http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/using-swarovski-crystal-beads-for-making-beaded-jewellery.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/using-swarovski-crystal-beads-for-making-beaded-jewellery.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:10:44 -0600
Swarovski crystal beads have been a staple in jewellery making for over 100 years and are still as popular today as they were in Edwardian times. They're ideal for brightening up a tired piece of jewellery by simply restringing an existing necklace and interspersing Swarovski crystals throughout the pattern. All you will need to do this is your original necklace, a new length of beading thread, a beading needle, a sharp pair of scissors and a new clasp and jump rings to complete the project. You will also need a pair of flat nosed jeweller's pliers to put the clasp and links onto the ends of the necklace and of course, a selection of Swarovski crystals. Using a little care (and a tray to catch any beads that fall from the original necklace, otherwise you could spend an inordinate amount of time on your hands and knees looking for that lost bead!), destring the original piece with care. Decide how you want to re-create the necklace, incorporating the Swarovski crystals into the design and choosing crystals that correspond in colour with your original beads. Swarovski crystal beads come in a rainbow of different colours, so there should be a colour to match any necklace.

Thread your beading needle with the new beading thread and tie a knot about four to six inches in and place an ‘anchor bead' at the end of the new thread. This will prevent your beads slipping off the end as you place thread them onto the new necklace. At this point you can let your imagination take over. How you restring the necklace is entirely up to you, depending on the effect you wish to create. If you want to create a shorter, multi-stranded necklace out of a single strand of beads, remember to divide up your beads evenly before beginning. If you're not sure, try laying the design out first on a flat surface before committing the beads to your new thread. Once you have completed your first strand, remembering to intersperse your Swarovski crystals where appropriate, finish with a second anchor bead and tie off the thread.

Depending on how many beads you have available and what kind of effect you wish to create, repeat the process. Try making each strand a slightly different length from the first for a layered look to really capture the beauty of each individual bead. Once you have your re-threaded strands of beads, draw the ends of the thread through a crimp bead and make a multi-stranded loop, drawing the tail ends back through the crimp bead. Close the crimp bead to form a sealed end and trim any loose threads off with the scissors. Repeat the process with the other ends. This will give you a single, multi-stranded necklace. Attach your jump ring to one loop and the corresponding catch to the other and instantly you have a beautiful necklace recycled from an old piece of jewellery and transformed by the simple inclusion of sparkling, iridescent Swarovski crystals.

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Adam Hunter - E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including Swarovski crystal beads, jewellery tools, precious metal clay, gemstones and gold and silver sheet - gold, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students.

Contacts
Adam Hunter
E-commerce Marketing Manager
Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491
E-mail: adam.hunter@cooksongold.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/soldering-jump-rings-using-sterling-silver-solder.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/soldering-jump-rings-using-sterling-silver-solder.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:06:24 -0600 silver solder and conforms to the same hallmarking standards as the findings to be able to call your jewellery ‘sterling' silver.

Soldering is actually far easier than you may first assume. You do need to ensure that your work surface is heat resistant and that you have considered all safety issues before beginning. Make sure the area you are working in is free from clutter and well ventilated and that you have prepared your equipment before starting. A pair of safety goggles is a worthwhile investment as they protect your eyes if impurities in the silver or silver solder cause the liquid metal to ‘spit'. The easiest and most controllable heat source to work with is a butane torch, which is very similar to the kind used in kitchens. These are perfect for small jobs such as soldering jump rings. You will also need flux, a charcoal block, safety pickle and a pickle pot and tongs (copper or plastic). An optional extra, and one that can help you a great deal in particularly fiddly jobs, is what is commonly referred to as a ‘helping' or ‘third' hand. This is a tabletop tool that has crocodile clamps that can be angled to hold your work in place, leaving both hands free to work.

Before you begin soldering, make sure that your jump ring is spotlessly clean with no grease marks or dust on the surface. Ensure that the seams of the jump ring fit together cleanly. Solder does not fill gaps, so a good tight fit is essential for a quality finish. Make sure the two ends of the jump ring spring together, as you will be using this tension to hold the final shape of the jump ring. If necessary, use a fine jeweller's file to flatten off the ends so that they meet perfectly.

Place the jump ring on the charcoal block or in the ‘helping hands' clips and carefully put a very small amount of flux on the join. Flux is a chemical cleaning agent that removes any silver oxide from the surface of the jump ring and also allows the solder to flow freely when heated. Silver solder is normally sold as a thin sheet of solder that can be cut with jeweller's snips into the right size for each job. Place a small piece of solder on the seam (the flux will also act as a binding agent to hold the solder in place). Once you are happy with the position of the solder, gently apply the heat to the solder, keeping the flame moving rather than focused in one spot so that the solder flows evenly across and into the seam. As soon as the solder liquefies, remove the heat and allow the jump ring to cool. As soon as it is cool, place it in the pickle bath to remove any oxidation. You can then rinse the jump ring in a solution of water and baking soda, which neutralises the acid of the pickle bath, and give it a final polish.

Your jump ring is now ready to use on your final piece and will give you a professional finish and secure fitting for any clasps you wish to add. With practice, silver soldering is easy to master and will raise the standard of your work above the ordinary and into the realms of the professional.

