Why A SmartPhone Is More Dangerous Than You Think

It seems that people nowadays can’t live without their mobile phones. The world has changed so rapidly that we have all become very much dependent on technology. And there is really no one to blame; why would people ignore all these new inventions and apps that make their busy lives easier? The faster we can hail a cab or order food, the more time we have to do a whole lot of other things. 

It seems that a lot of activities can be accomplished through an app on your mobile device. You are most likely reading this on your phone right now. Because of this, phones are becoming the top distraction when it comes to driving. 

Texting while driving is as risky as drinking beer and whisky. Whenever you are behind the wheel, your full attention must be on the road at all times. Using your mobile phone is an obvious distraction that has already caused a lot of accidents that lead to lawsuits and several hard-fought insurance claims. If you wish to know more about mobile phone use and other forms of distractions when driving, you can visit out tech and lifestyle sections. 

As a response to the many cases of distracted driving, many states in the US have passed versions of Anti Distracted Driving Laws. Here are three things that are the highlights of those laws. 

Never Text While Driving 

This prohibition virtually exists in all laws in all countries all over the world. Never. Text. While. Driving. 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a text messaging ban in effect. Of course, when we text, our attention shifts from the road to the message that is appearing on the screen. Our mind gets so distracted that we might not notice that we’re driving through a red light or into oncoming traffic until it is too late. Texting, therefore, is no doubt dangerous whenever you are behind the wheel. 

Handheld Cellphone Use 

It is important to keep both your hands on the wheel as you drive. Using one hand to tinker with your phone can easily spell an accident. It is also important to place your phone out of the designated line of sight which is the windshield. If you have a holder on your car, place it there. Set your destination before driving when using a GPS app and as much as possible, use only hands-free functions and applications if you need to accomplish something while on the road. Cellphone ban Whether you are holding it or not, thirty-nine states and D.C. ban mobile phone use for novice or teen drivers. 

Given the fact that this age group has the most number of users of mobile phones, this law can be a challenge to implement, but it surely makes sure that all young people on the streets are safe from any possible accident. If there really is a need to use the phone while on the road, a driver in these territories should give their phone to one of their passengers. If you are not driving alone, let one someone else be the navigator or the DJ. For those driving alone, it is always safest to pull over at the side of the road if you need to make a phone call or look up directions on your phone. 

Conclusion

Being on the road is inherently very risky, and getting involved in a crash brings with it a lot of legal and physical hassles. While having mobile phones is important because these gadgets help us move around much more efficiently, drivers should always think of the consequences of being distracted while behind the wheel.

How You Can Monitor Your Teen’s Online Activities

Since the cell phone technology has evolved to the next level especially among the young kids and teens, parents have their concerns about teens activities on teens digital devices no time ever before. The access of the internet on cell phones has brought major change among the youth. Kids and teens used of spending time in playgrounds, physical activities, and extracurricular activities now spending time on cell phone screen all day long. 

Obviously parents would have their concerns especially when teens staring mobile phone screen hours and hours and suddenly make a smile, got depressed due to some hidden reasons. On the other side, instant messaging apps are everyone’s first priority and the teens are second to none. 

Parents it means are fully aware of the fact that social media has got vulnerabilities over the last few years in terms of cyber predators, dangerous social media trends, online shaming and other dangerous activities like that. 

The only option parents have left to monitor teen’s online activities. However, the question arises how they can do that? The answer is pretty simple they should use mobile phone monitoring software to track teen’s online activities for the sake of their online safety. It can help prevent them from spending money on Litfakes Fake ID's and get into trouble drinking.

How Parents Can Monitor Teen’s Online Activities 

Parents can track teen’s online activities on cell phone and gadgets. But the first thing you need to do is to get access to the target cell phone device of your teens connected to the internet. So, all you can do it with the best phone surveillance software that empowers you to remotely get ingress to the target device to unveil the virtual activities. So, parents have to get their hands on the best of the best android monitoring software that allows them to track all types of activities that can be done having an internet connection. 

Get Phone Spy App To Monitor Teen’s Online Activities 

Use your personal cell phone or PC browser for a while connected to the internet. In addition, go and visit the official web page of the mobile phone spy app. Once you are on the page you need to get subscription online. 

So, in return, you will receive passcode and ID via email sent to you on your target device through an email. Furthermore, take physical access on the target device and once you have got the access on it complete the installation process successfully and once you have done it then activate it on the target device. 

Take a further step ahead; use the credentials that you have received via email at the time of the subscription process. It will enable you to get access to the electronic web portal where you can see plenty of tools that empower you to spy on teen’s cell phone activities. Let’s get to know about the tools that empower you to monitor teen’s activities online. 

Use Cell Phone Surveillance Tools To Track Teen’s Online Activities 

Live Screen Recording 

You can use the live screen recorder and get access to the target mobile phone device and enable you to make short back to back videos of the screen in real time. In addition, you can watch live recorded videos getting web portal access and you can perform live screen monitoring in terms of Chrome screen recording, social media, SMS, email, YouTube and last but not the least digits and pattern passwords applied. 

Call Recording 

You can record incoming and outgoing cell phone calls on the target device in real –time using secret call recording software and further you can save the live phone calls recorded data into the online web portal. 

