Applying for unsecured loans online is one instance where doing so online provides as instant result; it’s easy to see just how much you can save and enables you to get all the information you need from the comfort of your home or office. And, you can do so at any time of the day or night – perfect for night owls or those people making efficient use of their lunch hour!

It isn’t just convenience that makes going online a positive approach to your personal finance. You will most likely have all the information required by a provider for an unsecured loan application at your fingertips. By placing access to unsecured loan applications on their website, the provider can save on their overheads, which results in better loan rates when you apply online.

Of course, any good lender will always have a method of contacting them, so it isn’t an inhuman process. You can always talk to someone, and if a lender has absolutely no way of contacting them, it’s wise to steer clear.

The term is being thrown around all over the place, and is fast becoming a household topic of conversation.

But the question is, what is VoIP? How does it work? And what are the benefits of using VoIP?

First of all, let’s look at what VoIP actually is…

VoIP, or internet protocol as some people call it, is the technology/means used to transmit your voice over an internal (domestic/commercial) or external (hosted) data network using IP packets. If all goes well during the transmission, the quality, volume and functionality will remain high-quality.

All data transmitted using VoIP technology must comply with the International Telecommunications Union requirements.

The term ‘VoIP’ is now more commonly being used to describe to the hardware and/or software used to transmit calls over a selected network.

IP packets, in digital form, are used to transmit the data. It’s all well and good knowing this, but what is an IP?

Well, IP stands for Internet Protocol. Every webpage has an IP address – which is a long, unique number that transmission/recipient devices use to identify and communicate with each other.

Basically, when you use the internet from home, your computer is given a unique number – which helps to monitor the data you are sending, etc.

This guide was written by Random Alan.

30 June 2010 – Business phone systems company Cloud Net, today has launched its Virtual Number Service to ensure that important business calls are always picked up and answered by an appropriate person. The service diverts calls from a UK geographic number, selected by the end-user to a mobile or a landline of choice.

Cloud Net’s Virtual Number Service is aimed at businesses on the go, such as plumbers, electricians and engineers, who are not office-based and often advertise either a mobile or a landline number.  The tradesperson’s customers can ring a lower rate landline but the call can be received on a mobile or on a landline depending on where the tradesperson is. Redirected calls are charged at Cloud Net’s standard charges.

A tradesperson can also set up multiple geographic numbers that all divert to one number, so that they can get enquiries from potential customers outside their immediate area.

The new service is also an ideal for new businesses that have not yet secured premises, but want to reserve a phone number, include it on stationery and receive calls. Reserved numbers do not even have to be in a particular area code – this is ideal for when a consumer campaign is targeted to an area other than yours. When the business is up and running, customers can move to Cloud Net’s Connect Service to take advantage of low call charges and advanced switchboard features.

“We wanted a virtual number as we work in the United States the majority of the time, so having a UK number was fundamental as it allows my customers to reach me at any time without having to pay overseas rates. Cloud Net Virtual number was ideal for us as it is cost effective at £2 per month, it was set up instantly and most of all, we never miss a call. Customers can contact us any time whether we are in the UK or overseas. The client care Cloud Net provides is excellent, there is always someone available to help with my enquiries and the virtual switchboard allows me to make changes easily if I need to divert it to another number,” said Jon Willis, Managing Director, SPS International.

“Research shows that consumers opt for services that are local to them in the first instance. For companies based in one area targeting another, the Virtual Number Service is ideal. You can select as many numbers as you like for £2/number and they will all be diverted to a location of your choice.  You can also change your number whenever you like and set up different locations for call diverting at different time intervals.  For instance, within office hours calls can be routed to a mobile and after hours, to a landline,” commented Charles Chance, Cloud Net’s MD.

Cloud Net’s Virtual Number Service be used as a standalone feature or can be coupled with its CLASS service, a live telephone answering service which will allow incoming calls to be diverted to CLASS.

