: Chris Anderson, PhD
"If you live or work in Florida, particularly if you are doing something online, you are already aware that there is a great deal of competition out there and that you have to put a lot of time and energy into making sure that you stand out. This is why Florida-based web site SEO, or search engine optimization is so important.

If you have ever wondered about how to stand out from the crowd, you'll find that search engines are a powerful tool. Most people would be shocked to learn just how many searches are being performed for their product and service each and every month.

1. Everyone uses them

When you need directions, want to find a great place to eat, need to have shoes repaired or have any other sort of need that can be fulfilled by someone else, you'll find that you often end up heading to the internet. Just about everything we need is online these days, and the way that the vast majority of people get to it is through the search engines.

2. Search engines filter

No one likes to get information that they don't want, and people who use search engines are no exception. Search engines have highly sophisticated sorting algorithms that will allow them to find out which results are the most relevant to the person's search, and you will find that if you can show up at the top of the search list that you might be exactly what those searchers are looking for!

3. Searching for sales

If you sell something, you'll realize how important it is to get the attention of the search engines' attention when you realize that the vast majority of sales made online occur directly after the use of a search engine. Search engines let you put yourself out there.

4. It's easy!

It is important to consider Florida based web site SEO if you are someone who wants to get attention. You'll find that there are many companies who can help you, and that you will be able to bring lots of traffic to your site with very little effort!

So, if you are really serious about optimizing your Florida based web site, where do you really begin. After working with lots of clients, let us give you our best approach:

* Decide if you really want to be a major player on the internet;

* Determine if your company has the expertise to accomplish this task or not (usually no);

* Decide if you want to hire someone internally or use outside consultants (typically much cheaper to go outside while you get your feet wet);

* Start working and plan on a 6-12 month process to take your from a zero position to a position of dominance;

* Enjoy the rewards and continue to grow.

Hopefully this gives you a view of how to begin to optimize your Florida based website. Speaking from experience, the impact on someone's business over time can absolutely be huge. By gaining web presence, you not only gain traffic and new clients but you gain tremendous credibility as well.

Lead-acid Vrla Batteries, How They Tick and How to Battery Test Them

Author: Elliott Turner
The valve regulated lead acid battery is a rechargeable battery just like any other lead-acid battery. The difference is the valve regulated lead acid battery does not water added. Instead it is based on the absorbed glass mat technology with calcium grids. The batteries offer a high rated performance and has an increase life expectancy. The technology used has enabled them to take action to the demands and requirements of the market. They have developed batteries like the trickle cycle, which is a long life type of battery and to improving charging capabilities in order for the batteries to be charged in 1 to 2 hours.

The valve regulated lead-acid battery is used in many different applications such as electric tools, UPS, emergency lighting and wheel chairs run by electricity. The positive plates are basically plate electrodes, which is part of a grid frame of lead-tin-calcium alloy holding porous lead dioxide as the active agent.

The negative plates are plate electrodes, which is part of a grid frame of lead-tin-calcium alloy holding spongy lead as the active agent.

The Electrolyte is diluted sulfuric acid, which is used as a medium for conducting ions in the electrochemical reaction in the battery.

The separators are made from an advanced micro porous Absorbed Glass Mat. The separators hold electrolyte and prevent shoring between the positive and negative plates. Separators are made from a non-woven fabric of fine glass fibers, which is chemically stable in the electrolyte. Being porous, separators retain the electrolyte for the chemical reaction of the active agents in the plates.

The valve is a one-way valve made of material such as neoprene. When gas is produced in the battery, the vent valve opens to release gas pressure. The vent protects the battery from bursting. When gas is produced is usually caused by an abnormality such as, extreme overcharge conditions due to flawed charging, or charger malfunctions. Because the rubber valve can be resealed, the valve can reopen again when it is needed. During normal use the valve of the battery is closed to shut out outside air and prevent oxygen in the air from reacting with the active material in the negative electrodes.

The Positive and Negative Terminals may be a fastened on tab type, which depends on the type of battery. Strong epoxy adhesives along with secure long adhesive-embedded paths secure the structure, which covers the terminals. The battery case is made from ABS resin, unless otherwise specified.

Valve regulated lead acid batteries are very difficult to test, unless you have the right equipment. False positives and false negatives are one of the downfalls of using a less than adequate testing method. Get the right battery tester and get the job done right.