Browsing Activities 

User can remotely get access to the online activities of the target person and get to know about the visited apps and websites and bookmarks. 

IM’s Social Media 

You can get access to the target device social messaging apps activated on teen’s cell phone using social media monitoring app. you can get the logs of instant messaging apps without rooting or jailbreak in terms of messages, conversations, audio video conversations, and last but not the least Voice messages. 

Conclusion

Use phone spy software for cell phone and get access to the teen’s device and get to know all the online activities happen on the target device with a complete time stamp. Let know parents about monitoring app visit TheOneSpy review.

Beginner Guide on How to Make a Conference Call

A conference call is a form of communication where several people can participate at the same time. For many business owners, this is the most effective way to hold meetings remotely, without the need to travel.

There are many tools and apps for making conference calls, and most include a video setting so you can see the participants on a screen. Instead of going back and forth with emails, conference calls allow you to share ideas and feedback instantly.

If you're a beginner and don't know how to start, here are 5 essential steps to learn how to make a conference call like a pro.


Step 1: Find the Right Service Provider

To make a conference call, you need a service provider that can support this type of communication. You can start a call from your cell phone or landline, but modern technology offers free conference call solutions.

If you're using the minutes on your cell phone plan to make a call, note that you'll be charged for each call separately. Using a special online app is a more affordable solution, especially if several people attend the call.


Step 2: Make a Plan for the Call

Before you make conference calls, it's useful to have an agenda. This will help you manage the conversation better and avoid awkward silence.

Start by making a list of the people on the call, their names, and contact information. Then, write down the topic of interest, any points to address, and questions to ask.


Step 3: Send Invites

If you're using online tools to make a call, you should send invites to everyone participating. Include details like date, time, and topic, so people can enter the call in their calendars.

Make sure to include a link to the call so everyone can join in a single click. Also, inform people if the call is video or audio so they can prepare accordingly.


Step 4: Call the First Person

How does a conference call work? Simple: just call one person, and add the rest to the call. You can type in the number in the dial pad or find it in your contact list.

With online tools, you can start the call with one person and wait for the others to join in, or just sign into the software, and start the call once everyone has joined.


Step 5: Merge the Call

Once you make the initial call with one person, it's time to merge the call. Simply click on "add call" to include the other participants, and click "merge call". This method works if you're calling from your phone.

If you are using apps or tools, you don't need to merge the call. Everyone will join at the same time, and the call can begin.


Now You Know How to Make a Conference Call Like a Pro!

Whether you want to learn how to make a conference call for business or personal purposes, these tips will help you manage it with ease. It is time to make calls like a champ!

For more tech tips and tricks, head to the tech category on our blog where we cover the latest industry trends.

Why Internet of Things Tech Could Save Retail

Retail as an entire industry has been getting decimated for the last decade now with stores and customer shopping behavior shifting online. Top retailers that were around for a century have gone bankrupt and each more more big box stores are closing their doors. Malls and "Mom & Pop Shops" are a distant memory for most shoppers as Amazon and other e-commerce giants have risen from their ashes. 

The recent global events have only amplified and accelerated this trend for most retailers and ecommerce platforms. The only few bright spots in the regular retail industry include Wal-Mart, convenience stores, dollar stores, and some niche shops. But overall things are looking rough for retail and businesses are really hurting. 

Retailers are reeling and on the ropes. But there is still hope with top new retail technology like IoT smart tech.

IoT (internet of things) involves the use of hardware, software, systems integration, and data services for businesses or consumers. Virtually any device with an internet connection can be transformed into an IoT device. So essentially just Wi-Fi, ethernet, or a cellular / satellite signal is required for the software and/or hardware. A smart device means it is enabled to share and monitor real-time data on cloud-based systems with computers and smartphones. 

Today IoT is being used in all types of business niches and industries thanks to its wide range of big benefits and positive impacts, especially within the retail industry. The use of IoT can help you overcome the most common challenges of your retail business and help it grow. Brick and mortar stores and retail shops can get smart like the countless e-commerce businesses that have been replacing them, and they must to survive. And if retailers don't get smart, they don't stay in business long.

Improve Inventory And Supply Chain Management 

Inventory and supply chain management is one of the most time-consuming tasks of having a retail business. IoT for retailers can help you take those processes to a whole new level. IoT on supply chains and inventory management can collect a massive amount of data in real-time, analyze it, or track it. Inventory control no longer will require human resources, now your employees can focus on more valuable tasks. 

Two of the biggest IoT inventory control technologies include smart shelves and RFD scanners. 

Smart shelves use RFID technology to track inventory in retail stores, they can use RFID tags, scanners, and weight sensors to check inventory levels and send an alert when a product is out of stock or when the theft of goods occurs. 

You will receive low stock alerts that will help minimize the out-of-stock situations and avoid losing sales opportunities. 

The RFID tags also allow your customers and employees to have quick access to the product information, your customers can download an app and interact with the smart shelves, and while they are walking through the store they can get personalized offers and recommendations based on previous purchases. 

If your retail store contains freezers and store cases then you can also take advantage of temperature sensors to make sure they are at the right temperature and guarantees the right lifespan of products like meat. The best part is that you can monitor the data remotely. 

