Betancourt makes Colombia return

Ingrid Betancourt is expected to visit other Latin American countries

Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt has made a surprise visit to Colombia for the first time since she was dramatically freed five months ago.

The French-Colombian politician has lived in Europe since her release from Farc rebels after six years in July.

She was due to meet President Alvaro Uribe in Bogota later.

"This is her first stop in a tour of various countries in Latin America," said a statement posted on Colombia's presidential website.

The visit came despite her saying just a day earlier that she had agreed for the sake of her concerned children not to return to the country.

When Ms Betancourt arrived in Bogota from Paris, she said: "I am very happy to be here," AFP news agency reported.

Protest march

Her mother Yolanda Pulecio was with her, and they were welcomed by French ambassador Jean-Michel Marlaud.

On Friday she had led a march in Madrid, while thousands of people also marched in Colombia and other countries, and appealed for Farc to release its captives.

The Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) has fought to overthrow the Colombian government and install a Marxist government since the 1960s.

It is holding hundreds of hostages in jungle camps, either for ransom or to exchange for government-held rebels.

Ms Betancourt was rescued along with three American military contractors and 11 Colombian military personnel in a daring rescue operation in July.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7757073.stm

Indian allegations alarm Pakistan

Pakistan has expressed concern about rising tensions with India following allegations that gunmen who attacked Mumbai this week had Pakistani links.

Indian soldiers remained at the Taj Mahal on Sunday

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari offered full co-operation with India and his government denied any involvement in the deadly attacks.

Wednesday's gun and bomb assault on India's commercial capital left at least 195 people dead and 295 injured.

Troops killed the last of the gunmen at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel on Saturday.

As few as 10 militants may have been involved in the assault which saw attacks in multiple locations including two hotels, a major railway station, a hospital and a Jewish centre.

See a detailed map of the area

While the vast majority of victims were Indians, at least 22 foreigners are known to have died, including victims from Israel, Germany, Japan, Canada, Australia, Italy, Singapore, Thailand and France. One Briton, Andreas Liveras, was also killed.

Some of the gunmen came ashore by rubber dinghy on the night the killing began, others are reported to have been in the city for months gathering information on their targets.

The BBC's Chris Morris reports from the city that many people in Mumbai want their own government to look into the failure of intelligence which allowed the events of this traumatic week to unfold with such bloodshed.

'9/11 for India'

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the strain in relations with India was serious but he hoped the crisis could be defused.

In pictures: Calm returns Mumbai police mourn their dead 'Mumbai is in full mourning' 'No evidence' of UK Mumbai link

Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting in the capital Islamabad, he told reporters:

"Let us not fool ourselves, it is a serious situation when the people in India feel this is 9/11 for India.

"I think as a responsible elected government, we cannot be oblivious of the seriousness of the situation."

He pledged that intelligence officials would fully co-operate with the Indian investigation but added that the country's intelligence chief would not travel to India as earlier reported, something he called a "miscommunication".

A senior security official said Pakistan had now received preliminary evidence from India, the BBC's Barbara Plett reports from Islamabad.

But he warned that if India started to mobilise troops, Pakistan would respond in kind, even if that meant pulling soldiers away from fighting Islamist militants on the Afghan border.

He said the next 48 hours would be crucial in determining to what level tensions would escalate.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said earlier he believed that a group based outside India was behind the killings and senior Indian politicians have said the only surviving gunman to be captured is from Pakistan.

A claim of responsibility for this week's attacks was made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen - a reference to a mainly Muslim region of India.

According to a statement leaked to Indian newspapers, the one alleged militant captured alive, named as Azam Amir Qasab, said the Mumbai militants had received training from an Islamist group once backed by Pakistani intelligence, Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Pakistan banned the group in 2002 at US insistence.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7757031.stm

Festive first for Manchester

29/11/2008

CHRISTIANS, Jews and Muslims are getting together for the first time ever to celebrate the season of goodwill next month.

Over the last few years Jews, Christians and Muslims from around Greater Manchester have been coming together to hold dialogue, social and charitable events.

December 2008 marks one of the rare occasions when religious festivals from the three faiths - Christmas, Eid ul Adhaa and Chanukah - fall in the same month.

Co-Chair of the Muslim Jewish Forum, Councillor Afzal Khan said: "Our joint celebration provides a wonderful opportunity for followers of the three faiths to exchange festive greetings, socialise and learn about each others faiths. As with all good festivals children will have a great time with the range of fun activities and present giving we are putting on."