CCRM - The Changing Face of Customer Relations

Author: Dave Roth
CRM, or customer relationship management, is something that a lot of businesses are once again realizing the importance of. They used to be interested in this type of relationship with their customers because they saw how important it was, but this was in the days of mom and pop stores and smaller companies. Before things got too big. Once companies started to grow and develop at a rapid rate, the way that business was done started to change as well. There weren't as many people who showed that they were concerned about their customers. The bottom line became more vital and customers felt like they were ignored. Business owners still cared about their customers, but they weren't able to show it because they were too busy trying to figure out how to handle the increased business.

With CRM, that can change. Businesses that care about their customers are better able to work with them and make sure that they feel appreciated. They are also better able to keep track of what their customers want and need, which makes it easier for everyone involved to work with one another. Customers want to feel as though more than just their money matters to a company, and being remembered is one of the ways that this can take place. Another advantage to CRM is that customers can have their information stored more easily by a company and they don't have to keep giving the company their information every time they make a purchase or a phone call. This helps to make things a lot easier for both the customer and the company and avoids a lot of confusion. There will always be customers who do not want their information stored because they're worried about issues like identity theft, but these people are generally in the minority.

CRM saves a lot of work for both customers and companies since the information that they need is usually already there. It's one of the best ways to help companies that are getting big and busy treat their customers more like the mom and pop stores that used to be around. There is no going home again, of course, but there are ways to improve things for people, and this can happen all over the world with some simple software. Companies are sometimes concerned about this because they think they can't afford the software, but they really can. As long as they take their time and pay attention to what they have and what they need, there shouldn't be any reason for a company to have trouble with CRM affordability. There are a lot of different options out there for what's offered, and smaller companies don't need some of the options and features that larger companies want. Since that's the case, they can avoid spending as much. As long as they get software that allows them to grow as a business at a later date, they don't have to spend thousands of dollars right now to have a good CRM system that will keep customers happy and coming back.

Cell Phone Usage in Russia

Author: Douglas Stewart
If you are planning to travel to Russia, you may be wondering if your cell phone will work in that particular country. To begin with, your phone must be the GMS (Global System for Mobile communications) type. As many American providers do not carry these phones regularly, you may have to contact yours in order to rent or purchase one. As with many other countries, the Russian cellular phone system operates using the 900 and 1800 frequencies. Since the United States and Canada use the 1900 and 850, you will need to make sure that the GMS phone that you have can operate at these particular frequencies.

Once you have obtained a phone that is compatible with the Russian phone system, you will need to contact your service provider to make sure that you have a "roaming" feature on your cell phone, which will also require you to pay an additional fee. The cost of this feature can be quite expensive, with some companies charging you over $1.00 per minute.

Bringing your cell phone into the country should not be a problem. Russian custom regulations do not require travelers to claim their cell phones upon entering the country. So as long as you have the proper phone and the "roaming" set up, you may have no problem in using your phone during your visit.

Another obstacle that you may run into when you reach Russian soil is the ability to send and receive text messages. In order to use this feature, your service provider must have a special roaming agreement with the Russian service providers. If this agreement is not in existence, you will not be able to use the text messaging feature at all.

You will also need to purchase some extra accessories in order to charge your cell phone when visiting this country. You will need to have a plug type "C" or "F," as these are the only two types that the country uses. Russia also uses 220 volts for almost everything, so you will need a 220 volt transformer. If you try to charge your phone without one of these devices, you run the risk of burning it up.

You may want to purchase a cell phone once you arrive in Russia. Statistics have estimated that there are more cell phones in Russia than people. With a total population of over 142 million, that equals a lot of cell phones. Unlike other countries, it is relatively easy to purchase a cell phone and SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card that will allow you to have a Russian phone number. The downside of making one of these purchases is the fact that the SIM card rates are valid only in the city in which they were purchased. If you use your cell phone in a different city, the rates per call can rise dramatically.

These are just a few of the options that are available to you if you wish to use your cell phone while visiting Russia. As you can see, it is probably best to contact your cellular service provider to discover the least expensive way that you can use one of these devices while you are away from home.