Enhance Retail Customer Experience 

You can use IoT to improve customer engagement in your brick and mortar shops. One of the most promising technology is facial recognition systems that will recognize you once you enter the store and give you personalized promotions and product groupings. 

They analyze your customer behavior and shopping habits to provide content that will improve customer value and help you market your store the right way and perform strategies that will enhance customer engagement and provide a tailored customer experience (CX) for each client. 

Another example of how IoT improves retail customer experiences includes a smart fitting room. They have a large mirror with a touch screen, the device can send you recommendations on clothes and accessories, allow you to call for a store assistant, adjust the lighting, and create a profile where your fitting history will be stored and you can send the information to your mobile phone. 

Each item will be equipped with an RFID tag and once it is in the fitting room the device will identify it. 

And then there is the whole huge topic of AR and VR in retail to help increase sales and improve CX, which another entire article could be written on.

Track Your Retail Assets 

Shopping baskets and carts are a valuable asset for your retail store and tracking them can take a lot of time, not to mention that if you lose one it can be expensive to replace it. 

The installation of tracking devices on shopping carts and baskets to know where they are at an exact moment. It lets you know if they are being used, and the system can also alert you when there is any damage to one of them. 

You can use the information from the data to make sure your customers always have shopping carts or baskets available to them. 

IoT Helps Your Retail Stores Save Money 

IoT is an investment that is absolutely worthwhile and can help you economize in your retail store business innovation. For example, smart bulbs and temperature sensors in freezers and fridges can minimize the waste of energy and the use of smart cameras and sensors can help you prepare better for those high-traffic moments in your store. That can improve the flow and efficiency of your retail store. 

Retailer Rescue

Using IoT can become a crucial part of your retail store, help you save money, enhance the customer experience, improve the efficiency of your business and help it grow. This growing new smart tech truly is the life vest that retailers need to survive and thrive in a strained evolving economy. So if you are a retailer that is taking the situation really seriously, you should be investing in Internet of Things tech right now for your retail stores!

Advantages Of Flutter Development

Flutter is a popular open-source framework for mobile app development that has gained significant popularity in recent years. At Kambda, we utilize the advantages of Flutter to create high-quality and engaging mobile apps for our clients. The framework offers a range of benefits to developers and businesses, making it an excellent choice for mobile app development. In this article, we will explore the key advantages of working with Flutter development at Kambda. 

7 Top Advantages Of Flutter Development

1. Cross-Platform Development

One of the biggest advantages of Flutter is its ability to develop apps for both iOS and Android platforms. At Kambda, we take full advantage of this feature, enabling us to create apps that are compatible with both platforms, saving time and resources for our clients. 

2. Fast Development Time

Flutter has a fast development cycle, allowing us to quickly iterate and refine our clients' apps. The hot reload feature enables us to see changes in real-time, making the development process more efficient and allowing us to deliver high- quality apps in a timely manner. Time is money after all!

3. Customizable Widgets

Flutter offers a wide range of customizable widgets that can be easily integrated into our clients' apps. This allows us to create custom interfaces that are tailored to our clients' needs and provides a consistent user experience across all platforms. 

4. High Performance 

Flutter is known for its high performance, with apps running smoothly and quickly even on lower-end devices. At Kambda, we utilize this feature to deliver high-quality apps that perform well on all devices. 

5. Large Community

Flutter has a large and active community of developers, providing a wealth of support and resources to those who are working with the framework. At Kambda, we are part of this community, giving us access to the latest resources and information to help us deliver the best results for our clients. 

6. Open-Source

Flutter is an open-source framework, meaning that we can access the source code, contribute to it, and use it for free. This makes it an accessible and cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes, and we are proud to offer our clients this advantage at Kambda. 

7. Integrated Development Environment (IDE) 

Flutter works seamlessly with popular IDEs, including Android Studio and Visual Studio Code, providing us with a powerful and intuitive development environment. At Kambda, we utilize this feature to ensure that our development process is streamlined and efficient. 

Final Thoughts On Flutter Development

In conclusion, Flutter offers a range of advantages to developers and businesses, and at Kambda, we utilize these benefits to create high- quality and engaging mobile apps for our clients. From its ability to develop apps for both iOS and Android platforms, to its fast development time and customizable widgets, Flutter has something to offer everyone, and we are proud to be part of this exciting framework.

How To Measure Marketing ROI With Call Tracking

If you are going to get the best from your telemarketing marketing efforts, then you need some means of measuring their efficacy. How are your customers finding their way to your business phone numbers, and what will allow you to reach more of them in the future? 

If you don’t understand which of your marketing channels are generating the best return on your investment, then you won’t be able to optimise your marketing expenditure. Thus, ROI can be considered an essential metric for telemarketing and phone call sales. 

What Is Call Tracking? 

If you are making conversions over the phone with an online phone number, rather than online, then you will want to consider call tracking. This allows you to associate a given phone call with an online marketing channel. Your online customers will be given different phone numbers depending on how they came to request it. 

What Is Its Purpose And Benefits? 

When every call made to your business is tracked to source, you can determine which of your channels is more effectively persuading customers to pick up the phone. If a sizeable proportion of your phone conversions are coming after a customer clicks on a given ad, then you can say that the ad in question is doing its job. The same applies to keywords. This information will allow you to refine the way you spend on marketing. 

