1. Phone support. Email support is nice, but email occasionally falls in between the virtual cracks. Getting someone on the phone when your site goes down can take a lot of mystery out of the entire process. A lot of the bigger web hosting companies offer toll free support and weekend hours to boot.

   Phone support is a great benefit for any web hosting client.

2. Another factor to use in deciding whether to use a particular web hosting company is their history. How long has this company been in business? Web hosting companies that have been in existence for less than a year might not be the best choice. A hosting company with a proven track record and a ton of happy clients is certainly a good sign and might work well for you.
3. How about the company's software? This varies widely between web hosting companies. I am rather fond of Cpanel merely because I am used to it, understand where the buttons are and what the features do. It's much easier to stick with something you know than switching to a new User Interface.

   Some web hosts offer Frontpage features and others don't. Another specific area you might want to research are the statistics programs. What sort of web statistics software is included with your web hosting account? Is Awstats included? This is one area you definitely want to heavily research before signing up.

4. Fees. I'd rather pay a little more to get all the features than fight it out with a sub par web hosting company who I can't reach if my site goes down. I've found decent web hosting for as cheap as $4 per month but generally pay around $15 per month if I want all the bells and whistles that I'll need to host a larger site.

   A lot of people worry about hosting fees, but I've had the experience that I generally get what I pay for.

Take these simple steps towards old-style service in the digital age: * Give Each Customer a Personal Response * Be Clear, But Sincere * Offer Live Customer Support * Make Sure Your Support Reps Have All the Answers----------------------------------GIVE EACH CUSTOMER A PERSONAL RESPONSE----------------------------------When a customer sits down to e-mail your company, it's because he needs help. He chooses e-mail because it's quick, but his request still warrants a satisfying and personal response! Companies eager to save time and money often take automation too far in their customer support. Each customer has a unique question, and deserves a unique answer. Even if you save time by copying and pasting stock replies, change the opening and closing to make the message sound less robotic. ----------------------------------BE CLEAR, BUT SINCERE----------------------------------When responding to customers' e-mail, be sincere and to the point.

Before sending a message, try turning the tables. Ask yourself, "Would this answer satisfy *me* if I were the customer?" Take that extra moment to give your customer the help he deserves. It might mean the difference between a satisfied customer and a credit card chargeback!----------------------------------OFFER LIVE CUSTOMER SUPPORT----------------------------------E-mail has become an acceptable form of communication. But, live customer support is still necessary. The plethora of information available online can be overwhelming to customers, especially those new to the Internet!Single your company out from the crowd by providing customers with a real person to talk to.

Live phone support is an invaluable way to foster trust. When your customer has reached the end of his Internet rope, and just needs *help*, your toll free number is the answer he's looking for.----------------------------------MAKE SURE YOUR SUPPORT REPS HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS----------------------------------The presence of phone support will do no good if your staff doesn't know your product! Customer support reps should be warm and friendly, and willing to help with any aspect of your product. What a good feeling it is to talk to someone who feels confident in his product. It's even better if he's knowledgeable enough to solve your problem without transferring you all around the company!----------------------------------PROVIDE STAND-OUT SERVICE; GAIN LIFELONG CUSTOMERS----------------------------------Too many e-businesses skimp on customer service, hiding behind web sites and message boards. Customer support is an integral part of every company, even those operating solely online.

Be one of the few to offer stellar service, and gain customers for life!.

Internet based solutions also suffer from not generally providing details of the sender, or a reply method.A UK company has invented a solution that combines the advantages of British Telecoms Landline SMS service, with the convenience of using a Personal Computer to compose and receive text messages.Z-text from NTS Telecom is simple to implement. Minimal training is required, as the user is presented with a screen similar to a basic email application. Messages can be composed in advance, and sent to multiple recipients in moments via the integrated phone book. NTS Telecom offer discounts to UK charities and voluntary organisations..

Bluetooth is rarer from Sprint and Verizon Communications which are based on North American technologies.One major boost for adoption of Bluetooth enabled mobile phones will come from State and local governments. Many new laws and ordinances have been adopted or are in various stages of implementation that will levy fines for driving and using a hand held cell phone. The push for hands-free calling will move Bluetooth forward in the marketplace.Acura TL now offers Bluetooth integrated into the automobile allowing the driver to use the cars stereo system as a speakerphone and displays information on the dashboard. Bluetooth car kits are now available from Motorola, Nokia, Parrot and others for about $100. Early teething problems included high cost and poor battery life and made it unattractive for handsets.