Cell Phone Usage in Italy

Author: Douglas Stewart
If you are planning a trip to Italy, you may be wondering if your cell phone will work in that particular country. The truth is that your phone has less than a 50% chance of functioning due to the different frequencies that we use in this country. In Europe, GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) phones use 900 and 1800 frequencies. In Canada and North America, we use 1900 and 850. So even if you have a GSM phone, it is probably not designed to be compatible with these European frequencies.

Many newer cellular phones that are now available on the American market may be functional in Italy, although this will also depend on the company that provides your cell phone service. Many providers do not carry GSM phones, such as Sprint, Nextel, and Verizon. Some of these businesses do have phones that they rent or sell that may work in this foreign country. If they do provide these international phones, you need to ensure that they function with both 900 and 1800 frequencies or you may find that you will not be able to use these devices in most parts of the country. You also will probably pay an additional fee that will allow you to use your "roaming " feature but this added expense can be quite substantial, some plans costing as much as $1.25 per minute.

You may want to purchase a cell phone once you arrive in Italy. Italians are known for their extensive cell phone usage, with most having multiple devices. Most of these individuals use the prepaid phones that entail no service contract and have free unlimited incoming calls from anywhere in the world.

These prepaid cell phones are available at any Italian stores along with the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. As a foreigner, you may have some difficulties purchasing and setting up these types of cell phones. Some merchants ask for identification, such as an Italian driver's license that you obviously do not possess. Even if you are able to purchase one, the directions for these cell phones are all written in Italian, so you may have problems setting up the features that you wish to use as well as understanding your service plan.

The best way to insure that you will have cell phone use while you are in Italy is probably to purchase or rent a prepaid cellular phone online or at the airport, although these airport devices can be rather expensive. The advantage of ordering one of these devices while you are still at home is the ability to have your Italian phone number before you leave so that you can give it to family, friends, and any business associates that may need to be able to reach you while you are abroad. When obtaining one of these phones, the same rates apply that the Italians pay, so this is also the least expensive option.

Traveling to Italy can be a trying endeavor. By purchasing your cell phone ahead of time, you can eliminate one more detail that you will have to worry about.

Cell Phone Usage in France

Author: Douglas Stewart
If you are planning to travel to France and wish to have the use of a cellular phone, there are several features that your phone will need to have to ensure that is will be compatible with the French cellular system.

Like many other European countries, France still uses the GMS, which stands for the Global System for Mobile communications. As this system is second generation cellular technology and North America uses third generation, your regular cell phone may not be compatible. Many service providers still offer GMS phones upon request, so you may need to purchase one of these types specifically for your overseas travel.

You will also need to check with your service provider to ensure that your GMS cell phone can function using the 900 and 1800 frequencies that is also prevalent in Europe. The Untied States uses the 850 and 1900 frequencies.

To use your cell phone in France, you will need to switch the setting to the "roaming" feature. In some cases, you may also need to talk to your service provider to see if you will need to activate a special "overseas roaming" mode. Your service provider will more than likely charge you additional fees to use either of these features, which can be quite expensive.

You may want to check into "unlocking" your cell phone so that you can use a French service provider once you arrive in that country. Most service providers do not allow this, as they receive no money when you are using a different company. However, there are some companies online that can help you to pinpoint your phone's code, allowing you to "unlock" it yourself. Your phone may prove to be too difficult for these companies to "unlock," so you may not be able to use this option either.

You may wish to rent a cell phone once you arrive in France. The French cell phone rates are very inexpensive, with no fee for incoming calls and a low outgoing call charge. This cellular system also has clear reception in every corner of the country, so you can make calls anywhere you happen to be. You can rent one of these devices at any of the major airports as well as by more traditional methods, such as various stores or looking in a French phone book. Unlike several other countries, you do not need proof of residency such as a French driver's license to obtain one of these phones.

The rates for the phones themselves run between $25 and $50 per week plus an additional charge for placing and receiving cell phone calls. Calls to the United States cost approximately $.80 per minute, which is much less expensive than the rates charge by American service providers for the "overseas roaming" feature, which can cost $1.25. These devices allow you to take advantage of the same cell phone rates that the French citizens enjoy.

As you can see, if you wish to have the use of a cellular phone while you are visiting France, your best option is to rent a French cell phone. You will be assured of having excellent reception at very reasonable rates.