Multi-channel attribution allows a marketing department to assess the buyer’s entire journey, including how long it took to make the leap from being made aware of your business to actually making a purchase. If call-tracking isn’t a part of this process, then you will develop a blind spot. 

How Does It Help The Marketing Department? 

Your marketing department is sure to be grateful of the following calling information for two reasons. 

Pushing For Larger Budgets 

Call tracking software provides definitive evidence that a given marketing channel is generating a measurable return on the investment. This will embolden them to ask for more money. After all, if every pound spend is generating more exposure, more custom and more growth, then underinvestment becomes an obvious mistake. 

Of course, without the information, it is difficult to make this case for bigger budgets. 

Efficient Spending 

As well as increasing overall spend based on the information provided by call tracking, marketing departments may wish to reallocate the firms that they already have assigned to a given marketing channel. If it is determined that a given keyword is bringing in more custom, then why not focus efforts there? 

In order to gather this information, the marketing spend will need to be spread to begin with. If certain keywords aren’t being targeted at all, then they won’t generate the calls that they otherwise might. Thus phone call tracking should be viewed not as a substitute for experimentation, but as a complement to it.

Can You Play Bitcoin Games On Your Phone?

Want to know what’s better than playing games on your phone? Try - getting paid in Bitcoins while playing games on your phone. 

That’s right. It’s actually quite possible to get paid in Bitcoins just by downloading and playing a couple of games on your phone. 

Better yet, you don’t need to be a pro gamer or anything like that. All you have to do is just fire up your game of choice and start playing. 

Earning Bitcoins With Your Phone 

So how does this all work, I hear you say. 

Well, let me introduce you to the concept of Bitcoin faucet which are basically platforms that reward you with a small quantity of BTC for completing tasks. 

These tasks can range from watching videos to answering surveys and yes, maybe even playing games. 

Bitcoin games take the concept of crypto faucets and gamifies it by rewarding players with BTCs when they pass a level or complete a set of objectives. 

But let us be perfectly clear on this… 

Bitcoin games reward you with a small quantity of BTC only and will not turn you into a crypto millionaire overnight. 

What they do is introduce you to the world of cryptocurrencies and let you have a bit of fun while you’re at it. 

Getting Started With BTC Gaming

1. A Bitcoin Wallet 

As you’ll be earning BTCs, you’ll need a Bitcoin wallet to safely store your cryptos. Don’t worry as Bitcoin wallets are usually free and there are plenty of sites to choose from. 

Check out our guide on choosing the right Bitcoin wallet. 

2. A Decent Smartphone 

Most Bitcoin games aren’t exactly very demanding but it helps to have a decent smartphone. That’s because the last thing you want is to struggle with a laggy game on an unresponsive smartphone. 

While there are some web-only Bitcoin games, the majority tend to be available for smartphones and tablets also. 

The same also applies to iOS and Android users - you probably won’t have much trouble with finding a game that runs on both operating systems. 

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s take a look at the best Bitcoin games you can play on your phone. 

1. Bitcoin Alien Run 

Fans of 2D platformers like Super Mario and Sonic, will probably enjoy Bitcoin Alien Run - a mobile platformer that puts you into the shoes of Daniel D’Alien. 

Guide the lovable Daniel through different levels while you earn Bitcoins on the side. With highly polished gameplay and a series of daily challenges that let you earn extra Bitcoins, there’s plenty to enjoy about Bitcoin Alien Run. 

Bitcoin Alien Run is available for both iOS and Android and offers weekly BTC payouts. It’s very entertaining and definitely worth trying. 

2. Satoshi Quiz 

If trivia games are more of your thing, why not give Satoshi Quiz a try? 

Satoshi Quiz is a web-based game that quizzes players on a variety of topics that range from pop culture to world history and scientific facts. With every correct answer, you’ll be rewarded with a small quantity of Bitcoins. 

But remember you only get 10 lives, and every wrong answer will lead to a life being deducted. Once all 10 lives have been spent, you’ll have to wait until the next hour to get more lives. 

All you need to do is to sign up for an account with Satoshi Quiz to start winning prizes. Put your general knowledge to a test with this game! 

3. CropBytes 

Running a virtual farm has never been more fun (or profitable) with CropBytes. Can you imagine collecting potatoes and earning Bitcoin? 

Fans of farming simulators, such as Farmville and Hay Day, will surely recognize the familiar interface and gameplay. The difference here is that CropBytes allows you to sell your farm produce in exchange for actual cryptocurrencies. 

Players will have to plant crops, make animal feed, and rear animals which can all be traded on the in-game marketplace. 

Reinvesting in your farm makes it more profitable which then helps you collect even more cryptocurrencies. 

Final Thoughts On BTC Games

With the rise of cryptocurrencies and the popularity of Bitcoin increasing, it is only natural that Bitcoin games started developing. Right now there are already a bunch of cool games that you can play on your phone and that even offer rewards in crypto. 

These are both available for Android and iOS normally, but remember: they are for entertainment, so don’t expect to get rich playing them. 

Plus, if you want to find others that are not on this list, check out the list of best games that use Bitcoin by Tezro. 

You can find a more complete list of Bitcoin games for smartphones, but always remember to research to know whether the provider is reliable. Avoid scams by checking reviews of BTC games and apps so you don’t lose time or assets.