But now Logitech's Mobile Bluetooth handset can be had for about $50. The $140 Jabra BT800, which lets you control many cell-phone functions on the headset, offers six hours of talk time and five days of standby. After that, you can recharge by running a USB cable from the headset into a laptop so you don't need to take a charger with you. A headset on the way from Plantronics will come with adapters that allow charging from most phone adapters or from an AA battery. Bluetooth Linking:Beyond mobile phones, Bluetooth is beginning to make inroads into other aspects of wireless communication.

Although Windows support is somewhat primitive by current standards, the technology is standard on Apple Macintoshes and optional on other products. Apple uses the latest, faster version of Bluetooth. If Mac detects a Bluetooth enabled keyboard and mouse during startup, it will link to them automatically.PalmOne is also a big supporter of Bluetooth. PalmOne's software overcomes most of the Windows difficulties and allows their handheld devices to sync and swap files with a Windows laptop over Bluetooth. Making sync work with a new Mac PowerBook is even easier.

As for Microsoft's primitive Bluetooth world, it is possible to get a Pocket PC to sync with Windows over Bluetooth, but is only for the technically savvy. Bluetooth Worth Waiting For:Bluetooth still falls short. Early promoters envisioned that you would be able to walk up to a printer with your laptop of PDA, click a button, and print. We're still waiting for that one. Bluetooth printers are rare but we can assume that the advent of Bluetooth enabled digital camera phones will spur this technology further and make for easy printing of those treasured moments.The technology savvy users are an impatient lot.

If it doesn't catch on right away they move on to something newer and different. If anything, Bluetooth has proven that acceptance can take a while. But isn't it worth the wait?We technology watchers are an impatient lot who tend to give up on anything that doesn't catch on right away. Bluetooth has proved once again that acceptance can take a long time -- and that sometimes it's worth the wait..

You don't leave a message (but they have Caller ID so they know you called anyway).Day 4 ? you call again ? no answer.Day 6 ? you call again ? Their spouse tells you they aren't home.Day 9 ? you call again at a different time. No answer; leave a message.Day 12 ? you call. Their 4?year-old says they are there. You hear voices in the background and then the kid comes back on the phone to say that they only thought mom or dad was home, but it's really a babysitter.......and on and on and on.Imagine you are the prospect. If someone told you that, as part of your business you had to call people endlessly until they changed their phone number, would this be something you would want to do?If you call someone day after day after day, what thoughts do you think they have about your level of success? Do you appear to have more business than you can handle? or do you appear desperate for a sale?What if you could spend your day taking your prospects' phone calls instead?This is a simple two-step process:1.

Work with good material. Have you ever compared clothing from a discount store to that of a high fashion designer? Though the design might be similar, you can tell the difference in quality at a glance.Same with leads. If you are working with poor quality leads, your job is a lot harder because you have to do a ton of sorting.And if you're getting questions like, "Which one are you?", then you do not have a high quality lead source. Either find one or learn how to create your own.2. Give them a reason to call you back.

Have you ever been to a web site and seen an offer for a free report and something else to entice you to opt-in to the owner's list? They've found that simply saying "sign up for my newsletter" isn't enough.Remember, people are always asking "What's in it for me?"Offer them something of value IF they call you back before a certain time. And, it's important that you stand firm on your offer. For instance, if you send someone to a 30-minute live call at 8PM, you get their agreement to call you as soon as they get off the call. If they call you the next day, the deal is off. If you are sending them to your web site, have them commit to when they will review it and set a cut-off time for them to call you back.Make it clear that you'll provide them with this resource whether they are interested in your offer or not? as long as they call you back at the agreed upon time.

Because your time is worth something, wouldn't you rather have someone call me back and tell me "no", then to spend the rest of your life trying to chase them down?You can offer a Special Report, an ebook, or a piece of software. There are many valuable products or services you can provide which cost you nothing. Just make sure it has a high perceived value to them. For instance, I use a tool that is similar to one selling for $14.95 a month on the Internet. My prospects can use it for personal or business use, so they don't have to have a business to utilize it.