“We are delighted to provide another cost-effective service that works hard for our customers’ needs.

Diverted calls are charged at Cloud Net’s standard charges; set-up costs are low at £10 (no fixed term contract) and customers can select a number of their choice and keep it for life.  There is no minimum contract either.  Customers can look through available numbers online, call and be instantly activated.  Virtual Number Service is a savvy way for SMEs to never miss a call again,” said David Hill, Chairman of Cloud Net.

For further information, please visit, www.cloudnetuk.com, call 01922 21 33 33 or email solutions@cloudnetuk.com

-ENDS-

About Cloud Net

Cloud Net supplies business phone systems to SMEs and start ups with the advantage of no capital expenditure necessary to run a professional PBX and dramatically lower running costs. Cloud Net has developed a dedicated small business VoIP network providing free calls within the network.  The company has a happy and growing customer base.  Cloud Net is privately financed and started trading in March 2009.

21 June 2010. Cloud Net has today announced a business phone package aimed to ensure that small businesses have working phone systems if a BT strike goes ahead.  In the case of a strike, business owners whose lines develop a fault could be left with no telephone lines or broadband.

Cloud Net is offering a back up phone system which can be activated in case of a fault developing on a BT line.

Cloud Net is offering BT subscribers a special package at £47.50 per handset + VAT set up cost, including a free phone, and set up to any telephone number, a powerful internet based switchboard, and the ability to cancel the contract immediately with no termination fees. Cloud Net will only bill rental charges (£8.50 per month) and call costs from the date a BT user starts to use the system.

This means if BT strikes small companies will have a complete back up plan in a box waiting to go, preconfigured, for a low cost with no commitment.

Cloud Net can either transfer existing BT numbers to Cloud Net or can set up a divert from BT and when the strike is over, BT users can switch back to BT should they wish to.

David Hill, Chairman of Cloud Net explains, “Industry accepted estimates demonstrate that on average a customer experiences a serious fault every 18 months which means that the network will degrade at the rate of about 8% a month. That is after month one 92% will still function and 84% after two if no fixes are implemented.  We believe that small businesses should be thinking of contingency plans to ensure that they have a back up phone system if the strike does take place.  If they leave it too late, they made end up scrambling around for a phone system which is not reliant on BT.”

BT employees have until 5 July to decide whether they will go on strike for the first time in 23 years.  The strike which can start as early as 12 July may have catastrophic results for BT users, whether consumers or businesses.

Unless a consumer or small business uses companies like Cloud Net, Virgin or Cable and Wireless, they could face being without phone or broadband during a strike.

Small businesses

BT provides phone services to many small businesses and most other providers use their lines for the final connections.  Hardly any small businesses use Virgin and Cable and Wireless will only supply large companies so the total network for consumers and small businesses not using Virgin or Cable and Wireless could be affected.

No engineers will come out to fix broadband or phone lines in the case of a strike, so BT customers could be left without a service as long as the strike continues.  The thought of no phone or internet is unthinkable for many households and could be the ruin of many businesses.

Can the internet break BT’s monopoly?

Unlike companies that resell BT services, the Cloud Net network is not reliant on BT engineers to fix it.  Their network is based on Voice over IP which uses the internet to make phone calls.

As long as there is a broadband connection, Cloud Net phones still work. If one connection goes down, then users can take their phones and plug them into an alternative broadband line, for example an additional line in their office. Alternatively users can take the phones home and plug it into their home broadband service and work there for the day. This means that users will still have use of their usual office phone numbers and all the switchboard features they are used to, including the ability to transfer calls within the business.”

BT pensions in the balance could further anger unions

July 12 is a critical day for BT.  BT will have its day in court over the government’s position with regard to BT’s pension fund. Which ever way the judgement goes it will inflame the union’s attitude

In addition, BT’s discussions with contractors such as Carillion to take over engineering work and BT’s intended use of middle management to carry out repairs will hardly pacify the union.