Global System For Mobile Communications (GSM): Explained

Did you know that GSM history goes back to 1975 and it is the most popular wireless cellular communication technique? If you want to learn more about GSM and how it works, you are in the right place. We are going to go over everything there is to know about it. 

Keep reading to learn all the ins and outs of GSM networks. 

What Does GSM Mean? 

Global System for Mobile Communication is an international standard term. There are many parts of the world like Europe, where GSM is the only type of cellular service available. GSM was developed as a digital system. 

In Europe and in Asia, GSM operates in the 900 MHz band, and in the United States, it operates in the 1900 MHz band. 

Companies like Mobile Versterkers help with making sure that you are getting the most out of your signal with a special GSM amplifier. 

How Does GSM Work? 

There is a combination of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) that is used for GSM to work. FDMA is a frequency band that is divided into multiple bands where each sub-divided frequency band is given to a single subscriber. 

TDMA is where the same frequency channel is given to different subscribers. This is done by dividing the frequency band into different time slots. Every user gets his or her own timeslot. This allows multiple stations to share the same transmission space. 

Originally GSM used two frequency bands of 25 MHz width, 890 to 915 MHz frequency band for up-link, and 935 to 960 MHz frequency for down-link. After some time, two 75 MHz bands were added. This included 1710 to 1785 MHz for up-link and 1805 to 1880 MHz for down-link. 

The up-link is the link from the ground station to a satellite and the down-link is the link from a satellite down to one or more receivers or ground stations. GSM divides the 25 MHz band into 124 channels where each one has 200 KHz width and the 200 KHz that is not used serves as a guard band to help avoid any interference. 

GSM Network 

The GSM network has four parts that work together to function as one. You have the mobile device, the BSS (base station subsystem), the NSS (network switching subsystem), and the OSS (operation and support subsystem). 

First, the mobile device connects to the network with its hardware, and then the SIM card provides the network with identifying information about the mobile user. Next, the BSS will handle the traffic between the NSS and the cell phone device. 

This is made up of the base transceiver (BTS) and the base station controller (BSC). The BTS has the equipment that communicates with the mobile phones, and the BSC communicates with a group of BTS stations and controls them. 

The NSS helps with routing the calls, authenticating and storing caller information via the SIM cards, and helps with SMS (short message service). 

Main Controls 

There are a few main controls in GSM and each control has three different types included. 

Common Control Channel 

This is also known as the CCCH and it has a few types available. There is the RACH (Random Access Channel) which is used by MS when it's first making access to the network. The RAHC is only for up-link. 

The second type is the PCH (Paging Channel). This is only for down-link. PCH is the network page for the MS when there is a short message incoming, or an incoming call. 

AGCH (Access Grant Channel) is the third type of CCCH. This is only for down-link and it is used for acknowledgment of the access attempt that is sent on RACH. 

Broadcast Channel 

The BCH or Broadcast Channel is only for down-link and it has three different types as well. The first type is the FCCH (Frequency Correction Channel). This is what enables MS to synchronize to frequency. 

The second type is the BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel). This is what broadcasts information about the serving cell. The last type is the SCH (Synchronization Channel). This is what carries information for frame synchronization, such as the base station identity code and the frame number. 

Dedicated Control Channel 

The DCCH is for down-link and for up-link and also has three different types. There is the FACCH (Fast Associated Control Channel) which is used to send fast messages. Another type is the SDCCH (Stand-Alone Dedicated Control Channel), which is used to set up calls, authenticate the calls, and to cipher location update and SMS. 

The third type of DCCH is SACCH (Slow Associated Control Channel). This is used to transfer signals while MS is having an ongoing conversation on topic or while the SDCCH is being used. 

Technology Growth 

Even though GSM is the preferred network for many subscribers because it is economic and available everywhere, there are different communication technologies being developed and others that have already been developed. You might be familiar with Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies. 

UMTS provides users with 3rd generation wireless communications, giving them faster data speeds. LTE provides 4th generation technology. 

Feeling Like A GSM Expert? 

As you can see there is a lot to know about GSM. You might have never realized how much was behind making a simple phone call on a mobile device. We have seen the mobile phone revolution unfold right before our eyes and it will continue to grow and expand over time. 

Did our blog post on global system for mobile communications help you today? Please come back soon to never miss our latest tech and telecommunications posts.

What Is a SIP Trunk? Benefits of SIP Trunking

Session initiation protocol, or SIP, is a rapidly growing market. In recent years, the global SIP trunking market was at 7.63 billion dollars and it’s projected to be at 13 billion dollars by 2024. Small, medium, and large companies are using SIP trunking to save money and grow their business. 

This relatively new technology is taking the world by storm and making it easier and quicker to do business. 

While this is exciting news, many business owners and decision-makers don’t know what SIP trunking is or how it works. If you’ve been wondering what is a SIP trunk and how it can benefit your business, this short and simple telephone tech guide is for you.


What Is a SIP Trunk?

If you have heard about SIP trunking, you may be wondering what is a SIP trunk, and how does SIP work? 

In short, a SIP trunk is like a middle man, routing your calls through the internet instead of over a phone line. You can think of a SIP trunk as a new-and-improved connection for your phone calls. When you are using SIP trunks, you don’t have to worry about phone lines, circuit boxes, or hardware for your phone system. 