And, it doesn't cost me a penny.And, best of all, it causes 80% of prospects to call me back!Start putting this two-part formula to the test and I'm confident you'll see your call back rate soar.C2005 ? ProfitCoaches.com.

DoSing (Disruption of Service) involves gaining unauthorized access to the "command prompt" on your computer and using it to tie up your vital Internet services. When a hacker invades your system, they can then delete or create files and emails, modify security features, and plant viruses or time bombs onto your computer. "Sniff" is another tool (originally intended to help telecommunication professionals detect and solve problems) that criminal hackers use to tamper with the protocol and "sniff out" data. When hackers sniff out a data packet from Internet traffic, they reconstruct it to intercept conversations. This enables them to eavesdrop on conversations, gather information, and sell it to other unprincipled criminal entities.

Identity Theft Identity theft is one of the most sinister of vulnerabilities you can inadvertently be subjected to. Identity theft is defined by the Department of Justice as "?the wrongful obtaining and using of someone else's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain." Identity theft is the by-product of unscrupulous criminal individuals obtaining your social security number (including those of your spouse and children), your bank account, your credit card information, etc. Your information is then sold to other criminal entities for profit. Using your information, these criminals can then:?access your bank account funds?create new bank accounts with your information?create driver's licenses?create passportsAttorney General Ashcroft stated that, "Identity theft carries a heavy price, both in the damage to individuals whose identities are stolen and the enormous cost to America's businesses."Don't be na?ve enough to think it won't happen or couldn't happen to you!A group hosting a website known as shadowcrew.com was indicted on conspiracy charges for stealing credit card numbers and identity documents, then selling them online. While this group allegedly trafficked $1.7 million in stolen credit card numbers, they also caused losses in excess of $4 million.According to a Press Release issued by the Department of Justice on February 28, 2005, a hacker was convicted of several counts of fraud, one in which "?he fraudulently possessed more than 15 computer usernames and passwords belonging to other persons for the purpose of accessing their bank and financial services accounts, opening online bank accounts in the names of those persons, and transferring funds to unauthorized accounts."If you are using a VoIP internet service provider and do not want to be a victim of Identity Theft, then take the first step to protect yourself -- don't use VoIP internet service providers operating on industry standard codec and industry standard protocols.

Viruses, Worms, and Trojan HorsesOn January 28, 2005, a press Release issued by the Department of Justice reported that a 19 year old was convicted for his criminal activity by "?creating and unleashing a variant of the MS Blaster computer worm." Christopher Wray, Attorney General ? Criminal Division stated that,"This ? malicious attack on the information superhighway caused an economic and technological disruption that was felt around the world."On February 11, 2005, in a Press Release issued by the Department of Justice, reported that another criminal was sentenced for circulating a worm. This worm,"directed the infected computers to launch a distributed denial of service (DOS) attack against Microsoft's main web site causing the site to shutdown and thus became inaccessible to the public for approximately four hours."March 7, 2005, Symantec.com posted discovery of a worm named "W32.Serflog.B" that spread through file-sharing networks and MSN Messenger ? networks that operate on publicly open and interpretable industry standard codec and protocols, including P2P systems, as well as Instant Messaging systems?none of which are protected, regardless of the anti virus software on your computer. The W32.Serflog.B worm also lowers security settings and appears as a blank message window on the MSN Messenger. If you don't want to be the next victim of the devastation created by worms, STOP using services that operate on industry standard codec and protocols, and/or services that incorporate P2P systems. Anti virus software does not incorporate protection for Instant Messaging services.