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears MP will also be joining in the celebration.

Bob Day, of the Christian Muslim Forum said, "We’re really pleased the Minister has accepted our invitation. Hazel has responsibility for the Government’s Inter Faith Strategy so we’re looking forward to telling her and all our guests about all the excellent work we’ve been doing in recent years to bring people together."

David Arnold, Jewish Vice-Chair of the Council of Christians and Jews, said: "This festive season is a great opportunity to foster our sense of friendship and community with those who share our values. And all will be welcome to come and join the fun!"

The celebration takes place on Sunday 14 December, 2pm-5pm at Manchester Reform Synagogue, Jackson’s Row (off St Peter’s Square), Manchester, M2 5NH. If anyone would like to attend then email Heather Fletcher at: legalactress@googlemail.com giving names and the ages of any children. Booking is essential.

Source: http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1082508_festive_first_for_manchester

The homes with £1 price tag

Jill Burdett
19/11/2008

A DETERMINED couple have snapped up two historic buildings at the gateway to Manchester's Philips Park for just £1.

The drawback is that both the Grade II listed buildings were derelict and Gail Spelman and her partner Robert Watterson are gambling everything to restore them and bring them back into use.

They have sold their own home to fund the project and are now renting a house while Robert, a builder, carries out the work.

For Gail, the restoration of Cemetery House is a personal quest. Her grandfather Dominik Spelman was sexton at the cemetery and then park keeper for 40 years and lived with his wife Rose and their children, including Gail's father Kevin, in the house.

Gail, a community nursery nurse, said: "He moved from a terraced street to live here and loved the trees and the space. As a child I would come and visit with all my cousins and it was a wonderful place to be.

"He died here in 1977 aged 81 and is buried in the cemetery. After that the house was used as an office for a short time but then left empty and people started breaking in and trashing the place and gradually it went to rack and ruin."

Two years ago the house, together with the neighbouring Entrance Lodge and the cemetery Chapel were put on the market by the New East Manchester Development Company that was looking for someone to take them on and restore them sympathetically.

Gail said: "We put in a silly price of £1 but the main thing we had to show was that we had the funds and the skills and commitment to the project.

"When they rang to tell us we had been chosen I was absolutely thrilled and I like to think that my family link played a part."

The complicated legal agreements took another 18 months to finalise and Robert said: "I think Gail was more excited than me as I knew the work I had to do!"

They started in April restoring the smaller Entrance Lodge and it has been transformed - the stone work, cleaned, repaired and re-pointed, new frames for the distinctive windows made by hand and the steeply sloping roof repaired.

Robert said: "When we finally got in to start work I think the side wall was about a week away from collapsing into Alan Turing Way! The roof trusses were completely rotten."

Conservation

They have had to work closely with conservation officers and English Heritage to preserve the character of the building but also to the latest building regulations to make it energy efficient.

They demolished an old toilet block and in its place built an extension that blends seamlessly with the original stone and the house now has a main living room with a kitchen leading off and behind that a second room which could be a sitting room or bedroom, a shower room, laundry room and sun room looking out over the park. Up the winding staircase one large bedroom and a bathroom.

It is a fairytale house that offers quaint character and the couple have to sell it to fund the restoration of the larger Cemetery House which will be their own home.

In another setting it would have a huge price tag, but its on a busy junction on a busy ring road, a terrace chant away from the City of Manchester Stadium. And while the gasometer is likely to be demolished soon, the couple know they need a special buyer to appreciate the history, the opportunity and responsibility of living on the edge of 31 acres of parkland and the care that has gone into its restoration.

It is on the market for offers over £250,000 and Gail said: "It is an opportunity for someone to live in a unique building, on the edge of Manchester but also with direct access to beautiful parkland.

"It was a huge gamble to sell our house to refurbish the buildings and I hope we can see it through to the end. I have always wanted to live here and my granddad would be so pleased we are doing this."

Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester, said: "We feel really fortunate to have found these people with such a personal story to restore the lodges. We are confident they will undertake the renovation work with the love and care these buildings deserve."

The 31-acre Philips Park, which is next to the cemetery on the other side of the River Medlock, is also listed grade II. It opened in 1846 and is one of the oldest municipal parks in the world.

It was opened as a result of seven years of staunch campaigning by Mark Philips MP, to the then city Corporation for the purchase and provision of suitable open spaces in Manchester where parks could be built for the working people.