Cloud Net

David Hill, Chairman of Cloud Net says that his company can offer a robust alternative to BT so that companies can avoid being reliant on the telecoms giant and its thousands of unhappy workers.

Cloud Net can provide a greater degree of resilience than telecoms giants as its telephone systems are based on the internet.

If users want to benefit from Cloud Net, then there is no guarantee that BT will allow the porting of numbers away during the strike – so now is the time to act.

Cloud Net will still be able to configure systems in the period of a strike but may not be able to transfer numbers – so new users would have to use new telephone numbers which would not be ideal.

There are other options from Cloud Net as well to help small businesses survive the BT strike. Cloud Net will divert any call to any phone, anywhere with no divert fee and also provides a live answering service to field any incoming calls.

“The great thing is that you can keep all of this flexibility and resilience comes at very little cost. If you want a standby power supply in case the mains cuts out, it costs a fortune. If you want a standby phone system in case of strikes, there is no capital cost from Cloud Net and a very low monthly subscription,” says Charles Chance, MD of Cloud Net.

For further information, please visit, www.cloudnetuk.com, call 01922 21 33 33 or email solutions@cloudnetuk.com

-ENDS-

About Cloud Net

Cloud Net supplies business phone systems to SMEs and start ups with the advantage of no capital expenditure necessary to run a professional PBX and dramatically lower running costs. Cloud Net has developed a dedicated small business VoIP network providing free calls within the network.  The company has a happy and growing customer base.  Cloud Net is privately financed and started trading in March 2009.

Cloud Net call charges

Landline UK

Tariff (up to 4 phones) 1.2p per minute

Standard Tariff (Between 5-20 phones) 1.0p per minute

Standard Tariff (Over 21+ phones) 0.9p per minute

Mobile UK

Tariff (up to 4 phones) 9.5p per minute

Standard Tariff (Between 5-20 phones) 9.2p per minute

Standard Tariff (Over 21+ phones) 9.0p per minute

Contact for media information

For more information, to review Cloud Net services or for case studies, please contact Ranbir Sahota of Vitis PR, on 0121 242 8048, ranbir@vitispr.com

Already deployed by two Fortune 500 companies, the new retail version of the Bria for Linux softphone client, Bria 3.0, now natively supports Linux, Mac and Windows, giving enterprises a new option for extending VoIP across multiple operating systems and a broad range of devices by leveraging the CounterPath SDK and media engine. This expanded breadth gives CounterPath customers unprecedented flexibility when implementing VoIP in their organizations, enabling them to reduce communications and travel costs, while improving productivity and responsiveness.

Bria for Linux is also available for embedded products ranging from voice terminals and mobile handsets all the way to set-top boxes in addition to the desktop and laptop softphone versions.

  Bria for Linux features include support for:

  -   Multiple VoIP accounts
  -   Ubuntu 9.10 & 10.04, the world's most widely used Linux distribution
  -   A wide variety of codecs, including G.711 u/aLaw, iLBC, Speex, Speex
      WB, GSM, DV14, DV14 WB and L16 PCM WB
  -   LDAP
  -   Echo cancellation, reduced background noise, automatic gain control
      (AGC) and other mechanisms that enable clear, lifelike audio
  -   DTMF via RFC 2833 and in-band/out-of-band DTMF
  -   Speakerphone
  -   Provisioning server

“The addition of Linux highlights CounterPath’s commitment to ensuring that our softphones are robust, scalable and feature-rich, working across any platform, including both desktop or embedded,” said Todd Carothers, vice president of product management, CounterPath. “The market for VoIP applications is a growing market segment for CounterPath as we steadily expand our hardware and software offerings as the new Bria for Linux demonstrates.”

Pricing & Availability

Bria for Linux will be available worldwide in late July for a suggested retail price of US$49.95. Bria for Linux will be sold through the CounterPath Store, CounterPath’s sales team and select CounterPath Authorized Resellers.