In addition, Instant Messaging services, in and of themselves, do not include protection for their users.If you like the convenience of text chatting via Instant Messaging, then use a VoIP internet service provider that includes the Instant Messaging feature -- one that does not operate on industry standard codec or industry standard protocols that are publicly open and accessible. Optimally secure VoIP service providers that incorporate a secure Instant Messaging feature, operate from their own proprietary high end encryption codec on patented technology that is hosted in a professional facility. Simply put, when a VoIP internet service provider operates on optimally secure platforms, the Instant Messaging feature on the VoIP softphone, is also protected with their technology.A Trojan horse is a program that internet criminals use to interrupt and interfere with your security software and produces the following results?Terminates processes?Removes registry entries?Stops services?Delete filesHackers, who have gained access to your computer, because of the programs and software as mentioned above, are having a field day incorporating this nasty little program into their arsenal of weapons. As recently as March 4, 2005, a new Trojan horse was discovered that modified settings in Internet Explorer. Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP were the reported systems that could be affected.Here's the bottom line.1.If you are currently using a VoIP internet solution provider that operates on industry standard codec and industry standard protocols that are publicly open and interpretable, you need to make a decision:a.

Continue enticing criminal hackers and remain on their service, orb.Take immediate corrective action.2.If you are currently using Instant Messaging of any sort, you need to make a decisiona. Continue enticing criminal hackers and remain as a user of their service, orb.Take immediate corrective action.If you decide to take immediate corrective action:1.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that has their own proprietary high end encryption codec2.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that has their own proprietary patented technology3.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that hosts their proprietary patented technology in a professional facility4.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that includes the Instant Messaging feature in their proprietary patented technologyHere's a place you can look over to see what a VoIP internet solution provider looks like that operates on their own proprietary high end encryption codec with their own proprietary patented technology hosted in a professional facility, AND that incorporates the Instant Messaging feature.http://www.free-pc-phone.com **Attn Ezine editors / Site owners **Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include the resource box as listed above..

Drawing on their experience of the mobile industry, Ezurio discusses what effect a cavalier approach to phone viruses may have on the future direction of handset usage and the network operators' continuing acceptance of Bluetooth.Given the current distaste for Bluetooth that operators like Verizon are exhibiting, there is a real danger that some may even see mobile viruses as an opportunity to turn back the clock, disabling Bluetooth and returning to their preferred but discredited model of the phone and network as a walled garden. This paper from Ezurio explains the folly of that approach, emphasises the inherent safety of Bluetooth and shows how the industry can address the situation.Mobile viruses are rapidly growing their own folklore, such as the recent apocryphal tale of a Lexus being infected by a Symbian phone. Decipher the hyperbole and separate fiction from fact by reading "Mobile phone viruses ? just what the network operators want?" at www.ezurio.com/documents/mobile_viruses.pdf..

Invitations were sent around the globe to install the company's 7 day free VoIP computer phone and call in on February 14, 2005 to participate in the World Record Event.The VoIP call was initiated early in the morning on February 14th to establish the first, never before attempted, VoIP World Record for the Most Participated and Longest Free International VoIP Call. The Company's claims that their VoIP could be used on dial up, as well as high speed connections was given the acid test. Using a standard 33k dial up connection, the international call between the US and Ireland was established. As the minutes and hours ticked away, using the 3 way call feature on the computer phone, callers from the four corners of the globe participated to have their name listed in this historical event.Did it work? The 3WTel Superior VoIP technology unequivocally succeeded 100%. In fact, after 12 hours and 52 minutes, without any degradation in voice or call quality, the World Record was successfully established.All voip companies offer their voip services to high speed Internet end users only.

Leaving the 75% of pc users around the world out of the picture. This is one major break through for voip users across the world who can now avail of the service.3WTel Superior VoiP service, launched in April 2004 on the world web, has attracted customers around the globe. One of the numerous reasons customers have chosen the 3WTel Superior VoIP service over other VoIP providers is the optimal security it incorporates. While few VoIP service providers offer any form of security, 3WTel Superior VoIP stands above the rest with its own proprietary patent-pending technology. The Company's service operates from a proprietary VoIP platform and servers using a proprietary high end codec encryption hosted in a professional facility.The Company prides itself on its ability to offer their services to both dial up and high speed customers without any degradation in quality of sound or call, and has now proven this capability with the 12 hours 52 minute World Record call.The success of this feat caused many at headquarters in this Irish based company, to jump for joy as the proof to the world was now evident?.their service provides its customers, without a shadow of doubt, the best high quality VoIP service available over a dial up connection.