Potential buyers should email thecorner.house@ yahoo.co.uk for more details or to arrange a viewing.

Source: http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/lifestyle/personal_finance/s/1080753_the_homes_with_1_price_tag

Silinder Pardesi's new video is 'hot'

26/11/2008

CHECK out the exclusive video premiere of Silinder Pardesi's 'Mahi Vey' featuring Rishi Rich.

Silinder is one of the UK's finest and most versatile Asian vocalist has been at the forefront of the British Asian music industry for the past 20 years. His powerful sounds have catapulted him to the status as one of the best Asian artists in the industry and he has always maintained his impeccable high standards of quality.

He has performed at major world events both in the UK and abroad including the Edinburgh Music Festival and the famous Glastonbury and has represented Asian music alongside artists Neneh Cherry, Stevie Wonder and even Luciano Pavarotti.

His last single, Hey Soniyeh taken from the album of the same name was also a huge summer hot.

Two years in the making, the album, which also features Rishi Rich, Juggy D and Veronica includes 11 fantastic tracks covering a diversity of styles and themes including Bollywood and Bhangra.

Check out the 'hot' new video and let us know what you think!

Source: http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/entertainment/music/s/1081761_silinder_pardesis_new_video_is_hot

Taxi driver killed in crash

29/11/2008

A TAXI driver was killed after his car hit a tree while driving along the A56 Edenfield bypass.

Police and firefighters were called out at 5.30am last Sunday when it was reported that the Ford Galaxy had gone down an embankment, hit a tree and toppled on to its side.

The crash happened near the entrance slip-road on the southbound carriageway.

Police said it was not clear exactly what time the crash took place and it may have been some time before it was reported.

The driver, Mohammed Ajaz Ahmed Butt, 49, of Cheetham Hill, Manchester, was found dead at the scene. He leaves two sons, aged 17 and 19.

Mr Butt worked for New Link taxi firm in Manchester and police are looking into the possibility that he could have dropped off a fare in Rossendale. A full investigation is under way.

Sergeant Tracey Ward, from Colne road policing unit, said: ‘There are no witnesses to the collision and there is no evidence at this time of any other party being involved.’

Anyone with information should contact police on 08451 253545.

Source: http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1082559_taxi_driver_killed_in_crash

http://www.12voip.com

What is 12Voip?

12Voip is a free program that uses the latest technology to bring free and high-quality voice communications to people all over the world.

When you use the free 12Voip software, you can call regular phones in various popular destinations for free or call at an incredible low rate to any other phone on the planet.

You can also call all your online friends (peer-to-peer calls) as long as you like, for free. Just click here to download 12Voip; the download should take only a few moments depending on your connection speed.

How to Use 12Voip

• 12Voip rules
• System Requirements
• Downloading the 12Voip
• Installation
• Starting the 12Voip for the First Time
• Making your first 12Voip call
• Improving Sound Quality
• Tabs
• Speed-dial text field
• Calling with 12Voip
• Version updates
• Need more info?

12Voip rules^ top

Yes we do offer a FREE service, but to keep it this way there are some rules;
Before you buy credit we allow you to test our service to various popular destinations for FREE.
There is one limitation;
- you can call a maximum of 60 minutes.

After having bought your credit you can call our FREE destinations for 3 months!

To avoid abuse we set the rules:
- you can call up to 300 minutes per week to a FREE destination.
- when you run out of FREE days (the 4 months) the normal rate will be charged for these destinations. But of course you can buy new credit and you will get another 3 months of FREE calling.
- of course you can use your credit to call destinations which are not FREE, but still very cheap

System Requirements^ top

In order to use the software, your computer must meet the following minimum system requirements.

Minimum System Requirements:

• PC running Windows Vista, XP, 2000 (with SP2)
• 300 MHz processor
• 128 MB RAM
• 10 MB free disk space on your hard drive
• Sound Card and a headset
• Internet Connection broadband: Cable, DSL, with minimum 64 kbit/s up/downstream)

However, in order to take advantage of all of the advanced features of the 12Voip and to experience the best sound quality possible, we highly recommend the following configuration.

Recommended System Requirements:

• PC running Windows Vista, XP, 2000 (with SP2)
• 1 GHz processor
• 256 MB RAM
• 30 MB free space on your hard drive
• Full duplex sound card (most sound cards made after 1998), headset
• Cable, DSL or equivalent broadband connection to Internet

Downloading The 12Voip ^ top

The software is free to download and you can always get the latest version here. If you have any problems using 12Voip, please first make sure that you are using the most recent version of the software.