About CounterPath

CounterPath Corporation is a leading provider of innovative desktop and mobile VoIP software products and solutions. The company’s product suite includes SIP-based softphones, server applications and Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) solutions that enable service providers, enterprises and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to cost-effectively integrate voice, video, presence and Instant Messaging (IM) applications into their VoIP offerings and extend functionality across both fixed and mobile networks.

CounterPath’s customers include some of the world’s largest telecommunications service providers and network equipment providers including AT&T, Verizon, BT (British Telecommunications PLC), Deutsche Telekom, Cisco Systems, and Mitel.

For more information visit http://www.counterpath.com/.

Disclaimer: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: CounterPath Corporation

Microsoft® announced in a post on its website that it would end sales, development, and support for its small business phone system – Response Point – on August 31, 2010.

Microsoft’s announcement comes just three years after its Response Point system was launched in a blaze of publicity.  According to Microsoft at the time of launch, only about one-third of small businesses used PBXs (or switchboards) because they were expensive and difficult to install and manage. Microsoft saw this as an opportunity to make phone systems as accessible to small businesses as PCs.

In 2007 they said “The Microsoft Response Point System will be available this year. Microsoft is not yet disclosing the pricing, but it would be “competitive” with typical small-business PBXs that cost from about $5,000 to more than $10,000”.  Its Response Point software was used by several phone makers, including Quanta, whose system was sold for a time at Costco.com.

“We believe that while Microsoft’s VoIP service was technically sound, small businesses want above all simplicity and clear pricing.  At Cloud Net, we are simplifying the purchase and use of internet based PBX systems.  Our Cloud Net Connect users are not bamboozled with a large number of hardware, software and reseller options.  All the main call features and a phone are included for a one off monthly fee, starting from £8.50.  It is not difficult to see why even a giant such as Microsoft could not sell a VoIP system that required customers to approach resellers and may have been difficult to configure for small business owners”, commented David Hill, Chairman, Cloud Net.

“We are confident that our conscientious investment into our business and consumer VoIP service  will lead our customers to agree that our internet phone service offers the best features and quality currently in the marketplace”, added Charles Chance, Managing Director of Cloud Net.

Cloud Net is not aware of any UK-based Microsoft Response Point customers currently but the company believes that its business VoIP system is the most comprehensive on the market today. There is no capital outlay required and, with a 30-day money back period, no risk involved either. Customers will benefit from a powerful internet phone system with a low-cost, inclusive subscription model.  And because it’s internet-based and updated automatically, the system is always state-of-the-art.

Microsoft’s decision to pull out of the VoIP market follows a similar decision by Tesco, in April 2010, which left its VoIP customers without a product offering.

*Cloud Net call charges

Landline UK

Tariff (up to 4 phones) 1.2p per minute

Standard Tariff (Between 5-20 phones) 1.0p per minute

Standard Tariff (Over 21+ phones) 0.9p per minute

Mobile UK

Tariff (up to 4 phones) 9.5p per minute

Standard Tariff (Between 5-20 phones) 9.2p per minute

Standard Tariff (Over 21+ phones) 9.0p per minute

For further information, please visit, www.cloudnetuk.com, call 01922 21 33 33 or email solutions@cloudnetuk.com

-ENDS-

About Cloud Net

Cloud Net supplies business phone systems to SMEs and start ups with the advantage of no capital expenditure necessary to run a professional PBX and dramatically lower running costs. Cloud Net has developed a dedicated small business VoIP network providing free calls within the network.  The company has a happy and growing customer base.  Cloud Net is privately financed and started trading in March 2009.

Contact for media information

For more information, to review Cloud Net services or for case studies, please contact Ranbir Sahota or Sara Pennant of Vitis Tech PR agency, on 0121 242 8048, ranbir@vitispr.com or sara@vitispr.com

“In addition, ongoing innovation by GENBAND in NGN technology should assure continued progress in IP migration and IMS development that is so important to our business.”