What Are the Benefits of SIP Trunking?

There are many SIP benefits you’ll experience by switching from a traditional phone system to a SIP trunking system. Some of these benefits include:

Reliability: because a SIP trunk acts as a router, you will have a more reliable connection when using SIP trunking. If a connectivity issue occurs, your calls will be routed to another SIP trunk so you are still able to use your phone system.

Productivity: having a reliable system will increase your company’s productivity levels. Your employees will be able to spend their time getting things done, rather than being stalled by a slow or crashing system.

Mobility: with a traditional system, you need to be near the phone to receive calls and access phonebooks, etc. Since a SIP system is completely online, you can access your account and all of the information you need from anywhere with an internet connection.

Simplicity: SIP trunking is simple and easy to use. If you can browse the internet or download and use an app, you will have no problem using a SIP system. 

Affordability: even with all of the benefits SIP trunking provides, using SIP is much more affordable than using a traditional phone system. SIP trunking is usually about 40% cheaper than a traditional system, although you can save up to 80%.


Your Business Can Benefit Greatly From SIP Trunking

In a nutshell, SIP trunks route calls to your phone by using the internet instead of a more traditional phone line. This simple change to your phone system results in big benefits like reliability, increased productivity, and mobility. 

The best part of SIP trunking for your telephone systems? It’s affordable, making it one of the most useful telecommunication tools you can use to grow your business without draining your bank account. SIP trunking is truly the best technology for your phone systems today.

How Do I Send a Screenshot to Coworkers for Documentation?

Screenshots are an amazing advancement of technology. Although the ability to screenshot is a fairly new one, could you imagine life without it? Screenshots make a lot of things easier for all types of situations. 

They come in handy for personal reasons, business and work reasons, and so much more. If you haven't started using screenshots in the office yet, then it's time you start doing so! They could make your work life a little less complicated if you do. 

Are you wondering, "how do I send a screenshot at work?" It's more common to send screenshots on the phone via text messages, but sending them to coworkers, business partners, and company bosses isn't spoken about as frequently. Luckily, this guide will help you throughout the process.

Are you looking to document tech trouble on your computer? Are you needing to share projects for collaboration? Continue reading below to learn how to send screenshots in the workplace! 

4 Top Ways To Securely Send Screenshots To Coworkers


Send Screenshots Via Email

After taking a screenshot on your computer, one way to share it with your coworkers is via email. 

Sending screenshots via email is one of the less complicated ways of doing this. It'll only take a few minutes, if not seconds, to send via email, but there are a few drawbacks. 

What you'll need to do first is take the screenshot on your computer and save it into your local drive, your Dropbox, or however you'd like to save it on your computer. Next, open your email account and upload the document as an attachment. 

You can then send the email to one person or multiple people to view. What's the downside of emailing? This technique doesn't allow you and the other people who receive it to collaborate easily. 

Each person receives the email separately and will need to respond one by one. You're not able to come together and make changes in real-time. This method works best when documenting an error on your computer or when sending one piece of information that doesn't need editing or collaborating.


Send Screenshots Via Microsoft 

Sending screenshots via Microsoft can be done in two different ways. One way is via email and the other is via Microsoft 365. If you'd like your coworker, client, or boss to make edits to your screenshot or leave comments on it, you can save the screenshot in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or another Microsoft program. 

Once doing so, you can then send an email with the Word Document or PowerPoint Document attachment inside. When the receiving person opens it, they can then use Microsoft to make their own contributions to the project. They will, however, need Microsoft Office on their computer to open it. 

Microsoft 365 is an amazing tool to have, but using 365 to collaborate with your coworkers entails having a 365 account. If your workplace uses 365, be sure to upload your screenshot in a document and add coworkers, clients, and your boss! 

You can add whoever you'd like and then everyone can collaborate on the project in real-time. It's as if you were all in a room together with the screenshot placed on a table while collaborating! 


Browser Screenshots Via Usersnap

When you're working online a lot, you'll most likely need to take screenshots of your browser. This might be due to tech trouble or collaboration reasons. Taking and sending screenshots via Usersnap is an excellent choice. 

You can take a browser screenshot with no installation needed. Each screenshot will have meta-information attached, and you'll be able to talk to your peers about the screenshot in real-time. The downside is that it only allows you to take browser screenshots, but you can upload mobile and desktop screenshots if desired. 

For example, you can capture your Windows or capture your MacBook's screen, save the file, and then upload it via Usersnap for collaboration purposes!


Android Screenshots Via Airdroid

Smartphones aren't only used for personal reasons. Smartphones have now made it easy to work from anywhere. With that being said, you've most likely done a bit of work on your phone in the past. 

When you're using your phone for business purposes, you should know how to take mobile screenshots from your computer. Airdroid makes it easy for Android users to upload mobile screenshots to their computers. You'll first need to sign in to your account on both Airdroid Web and your Android Airdroid. 

On Android Web, you then need to select the screenshot icon. Your Android's real-time interface will then be shown. You then need to select how you'd like the screenshots to save. 

You can have them save on your computer or on your phone. You'll then click on the screenshot capture button, which looks like a camera. A screenshot of your phone will then save directly to your computer! 