To download the 12Voip to your computer, simply click the download link. Save the installation file to your computer. Be sure to remember where you saved the file (for instance the Desktop).

Installation ^ top

Double-click the installation file you just downloaded to start installing the 12Voip on your computer.

12Voip starts automatically each time you start windows. With the 12Voip always running, other users will be more likely to find you online. You can change these settings at any time from the 12Voip program by selecting "options".

Starting the 12Voip for the First Time ^ top

The first time you start the 12Voip, you will be asked to choose a User Name and password. The User Name and password fields are required in order to use the 12Voip. You can choose any name but it must be at least 6 characters in length. If the name is already in use by someone else you will have to try another name.

Making your first 12Voip call ^ top

For a call to any online 12Voip user, simply enter the username in the textbox and click the dial button. For a call to any regular phone, enter the desired number in the textbox and click the dial-button. If you are calling a land line in one of our free destinations, the call will be placed at no costs at all. For all other calls, you will be asked to buy credits first.

Please note that when you call a number (even if it's local) you should always dial 00 + countrycode + areacode + subscribernumber)

Improving Sound Quality ^ top

To get the best possible sound quality, we highly recommend you try the following:

• Use a headset with a built in microphone. Headsets are available for purchase at most computer retailers and will dramatically improve sound quality.
• Tell your friend to get a headset. Note that voice quality is affected by the equipment on both sides of the conversation. The best way to ensure high quality sound is to have a headset on both ends of the conversation.

If you don't have a headset, you are still likely to improve sound quality if you:

• Use headphones instead of your computer speakers
• Try moving the microphone closer or further away from your mouth
• Use an external microphone (note that most laptops use low-quality microphones)
• Update your soundcard drivers
• Note that if you don't own a microphone, you may be able to use a pair of headphones as a temporary solution by connecting these to the microphone jack of your sound card. Try it!

Tabs ^ top

12Voip is divided into several tabs, each with a specific purpose.

The Contacts Tab shows other 12Voip users which you have added to your Contact List. The icon next to the User Name indicates the Online Status of these users. You can right-click any User Name in your Contact List to see a number of choices for communicating with, or managing this user in your Contact List.

The Dial pad Tab shows you a graphic representation of the buttons you find on any ordinary phone, and they work accordingly.

Speed-dial text field ^ top

The Text Box near the bottom of the main 12Voip window allows you to call directly by entering their User Name or phone number and pressing enter.

Calling with 12Voip ^ top

There are several ways to call with 12Voip:

• From the textbox, enter the User Name of another 12Voip user, or the desired phone number and press enter.
• Double-click a User Name in your contact list.
• Use the dialpad to make a call just like you do on a regular phone.
• Or use the keypad on your PC.

Please note that when you call a number (even if it's local) you should always dial 00 + countrycode + areacode + subscribernumber

Version updates

We frequently upgrade our software. To find out about the latest changes click here.

Need more info?^ top

Check our frequently asked questions.

Call your Friends and Family for FREE!

12voip offers free phone calls to various popular destinations. Simply download the free application and start calling your friends and family for FREE!

Argentina Australia Austria Bahrain Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China (+mobile) Colombia Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France

Germany Greece Hong Kong (+mobile) Hungary Ireland Italy Japan Latvia Luxembourg Malaysia Mexico [guadalajara] Mexico [mexico City] Mexico [monterrey] Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Norway Panama

Peru Poland Portugal Puerto Rico (+mobile) Romania Russian Federation Singapore (+mobile) Slovak Republic Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand United Kingdom United States (+mobile) Venezuela

Source : http://www.12voip.com

Nokia Comes With Music

Source: http://www.mobilegazette.com/nokia-comes-with-music-08x09x02.htm

Available now
2nd September 2008
NEW! - Play / download MP3 podcast

Nokia wants to be more than just a mobile phone manufacturer, after all, these days the amount of profit on some of the handsets they sell is tiny. To this end, Nokia have tried to branch out into services and web portals, sometimes coming into conflict with mobile networks who usually provide that sort of thing.

Comes With Music is Nokia's latest attempt in this field. Instead of just imitating the likes of Apple's iTunes, Nokia have done something a bit more novel.. when you buy a special "Comes With Music" phone, you get unlimited music downloads for a one-off fee.