The combined company’s products are deployed at more than two-thirds of the world’s marquee service providers and encompass broad markets including fixed, mobile, cable and broadband operators. With the addition of Nortel CVAS, GENBAND now has vast resources in R&D, sales and support spanning 46 countries and delivering innovative carrier solutions that lay the groundwork for an all-IP future. GENBAND will remain headquartered in the Dallas area, with strategic product and support facilities in Ottawa, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Maidenhead, Shanghai and Beijing, as well as strategic partners in India and Turkey.

GENBAND has completed its comprehensive integration planning process and several key milestones have already been reached:

• Nearly 100% of all employment offers extended to Nortel CVAS employees have been accepted
• GENBAND has ensured that the customer and supply contracts related to the Nortel CVAS business will successfully transition to GENBAND
• GENBAND’s executive management team, reporting structure and product roadmaps have been finalized and will be announced in the coming days

“We are pleased to further our vision of fueling next generation network migration and IMS deployment through our successful acquisition of Nortel CVAS technology and talent,” said Charles D. Vogt, president and chief executive officer of GENBAND. “By creating one of the most comprehensive, standards-based, interoperable switching portfolios in the world, we will facilitate the industry’s massive and ongoing efforts to modernize networks, maximize existing investments and converge fixed and mobile infrastructures across disparate networks.”

“We are a customer today of both GENBAND and Nortel CVAS, and we expect the consolidation of the two companies’ work will provide Verizon with valuable options to continue the IP modernization of our TDM network,” said Mark Wegleitner, Sr. Vice President, Technology for Verizon. “In addition, ongoing innovation by GENBAND in NGN technology should assure continued progress in IP migration and IMS development that is so important to our business.”

“We believe that this mixture of softswitch and media gateway assets will accelerate innovation and speed to market for new technologies and network solutions,” said Tim Harden, President, Supply Chain and Fleet Operations, AT&T. “Our goal is to ensure that each investment in network infrastructure accelerates our move towards a network that enables the full promise of the Internet and other game-changing technologies.”

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with GENBAND and are pleased that their strategy provides a clear path forward for their newly combined product and service portfolio,” said Stuart Sutton, Platform Director of Cable&Wireless Worldwide.”

“As a rapidly growing nationwide communications provider, PAETEC has a significant base of both Nortel DMS-500 Class-5 switches and GENBAND next-generation gateways and call controllers in our network,” said Sanjay Hiranandani, Senior Vice President of Engineering at PAETEC. “The planned combination of these two industry leaders will give us the ability to leverage our close partnership with GENBAND to efficiently transition our voice service platform into the next generation. We believe that this acquisition is a strong move in the telecom equipment industry and will enable PAETEC to continue to grow and deliver our industry leading voice services to our nationwide customer base.”

“Every step of our integration planning has been focused on ensuring a smooth transition for our customers, partners and employees,” said Mr. Vogt. “Our management team, along with their strategic roles and responsibilities, have been finalized and seamlessly integrated to deliver full customer and employee satisfaction on day one.”

GENBAND teamed with existing shareholder One Equity Partners (OEP) to fund the acquisition and working capital requirements. OEP manages $8 billion of private equity investments for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM).

About GENBAND

GENBAND is a global leader of IP switching solutions, transforming fixed and mobile networks through IP innovation. The company offers the industry’s most comprehensive, standards-based IP switching portfolio, with products deployed in over two-thirds of the world’s marquee service provider networks. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, GENBAND operates Centers of Excellence globally and serves customers and partners in more than 80 countries. To learn more, visit us on the web at www.genband.com.

“Customers of AT&T Inc.’s U-Verse Voice said their landline phones have had no dial tones since the morning. Reached by cell phone, the customers said those who call them get a message that the line has been disconnected. Support personnel are telling customers that a server crash brought down U-Verse Voice in AT&T’s entire 22-state local-phone service area,” Svensson writes.