This is a beneficial technique to be aware of if you save screenshots for work on your phone frequently. It'll save you time and frustration of having to email yourself the screenshots from your phone or having to connect your phone to your computer to upload them. 


Stop Wondering, "How Do I Send a Screenshot" and Start Collaborating Today!

If you were once wondering, "how do I send a screenshot for business purposes," we hope you now have a few options to choose from. Try a couple of these techniques listed above and if one doesn't work well for you, try another!

There's a technique for everyone, and the best one for you might even depend on what you need to do with the screenshot image file itself. 

For more helpful posts similar to this one about screenshots and tech, be sure to check back with us on a regular basis! 

Ways To Help Your Children Reduce Phone Use

It’s easy for you to shout at your children for always being on their phones. You get angry because of their actions. The truth is that you’re not spending enough time to help them out. If you want your children to be responsible using their phones, you also have to do your share as a parent. 

Be A Role Model 

You can’t keep telling your children to stop using their phones when you’re doing the same. You also have to control your phone use. Don’t spend too much time browsing social media content. You can use your phone to work, but you need to stop at some point. 

Set Clear Rules At Home 

Just like many other things, you need to set clear rules in regard to phone use. You have to be strict in implementing these rules. When you tell your children not to use the phone during dinner, you have to set punishments for violating the rule. Avoid making empty threats since they won’t follow your rules in the future. 

Offer Rewards 

If your children successfully avoided phone use for an entire day, you can reward them. Make them involved in deciding what reward they want. If it’s reasonable enough, you can give it to them. The point is that through these rewards, you motivate them to do the right thing. 

Play With Your Children 

The reason why they’re always on their phones is that you don’t spend enough time with them. Make sure that you play with your children. Think of fun games that you can do with them. You will forget about digital devices when spending time with each other is more fun and exciting. 

Explain The Effects Of Constant Phone Use 

You can’t keep telling your children what to do and what to avoid without explaining to them the purpose of your rules. In regard to phone use, you need to be clear that you worry about their health. Phones emit radiation, and excessive phone use could make a person ill. The good thing is you can use EMF protection to block radiation from entering the body. Despite that, it’s still essential to reduce the time spent using the phone. 

Help Your Children Study Their Lessons 

You probably know more about what your children are studying. They might spend a lot of time on their smartphones to research. Instead of doing it, you can ask them to study with you. Apart from providing them with the right information, you also bond with them. They will be grateful for the time you spend with them. You can even hope that they excel more at school because of the assistance you give at home. 

Reduce Your Kids' Smartphone Use

As a parent, you must aid your children to overcome their cell phone addiction. It’s easy for them always to use their mobile phones if they don’t receive guidance from adults. Start by changing your smartphone habits and asking your children to do the same.

8 Reasons To Switch to an iPhone

There are two types of people in this world: Those who have an Android phone, and those who have an iPhone. 

Ok, there's maybe more than that, but, there's no doubt that the debate between iPhone vs Android goes back a long time. It seems like for many people, the brand they start with is the one they stick with. 

But, if you've always had an Android, you don't know what you're missing out on. Even though iPhones do have their drawbacks, there are a lot of benefits to buying an iPhone over an Android. 

So, why switch to iPhone over an Android smartphone? 

Check out this guide to find out the advantages of iPhones. 

8 Reasons To Make The Switch To iPhone


1. Information Security 

As technology continues to take over our lives, information security becomes more and more of an issue. 

If you're someone who takes information security seriously (as you should), then you may find it alarming that 97 percent of smartphone malware is targeted at Android phones. That number is dwindling each year but it's still a stark comparison between Apple and Google / Samsung smartphones.

The reason Android users are more susceptible to software malware is because Apple takes exhaustive precautions when selecting which app developers can have access to Apple's ecosystem. 

In other words, getting apps with malware into the Apple App Store is nearly impossible. 

Android uses Google's Play Store for its apps. And unfortunately, Google doesn't vet as thoroughly as Apple does when it comes to app store access. 


2. The Apple Ecosystem 

Many Android users don't know what they're missing out on when it comes to the Apple ecosystem.

The range of Apple products keeps growing and growing. This means you can easily sync your devices together with just a few clicks. You don't need to spend time downloading extra software or extra applications to sync things together. 

All you need to do is sign into your Apple account on a new device, and voila! All of your contacts, photos, calendars, and emails will instantly sync. This also means that you don't have to pay twice for books, movies, or apps. You just need to simply redownload them on each device. 

And, because Apple has a closed ecosystem, user safety is guaranteed. 


3. iMessage 

You don't quite understand the disappointment of seeing a green text bubble until you have an iPhone. 

For those who don't know, Android texts show up in a green bubble, whereas iMessages show up in a blue one. 

Why is the different color such a big deal?

The blue bubble is Apple letting you know your messages are end-to-end encrypted. This means that the only people who can see these messages are the people who are communicating. 

In other words, no eavesdropper can decrypt your conversation -- not even the company that's running the messaging service. If someone were to try and hack into your messages, all they'd get was a bunch of gibberish. 

With text messages sent on Androids, end-to-end encryption is not used. This means that your private conversations could be vulnerable to the eyes of hackers. 

On a less serious note, iMessage is also great because it allows you to send messages to friends and family from anywhere in the world, just as long as you have WiFi. With Android, you can't do this. 