This "all you can eat" proposition is coming to the UK soon, via the Carphone Warehouse. Customers who buy the special "Comes With Music" version of the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic will get a year's free downloads which they can then keep.

More details of just how this will work are to be announced next month, but presumably there is some sort of Digital Rights Management built into the handset. The 5310 is hardly new - it was released last year - but it has a reputation as being a good music phone, and it isn't too expensive.

There's no information on pricing, although this is going to be a prepay package for pay-as-you-go customers. The indications are that this is being geared up for the Christmas rush.. and it's easy to see how this could be an appealing gift for music lovers.

Quite how Nokia intend to make money with this flat-fee business model is not known. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

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Nokia 5310 XpressMusic Comes With Music at a glance Available: Q4 2008 Network: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 Data: GPRS + EDGE Screen: 240x320 pixels, 16m colours Camera: 2 megapixels Size: Slim monoblock 104 x 45 x 10mm / 70 grams Bluetooth: Yes Memory card: microSD Infra-red: No Polyphonic: Yes Java: Yes GPS: No Battery life: 5 hours talk / 12 days standby

Barack Obama's Church of Choice

November 26, 2008 02:55 PM ET | Robert Schlesinger | Permanent Link | Print

By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.

MSNBC is doing a segment right now about where the Obamas should worship, and are reporting that churches around town are angling to host the (sigh) first worshippers. Seriously? "What church?" is like "what school?"—barring a really crazy Obama decision (sending the kids to a Pakistani madrassa in the one case or bringing Jeremiah Wright to town for special Oval Office sermons in the other) people should lay off and let them make what are ultimately personal decisions without the benefit of excessive public scrutiny. As Sam said the other day: Butt out.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2008/11/26/barack-obamas-church-of-choice.html

If We Bail out Citicorp, Why Not Bail Out GM, Too?

November 26, 2008 02:02 PM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.

It will be years before we know whether government bailouts of financial and other institutions were a good idea or not. My Thomas Jefferson Street colleague Michael Barone has some crackling commentary on the topic.

While we're in the midst of bailing out the planet (or so it seems) one question comes to mind. If Citicorp, why not GM? Congress will hear from the big three automakers this coming Tuesday on whether to bail out the auto giants and their executives, meanwhile are devising a business plan to explain to members of the House and Senate how taxpayers' dollars will keep the companies, including GM, alive. But if the U.S. government is going to bail out Citicorp, the once-largest bank in the country, why not do the same for GM, the once-largest automaker in the world?

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich has some riveting thoughts on the topic. In a commentary for Marketplace he notes Citicorp has lost a huge chunk of market valuation, which hurts the company's executives, shareholders and creditors. But if it went into Chapter 11, mutual fund shareholders and people holding Citicorp CDs would have their assets protected. If GM tanks, on the other hand:

...General Motors has a far greater impact on jobs and communities than Citigroup. Add parts suppliers and their employees, and the number of middle-class and blue-collar jobs dependent on GM is many multiples of Citi. And the potential social cost of GM's demise, or even major shrinkage, is much larger—including entire communities whose infrastructure and housing may become nearly worthless.

As we have heard by now, the ramifications through the U.S. economy would be massive if GM were to collapse. Jobs—high-paying factory jobs—would leave our now service-oriented economy never to return to the United States. Job losses, with parts suppliers and other subcontractors included, would number more than 2 million. Those jobs would be resurrected in developing nations where labor is much cheaper. Why help other countries to feast on the carcass of our once-strong manufacturing sector?

Source:http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/26/if-we-bail-out-citicorp-why-not-bail-out-gm-too.html

One Word for New Auto Industry Business Plan: Green

November 26, 2008 03:58 PM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

Congress should not go easy on GM if it does approve a bailout, but Congress has shown no sign of going easy on the auto giant. The idea of setting auto executives scurrying to produce a business plan is nothing short of brilliant. I've got suggestions for what such a plan should include. But first and foremost, it should be focused on one word and one word alone: green.

No more SUVs and gas guzzlers. Even in the truck division, GM could make its heavy-duty vehicles much more fuel efficient and price them so that they could only be purchased by commercial ventures. Private citizens who want to drive guzzlers should be priced out of the market and should instead be forced into low-mileage cars. GM got into this mess because instead of leading the consumer market in the right (read that: green) direction, it catered to America's sick addiction to gas guzzlers. Now's the time to lead, not cave in.