“AT&T spokeswoman Mari Melguizo said the outage started at about 10:30 a.m., and service was restored to most subscribers at 2:45 p.m. She said the extent the outage was unknown.” Svensson reports.

Click the link below to read the full AP story:
Widespread outage for AT&T’s digital phone lines

In order to keep steady presence on the continent, Jerasoft opened their representative office in Argentina this year, based on Musurit S.R.L. company.

That’s why only for companies of Latin America continent, and only until the end of this year, JERASOFT OFFERS:

* 50% discount off price for on-site training;
* Flexible payment terms (financing the purchase up to 4 quotas);
* Total purchase discount from 3% to 10% (depending on your BillBery license package).

Jerasoft Development is one of the world famous developers and integrators of VoIP billing solutions of the highest level and quality. BillBery 3.0.5 billing platform created by JeraSoft Development possesses the high production level and errors resistance, and also supports dynamic routing on wide spectrum of gateways. JeraSoft offers methods of management of Mobile Number Portability, which allow VoIP providers to release any MNP billing scenarios without losing their edge in provisioning of more common services.

Argentinean company Musurit S.R.L. (www.musurit.com) is a well known south-american telephone carrier. From now on, Musurit S.R.L. will represent JeraSoft in all CALA countries, which allows us to expand onto bubbling VoIP market of countries of Latin America and provide quality VoIP billing solutions in that region.

CTI Group has added BroadSoft partners SimpleSignal, BroadConnect and Velocity Networks as well as the Cisco Gold partners NETech, Fusion Storm, SMS proTech and Avance. CTI Group’s entire portfolio of call recording and call accounting applications are scalable meaning resellers can offer each customer its own tailored telephony package.

John Birbeck, President and CEO of CTI Group, commented, “We are delighted to have signed so many key partners through both our hosted and customer premise based channels and believe that at the heart of this remarkable growth is SmartRecord’s open and VMware Ready architecture. In SmartRecord, CTI Group has developed a truly flexible, unified infrastructure for hosted and premise based call recording that aligns nicely with Proteus, CTI Group’s market leading call management solution, which has a rich legacy of unsurpassed ROI.

“CTI Group has more than 30 years experience in building and developing carrier grade call management and call recording applications. It is this knowledge, technical expertise and understanding of the market that allows us to work with our channel partners to ensure they are able to provide the solution that best meets their customers’ needs.”

For more information, please visit www.ctigroup.com.

About CTI Group
CTI Group Holdings Inc. is an international provider of electronic invoice processing and management, enterprise communications management software and services solutions, and carrier class voice over internet protocol (VoIP) management applications. CTI Group’s SmartBill®, SmartRecord® and Proteus® product suites offer a full array of solutions for traffic analysis, post-billing call analysis, customer care and call recording. CTI Group’s products are used by some of the top service providers in North America and the United Kingdom, and play a trusted role in managing telephony costs at major corporations internationally. Headquartered in Indianapolis, CTI Group maintains overseas offices in London and Blackburn, UK. For more information, please visit CTI Group’s website at www.ctigroup.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release may contain “forward-looking” statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (a) projections of revenue, capital expenditures, growth, prospects, dividends, capital structure and other financial matters; (b) statements of plans and objectives of CTI Group or its management or Board of Directors; (c) statements of future economic performance; (d) statements of assumptions underlying other statements and statements about CTI Group and its business relating to the future; and (e) any statements using the words “could,” “should,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “may,” “project,” “intend,” “will,” “believe” or similar expressions. CTI Group’s ability to predict projected results or the effect of events on CTI Group’s operating results is inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this document. These factors include, but are not limited to: effects of current economic crisis, ability to attract and retain customers to purchase its products, ability to develop or launch new software products, technological advances by third parties and competition, ability to protect the Company’s patented technology, ability to obtain settlements in connection with its patent enforcement activities and risks described in CTI Group’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Readers are referred to documents filed by CTI Group with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-K for its most year ended December 31, 2009.