4. Excellent Support and Help 

Whether you're shopping for a new iPhone or fixing a damaged iPhone, help is just around the corner. 

If you have an issue with your iPhone, you can go online to the Apple site and tap into a huge database of how-to articles. You can also get help via live chat. Or, you can schedule an appointment at the Apple Genius Bar at your earliest convenience. 

And, because Apple products are so popular, it's easy to find authorized Apple resellers and repair shops. 

Android users, on the other hand, don't have this sort of support system. To fix your Android phone, you'll either have to go through the phone maker or your carrier.


5. Get the Best Apps First 

If you're a big fan of apps, you'll be happy to learn that Apple almost always gets access to new apps first. 

For example, for one popular game app, Fortnite, it took months to come out with an Android-friendly version. Same with other popular apps like HQ Trivia and Super Mario Run. 


6. No Bloatware 

One of the biggest gripes Android users have is that the phones come with a lot of bloatware. 

While Android has slightly improved upon this by consolidating all carrier bloatware into a single folder, it's still annoying to have this junk taking up space in your phone. 

The great thing about iPhones is that they don't come with a single piece of carrier software. This makes for a clean experience from the moment you buy your phone. 


7. User-Friendly 

Without a doubt, the iPhone beats out the Android when it comes to user-friendliness. 

All of your apps are launched from the home screen, and all of your settings can be found under one menu. 

And while an Android can be customized and modified in different ways, the operating system's basic features are still much more complicated to get the hang of than iPhone's system. 

If you value a smartphone with a small learning curve, the iPhone is the way to go. 


8. Faster 

Last but not least, we can't forget that the iPhone is faster than the Android. If speed is a top priority, iPhone mobile phones are the superior option.

Because the iPhone is less cluttered and more streamlined than the Android, you'll be talking, texting, and searching at the speed of light. 


Why Switch to iPhone: Are You Ready to Make the Switch? 

"Why switch to iPhone?" As you can see, there are many compelling reasons to switch from Android to iPhone smartphones. Now, all you need to do is head to your phone carrier and tell them the news that you're ready to make the telephone switch. 

When you get your new iPhone, be sure to come back to our blog to check out more articles like this one. Visit our Tech section today!

Are Distracting Smartphones Affecting Your Workouts?

In a world where mobile electronic devices outnumber how many humans are living, it's fair to say humanity has reached a critical moment in its evolution.

As technology gets more and more advanced, we have learned how to do amazing health-related things with our cell phones such as track our fitness, look up great nutrition tips or find the best gyms out there.

But another effect of smartphones is driving humans in the other direction: we become less and less active the more we use smartphones. 

Are the disadvantages of smartphones beginning to outweigh the benefits we derive from them? 


Disadvantages of Smartphones

From the dinner table to the bedroom, all the way to the gym, cell phone usage is making an adverse impact that will result in your undoing if you aren't careful.

But what exactly do smartphones cause us to do that is so awful?

After all, how could doing simple, silly activities such as social media surfing or playing fantasy football be so serious?

Well, let's take a look at some facts.

90% of Americans own smartphones

Think about that for a moment. 9 out of 10 people you meet will own a smartphone. Can you think of any other device or product that 90% of the population has or uses?

The simple fact that such a massive proportion of society has and utilizes smartphones is quite an indicator of just how powerful the allure of smartphones can be.

67% of smartphone users admit to checking their phone when no notification or ring was felt or heard

The notion that an individual would check to see if something is on their phone without any reason to believe there would be is troubling.

Those who are prone to check their phone compulsively may have a smartphone addiction.

Other signs and symptoms of a cell phone addiction

There is a seemingly never-ending list of signs and symptoms of a cell phone addiction, but the major ones include:

• Multiple failing attempts to curb cell phone usage
• Constant usage of cell phone, even in inappropriate circumstances
• A burning "need" to use the cell phone
• Putting work or relationships at risk due to an inability to curb cell phone usage
• Infatuation with the latest and greatest cell phones
• Often talking only about cell phone related topics

While this all sounds scary, you can keep it in check when it comes to your fitness.

Here are some tips on how to make sure you keep up with your workout routine, by putting the phone down and picking those weights up.


Avoiding Excessive Cell Phone Usage At The Gym

Make your exercise a cell phone free environment - The simplest and likely best way to avoid using your cell phone during a workout is to simply not have it on you. If you don't have the phone, you cannot overuse it!

Get an app that stops you from using other apps - I know, I know: incredibly ironic, but nonetheless effective! There are apps out there that limit your ability to use apps and browsing features during specific times of the day. This allows you to move through your workout in peace and avoid all those pesky, distracting notifications.

Change your smartphone settings so you don't get distracted - This is a great method if you need your phone but are prone to overuse it. While still having the ability to call and text, you can change your settings so that notifications from social media and apps are turned off, making you less likely to get lured in by your cell phone.

Stay Up To Date On Fitness, Fashion, & More

While the disadvantages of smartphones are numerous and frightening, it is possible to avoid the alluring beeps of your smartphone by having the right attitude and a few handy tools.

If you like fitness and health, take a look at our workouts page, where we have all kinds of varying workouts for both men and women.

Whether your niche is weight loss, bodybuilding, or even if you simply enjoy healthy cooking, we have something for you!