Dan Beuke of BusinessWeek writes:

End of discussion about higher mileage rules. For years, honest efforts to boost fuel efficiency were snuffed out in Washington by Detroit and its fellow travelers in Congress. Enough. I say we build right into bailout legislation a 40-mpg average for cars by 2020. That's up from 27.5 today, and a big step up from the 35 mpg goal that Detroit is supposed to achieve. I don't care how they get there: Build cars that burn corn cobs—or For Sale signs, for that matter. Just get there.

America cannot afford to have GM go under any more than it can afford to lose Citicorp and AIG and all the rest. And the market seemed to understand that on the day before Thanksgiving, when GM stock was up by about a third in midday trading on hints that Congress was closer to acceding to GM's come hither pleas. I know there's no such thing as fairness when it comes to business and money, but what's sauce for Citicorp ought to be sauce for GM, too.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/26/one-word-for-new-auto-industry-business-plan-green.html

VOIP industry On Rollercoaster Ride

VOIP industry On Rollercoaster Ride

On this blog we discuss about free Voip Calls. Lets discuss some of the future aspects of the same in today's scenario.

Let me tell you the breakdowns and shutdowns in the VOIP industry has started to gain momentum. This VOIP industry back set is far from over unless and until plans and operations are made to set it in a proper track. If i was the decision maker I would have suggested creating awareness about VOIP using other mediums like media, newspapers and mobile advertising.

People using VOIP often say that VOIP has nothing more in it where more users can be created; also there is a great possibility that the present users of VOIP can shift themselves from it as they find it no more interesting. If this is the trend that is gaining momentum then definitely the day is not far when the companies will have to lock their shutters to the business which once dreamt of replacing the telephone industry.

So what and where is the problem and what and where is the solution. There should be at least a solution for the backlash of the VOIP industry which once saw many takeovers, many mergers, money poring in terms of investments. Where is the capital market which once was happy and interested in the growth of this industry and where is the money gone.

In this world of investment and mergers, one can say that a lot depends on the sensex. If one says that there is no money in the market then I do agree but this condition is same for all. If one say that industries balance can be maintained by making cost cutting at the cost of cutting down employees than where is the question of providing better service. There is also a great need of well experienced professionals but if the present employers are removed then later it might be that any professional would not prefer to opt for such career which has minimum security for the employees. Also the cost of training the fresh recruits will add up towards the company’s expenditure. If one will shy away from advertising and marketing then the brand will loose its brand value which takes a good time to be created. If this current trend is followed than once can blindly be sure that there will be many fallouts in this industry.

I think to avoid this fallout the VOIP industry should help themselves by promoting and increasing its brand value even at this time of crises. They should help themselves by making their operations better and by increasing their technology which for tomorrow will reward them with good market capitalization.

Accordingly the VOIP industry also tries to completely focus on the enhancement of the technology and up gradation of the marketing techniques which will help this industry to flourish and help make communication easy and affordable and helping the world to be a smaller and closer place.

SOURCE: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/Voip%20Future

VoipCheap - Free Net to Phone Calls To Malaysia, Denmark, Netherlands & Many More

VoipCheap - Free Net to Phone Calls To Malaysia, Denmark, Netherlands & Many More

In this post we will see one more Free Voip Calls resource to make free calls to more then 30 countries all over the world. Adding in the list of companies from Betamax, VoipCheap is one more Voip company who offers free and cheap international calls.

From VoipCheap you can make free calls in two ways:

1) You can freely talk with your online friends by downloading their software and by inviting and adding him in your talk list given in VoipCheap software. Install it on your PC and make hassle free PC To PC Calls worldwide. For more information see their instruction page.

2) If you want to call your friends mobile/landline number who lives in free countries indicated on VoipCheap free countries list, first get registred with VoipCheap by an unique user name and password. Then you have to enter your phone number and destination phone number in the textbox given in the Voipcheap software.


Now click on the Dial button. It will dial the destination number and then ring your number, dont disconnect the call and hold for some moment and then our call will be connected to the destination number.




Always remember your dialed and destination phone/mobile/landline numbers should belong to the listed free countries by VoipCheap. If you fulfill this demand you will not be charged a single penny for calling. For all the other calls you have to buy credits. Please note that when you call a number (even if it's local) you should always dial 00 + country code + area code + subscriber number).

