Rural Telecommunications articles from November 2006

Rural Telecommunications archives from November 2006

How customers serve us.(FROMthe Editor)
November 1, 2006... I've been taking a number of calls lately from our customers about NTCA's publications. It's made me stop and think about what they are asking... one person isn't sure he received a publication he ordered, another person isn't sure he ordered...

Smaller than a cell phone and cheaper, too.(SHORTTakes)(Vonage Inc. offers internet calling on its cellular telephones)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... With the development of the new Vonage V-Phone, Internet calling is easier than ever. No longer do you need software, hardware and a headset that can contact the Mars Rover in order to call your neighbor for dirt cheap. And you can do it...

Never get lost again.(SHORTTakes)(global positioning system)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Cell phones are great for keeping in contact, but now they can also help you get you where you need to be--without driving around in circles or stopping for directions. New from Rand McNally, the StreetFinder wireless application has all...

Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeep. We interrupt your cell phone for this emergency alert ...(SHORTTakes)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... An updated version of the Emergency Alert System will be put into place by the end of next year. With the new procedures, emergency messages will be sent out to all devices able to accept text messages. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new...

Safeguarding your wireless network.(SHORTTakes)
November 1, 2006... Hacking into computers may still seem like science fiction to the majority of the public. The reality, however, is that cybercafes and other free, wireless Internet connections could be costing you money, or even worse, jeopardizing your...

Five reasons employees avoid your intranet.(SHORTTakes)
November 1, 2006... Everyone knows it is there, but who knows what valuable information your intranet contains? And better yet, who can find that information? Here are five reasons employees avoid using the internet and some ways to counteract the negatives: ...

Flights to offer Wi-Fi.(SHORTTakes)
November 1, 2006... With the help of Verizon's Airfone, jetsetters across the globe have been handling business on the phone while flying across oceans. But skyrocketing costs and low revenues are causing Verizon to pull these phones from all commercial planes in...

Stop the technology ... I want to get off.(Perspective)(Federal Communications Commission)
November 1, 2006... Are you stressed yet? Anybody else out there feeling overwhelmed? When I became general manager fifteen years ago, our industry was slow and steady, like a nice walk. Today I feel like a sprinter in a marathon and the finish line keeps moving...

"What is the latest and greatest application you want to run on your network?".(FIRSTPerson)
November 1, 2006... Moving forward is essential for any telco, and with that comes new technologies. Today's customers want it all at their doorsteps and fast. From VoIP to video to wireless, telcos are adding new services to serve customers better. What is the...

Preparing for the unknown: developing a business continuity plan.(Cover story)
November 1, 2006... In the wake of September 11, 2001, security measures have taken on a new level of importance. Terrorism, combined with other threats such as bird flu pandemic, have given businesses a reason to consider their reaction to such events. Will...

Keeping it real: focusing on the youth market.
November 1, 2006... AS anybody who has suffered the humiliation of soliciting the assistance of an adolescent family member in operating some complicated electronic device can well attest, young people are all about technology. Unlike their predecessors, today's...

Maximizing the value of the pipe.
November 1, 2006... Not long after the telephone was invented in 1876, independent operating companies began providing access to telephone and advanced communications service in areas that were ignored by larger companies. Densities in rural service areas are...

Plan before you DIG.
November 1, 2006... For every telco, the day eventually arrives: a new subdivision is announced, an existing plant reaches the end of its useful life, or an underserved area presents an opportunity for a competitive overbuild. It is time to launch a major...

Generating new revenues with high-speed services.
November 1, 2006... TODAY'S independent local exchange carriers (ILECs) have a great opportunity to leverage their residential consumer base to deliver emerging multimedia broadband services such as video on demand (VoD), gaming and music downloads as a means of...

How to market and sell when everything keeps changing.(BUSINESSMatters)(methods to market products for computer industry)
November 1, 2006... There seems to be something of a revolution taking place. The mobs aren't hitting the streets; they're taking to their computers. Rather than flogging their opponents, it's now "death by blogging." According to some reports, 80,000 new blogs...

Changing the channels in rural America.(INDUSTRYInnovator)
November 1, 2006... Talk to folks in rural America and most can cite a mile-long list of why it is better to live in the country than in the city: cleaner air, less traffic, less crime, slower pace, more space. The list goes on and on, but the channels on the TV...

They've got your numbers, baby protecting yourself from identity theft.(RISKManager)
November 1, 2006... You read about it everywhere: One of the fastest growing crimes today and the number one complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is identity theft. The FTC reports more than 27 million victims in the past five years with estimated costs...

NTCA 2007 Annual Meeting & expo, Orlando, Fla., February 4-7, 2007.(National Telephone Cooperative Association)(Federal Communications Commission)
November 1, 2006... The NTCA Annual Meeting in Orlando, February 4-7, 2007, promises to be a terrific opportunity for managers, owners, directors and key employees to get the most insight, resources and networking to meet your needs. You will have the opportunity...

Navigating the seas of change.(EXECUTIVEViewpoint)
November 1, 2006... History books are filled with stories of great thinkers who persevered in the face of criticism. Because of their determination, their innovations and achievements survived many a critic's first impression. Take for example an 1876 Western...