With 75% of the world market still on dial up, the Company is poised to become a household name. Anyone may take a 7day free test drive of the Company's computer phone by visiting http://www.whypay4calls.com/gtp/to.pl?l=WR-PR2The perfect Valentine's Day was enjoyed by all worldwide who participated in this amazing event, and has shown everyone willing to listen what can be accomplished when using the 3WTel Superior VoIP computer phone service. A day in history has truly been recorded. The Company is grateful to Andy Murray and Dee Scrip for their extraordinary efforts and idea to test and show the world that 3WTel Superior VoIP is number one in security and ability to be used on dial up connections, as well as high speed, without any loss or degradation in quality and sound of call. Contact Info USA: Dee Scrip412-571-1855http://www.whypay4calls.com/gtp/to.pl?l=WR-PR2Company contact Detailse-mail protected from spam botsIreland.

*Get calls transfer to your cell phone. *Works perfectly with AOL and ISP account. *Easy setup + instant download.Basic CallWave package is free. Also, CallWave is giving 30days free trial on their internet call alert services. CallWave is safe and it's very easy to be used.

You DON'T even need to use your credit card online to purchase CallWave service. 11 millions United States citizens had subscribe to CallWave, you too can have a try on it with the 30 days risk-free trial on ANY one of the CallWave packages.Besides all those features listed above, CallWave also provide these special features that other call alert services don't offer.(and this is why i am only recommending CallWave call alert service.)Your personal CallWave fax number Receive or send fax directly from/ to your email inbox with your personal CallWave Fax number.CallWave Toll-Free Home Number Save your friends and family's money by getting a CallWave toll-free home number. No long distance calls cost for people who are calling you anymore!CallWave Phone Number Your own personal, private CallWave phone number. Enables your friends and family to reach you anywhere, anytime - whether you're online, on the phone or away from home. Save up your money for setting up an extra phone line.Telemarketer Blocking Tired with all those telemarketer calls? Get them blocked with CallWave! This feature blocks annoying telemarketer calls and triggers the removal of your phone number from the telemarketer's automated dialing system.If you need a demo on CallWave, please visit this page: http://www.downloadcallwave.com/callwave/callwave-demo.html.

The Vonage? VoIP Forum has two RSS XML feeds which allow for viewing the latest Vonage news and forum posts in My Yahoo! and is syndicated by Google News.The Vonage? VoIP Forum is used by potential and existing customers alike and is an excellent resource for anyone who needs help installing the Vonage? VoIP phone system on their broadband connection, particularly those choosing not to do a normal Vonage? plug-n-play setup, such as on a shared connection in a hotel or in a campus environment. For experienced VoIP users there are many technical discussions to draw from. The Vonage? VoIP forums section is parsed into dedicated communities to better serve the needs of the site users. They include the main Vonage? Forum, Fax, Tivo and Alarms, Local Number Portability, SoftPhone, VoIP Feature Wish List, Vonage Canada, Vonage Canada en Francais and Vonage UK forums.In addition to the forums, the site also contains dedicated sections focused on the Vonage? VoIP phone service including Vonage? Area Codes, Set Up, Features, FAQ's and Reviews. Registered Vonage? Forum members can enjoy the use of a VoIP speed test.

Potential customers can review information regarding the latest Vonage? promotional offerings.The Vonage? VoIP Forum is lightly moderated and questions are normally replied to within minutes. With over 10,000 registered members there is always someone to help or give advice. The Vonage? VoIP Forum is operated independent from Vonage Holdings Corp.About Vonage?The fastest growing telephony company in North America, Vonage is redefining communications by offering consumers and small businesses an affordable alternative to traditional telephone service. Vonage has pioneered the broadband phone industry setting the standard for pricing, features, call quality and reliability for the entire VoIP category. With more than 550,000 lines in service, Vonage continues to add more than 15,000 lines per week to its network.

Over 25 million calls per week are made using Vonage, the easy-to-use, feature-rich, flat rate phone service. Vonage's award winning service is sold on the web and through national retailers like SAM's Club, RadioShack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, Fry's Electronics, Office Depot and CompUSA. Vonage Holdings Corporation is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Vonage's products and services, please visit vonage.com or call 1-VONAGE-HELP. Vonage? is a trademark of Vonage Holdings Corp..