This calls are limited for trail only. After the trail period is over if you want to enjoy longer unlimited free calls to these free destinations, just top up your account by buying credit.

Buying credit allows you to make 90 free days of calling. This means 90 days free calls at no cost.
After this period is over again top it up and make free calls.

Let me quickly list the free countries list by VoipCheap for your convenience.

Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
France
Germany
Hong Kong (+mobile)
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russian Federation
Singapore (+mobile)
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States (+mobile)

You can make calls from your own sip device to Voip Cheap see this link. VoIPCheap has selected, tested and certified various USB phones, headsets, routers and other hardware for your convenience. You can see how you can use them on their site.

Please let us know more about VoipCheap a net to phone calls provider, if you have used it in past or will try this in future, in our comments section.

SOURCE: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/Free%20calls%20Voipcheap

Free Calls - Free calling minutes from Vyke

Free Calls - Free calling minutes from Vyke

I just come across Vyke, who are giving away Free Minutes of Free Calling.

What You Have To Do?

Just sign up for a Vyke account and follow the instructions to redeem their free introductory offer.

So What are you waiting for?
Free calling minutes may be used with any Vyke service. Free calling time will vary by destination. Offer redeemable once per customer.

You can also download their PC To phone calling software for calling worldwide from your computer at cheap rates..

SOURCE: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/free%20calls%20from%20Vyke

Free Internet Calls With VoipBuster

Free Internet Calls With VoipBuster

Today one more site inspires me to write one more post on this free calls blog. It is one more Betamax release. In the past Betamax has released many voip sites in competition to Skype rates. This is one more addition to it.



Voipbuster is free program that uses latest voip technology to connect people all over the world and to bring free and cheap calls with high voice quality. While using Voipbuster you can call many popular destination in the world free of charge or at an incredible low rates. Its free software always allows you to make free internet calls to your friends while the are in your list and online at the same time. To make free calls to the countries listed on the website of Voipbuster you have to credit your account and you can avail 120 days free calls. You can read more on their instruction page.

New users can try Voipbuster free for 60 minutes (one hour). This is a free trail calls offered by Voipbuster to its new users. Please note that only people staying in the free listed countries mentioned in the site can avail this service.

All the other conditions are same as we see on most of the Betamax sites. I will posting more free calls sites from Betamax in my upcoming posts and hope it will include some more countries like India, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh etc. to become more famous.

Oh, you can also avail free sms services in the same mentioned condition with this site. You can use your sip, local phones, mobiles to make free calls through this site.

SOURCE: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/free%2060%20minutes%20calls

Free 30 Minutes To Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Other 30 Countries

Free 30 Minutes To Pakistan, Saudi Arabia & Other 30 Countries

Last time we have seen how you can get free 10 minutes on all mobile & international calls. Today we will see how Rebtel is celebrating Ramzan while giving away free 30 minutes calls to more then 30 Islamic countries. Ramzan is most respectful and significant month in the Islamic calender. Many Muslims eager to talk with their relatives and friends who stays in other countries, seeing this Rebtel has come up with this great offer.

As Rebtel has an reputed name in Voip industry, they always come up with unique marketing strategies to make free Voip calls to make new customers and market presence. With the same thinking Rebtel is offering free 30 minutes talktime to its new customers. As I said before this free 30 minutes can used in 32 countries which are listed below.

Albania, Chad, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia (KSA), Algeria, Indonesia, Lebanon, Senegal,
Azerbaijan, Republic Iran, Malaysia, Sudan,Bahrain, Iraq, Maldives, Tajikistan,
Bangladesh, Jordan, Niger, Turkey,Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Qatar, Nigeria, Turkmenistan, Brunei, Darussalam, Kazakhstan, Oman, United Arab Emirates(UAE), Burkina, Faso, Kuwait, Pakistan, Uzbekistan.



Some Quick Points Before You Sign Up With Rebtel:

a) Only new users can enjoy this free 30 minutes signup (sign up with new user name)

b) This offer is valid from 1st of September 2008 until the 1st of October 2008 (00:00 GMT)

c) That means bonus can be used from 1st of September 2008 to 1st of October 2008 (00:00 GMT)

d) You can't transfer your given free accounts to any other accounts.

Just click on following banner or use voucher code : " rebtelramadan " while registering with Rebtel. ( In the voucher code field as shown in above figure).






I hope you will find this free calling offer best of your use and contact your nearest and dearest in this Ramzam.

SOURCE: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/free%2030%20minutes%20calls%20to%20Saudi%20Arabia%20(KSA)

DingaLing - Offers 5 Free Minutes Within North America

DingaLing - Offers 5 Free Minutes Within North America

Lets see Dingaling, a Canada based voip call company, which is offering free 5 minutes within North America upon every new signup. So if you are living within any north American region you avail this benefit. This service uses web-activated VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), to initiate local or international long distance telephone calls. Unlike any other voip services and systems this doest not require any spacial software or device.



Dingaling offers cheap or low cost voip calls all over the world. At a first glance it almost looks like Jajah services. Dingaling though didn't offer you free voip calls but it offers very low idd or calling cost. You can call as low as 1 cent per minute with this service.

If you want to make a call from Dingaling, you dont need a broadband or internet connection, or even an microphone, you can directly insert your number and destination number on the site, this will first deliver your call to your city and then to your number through plain telephone connection. So no extra hardware requires. One more thing only one register member required for calling and only one has to pay for this.

With many free voip companies in the market one must wonder how this kind of services will survive in the market. But thinking of skype rate one should think about the completion with the prices. This brings more options to the voip world and customers.

Source: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/DingaLing%20voip%20call

Free Calls - Free Unlimited Calls To USA, Canada - Mpingi

Free Calls - Free Unlimited Calls To USA, Canada - Mpingi

Voip technology is taken a great leap in the world of callings. It also decreased the phone bills tremendously. Today we will see yet another voip service for cheap unlimited calls to India.

This service is yet another Voip service called Mpingi. Mpingi has some really good cheap unlimited calling plans to India, USA and Canada.



What are their calling plans?

They have three plans.

1) Freedom: In this plan you can call Unlimited anytime minutes to US, Canada & Puerto Rico. Unlimited calls to a single home country number (Which could be INDIA). Monthly rate is 34.95$ for this plan. In this plan you can also call mobiles. You will get voice mails, and call conferencing.

2) American : It is 24.95$ monthly. In this plan you can get unlimited anytime minutes to US, Canada.

3) Economy : This plan costs 15.95$ and you can call 1000 minutes in USA and Canada.

In this lot freedom plan looks best for USA, Canada residence and want to talk to their Parents, or wife living in India.
Some Silent features of Mpingi.

• One Month Risk Free Trial.
  
• you can tell your friend about it. You can sign up 2 friends and get one month free. Remember, the more friends you sign up the more free months you get !
• Low international rates and they do not charge any connection fees.
• You can retain your existing phone number.
• Virtual Phone Number.
• Thirty (30) day money back guarantee from the date of activation of your Service.

Source: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/cheap%20international%20calls

Pingo Calling Cards - Free International Talktime Bonus

Pingo Calling Cards - Free International Talktime Bonus

Pingo Calling Cards - Free International Talktime Bonus - Double Your Money Offer

Today we will go through Pingo calling cards, which are one of the world's leading international long-distance carriers. They work around iBasis network which is assurance of superior quality and reliability— in addition to the most competitive rates in calling.

Pingo provides reliable, high quality international long distance phone calling service with the savings of international calling cards.

Pingo offers many calling facilities, its just not there for international calls, but also for domestic calls, Whether its India, Canada, USA etc. You can check this out on their site. Similarly for calling other destinations like Dominican Republic, Kenya, Bangladesh, Philippines, UAE, Saudi Arabia etc. Pingo calling card is a very cheap option. and they charge no additional fees -- just a 98 cents USD per month account maintenance fee.



What's the offer?

Pingo has introduced an offer of get double what you invest against your money. It means, if you purchase a 10$ calling card you will get 10$ free bonus. Not only this if you Sign up for Pingo you will get $5 in FREE calls.

How to Call From Pingo?

1. You have to dial the local or toll-free access number provided by Pingo.
2. At the voice prompt, enter your account number and PIN.
(Use PINpass and skip step # 2!)
3. For all calls, dial the country code and number you want to call and press #. (With Pingo Speed Dial, you can shorten this step to just one or two numbers!)
4. If you want to place another call, don't hang up—just wait two seconds after the other party has hung up and dial the new number and press #.


So if you are the one who don't mind spending few bucks and were looking for cheap international calls, Pingo calling card offer always looks like a cheap and good calling package.
Source: http://free-pc-to-international-phone-calls.blogspot.com/search/label/cheap%20calls%20to%20india