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Adam Hunter - E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including Sterling silver solder, jewellery tools, precious metal clay, gemstones and gold and silver sheet - gold, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students.

Contacts
Adam Hunter
E-commerce Marketing Manager
Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491
E-mail: adam.hunter@cooksongold.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/making-a-swarovski-crystal-bead-bracelet.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/making-a-swarovski-crystal-bead-bracelet.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:03:58 -0600
To create a beautiful Swarovski crystal bead bracelet, you will need a packet of size 15 seed beads, 24 small pearls and 36 small Swarovski crystal beads. Cut a length of beading thread approximately 1.5metres and thread it onto a beading needle. About 15cm from the end, attach a bead stopper. Each bead always has a seed bead either side of the crystal or pearl. So always add on bead "units" for example, one seed beads one crystal (or pearl) then one seed bead, every time you need to add on beads. Thread on four small crystal units: one seed bead, one crystal, one seed bead, four times. Allow the beads to fall down near your bead stopper. Pass needle through the bottom of the first small crystal unit and then pull the thread so the beads form a circle or a square.

Tie a small knot between the seed beads where your needle is and then continue to pass the needle through the next small crystal unit. The needle always comes out of the bottom crystal or pearl unit ready to add the next circle. Add on one small crystal unit, one small pearl unit and one small crystal unit. Pass the needle through the next small crystal unit (on the circle you have just added on) then through small pearl unit. Add on three small pearl units, then pass the needle through the existing small pearl unit on the previous circle, and then pull thread up. You will now have three adjoining circles. Pass the needle through the next two small pearl units. Add on three small crystal units and pass the needle through the small unit from the previous circle. Then repeat the process with the next two small crystal units until you have four adjoining circles. Continue adding on units until you have three complete small pearl unit circles.

You can carry on with this pattern to create an interlinked bracelet of circles, emphasising the Swarovski crystals and creating a glittering effect. If you wish to get a little more adventurous you can add ‘feature beads' onto the design to create a focal point on the bracelet that will draw the eye. But the beauty of Swarovski crystals is their adaptability, versatility and the ease with which they will fit into almost any design you choose. For a very simple but stylish effect, add Swarovski crystals to a simple silver chain to produce a ‘charm bracelet' of crystals. Using a pin style earring wire, thread your crystal onto the wire and bend the end of the wire around a pair of round-nosed pliers to form a loop. Trim the excess wire off with a pair of jeweller's wire-cutters and bend the loop back so that the crystal hangs freely. Attach the crystal to your silver chain and close the loop, soldering the join to be extra sure that your crystal doesn't come off too easily. By spacing a variety of Swarovski crystals around the bracelet you can achieve the look you want. The beauty of this simple design is that when you grow bored of the colours you can simply remove the crystals and replace them with new ones to suit your mood or this season's latest fashion colours. Swarovski crystal beads are fun, versatile and beautiful and make the perfect addition to almost any jewellery design.

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Adam Hunter - E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including all types of Swarovski crystal beads. Other items include - jewellery tools, precious metal clay, gemstones and gold and silver sheet - gold, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students.

Contacts
Adam Hunter
E-commerce Marketing Manager
Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491
E-mail: adam.hunter@cooksongold.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/how-to-make-a-silver-clay-ring-using-precious-metal-clay.html http://www.articletrader.com/home-and-family/hobbies/how-to-make-a-silver-clay-ring-using-precious-metal-clay.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:47:53 -0600
Ideal for almost any application, silver clay (PMC is also available in gold) is an ideal way to make intricate silver findings, silver beads or even silver rings. Making a clasp finding or ring is basically the same process and involves some specialist equipment, but nothing that is beyond the reach of most competent hobby jewellery makers. Modern silver clay can be fired in a conventional oven, although if you are serious about using PMC in your jewellery making it may be wise to invest in a small kiln where the firing temperature can be more accurately controlled. Firing temperature for the clay is around 1500 degrees F and takes around 10 minutes depending on the nature of the clay and the design. Although precious metal clay does still suffer from a certain degree of shrinkage once fired, the modern versions of PMC are far less prone to this problem than the earlier forms of the clay. If you are working with smaller pieces, a kiln or oven can be replaced with a jeweller's gas torch and the heat applied directly to the clay to achieve the same result.

Because of its malleable properties, precious metal clay is ideal for making patterned objects that would otherwise require casting or engraving to achieve the same effect. The clay takes a ‘transfer' pattern extremely well - by simply pressing a patterned surface into the clay a unique texture can be achieved, even on the smallest of PMC beads or silver findings. Once fired, the final piece can be polished and because the binding agents burn off in the firing process, the resulting piece is almost pure silver and can be finished in exactly the same way as any other piece of silver jewellery.

Making a silver ring or finding is simplicity itself. Once you have the correct size of the ring you wish to make (remembering to allow at least 10% shrinkage in your final piece), a simple loop of clay can be formed around a ring mandrel. A useful tip is to wrap a self-adhesive note around the mandrel and place a tiny amount of oil on the surface to stop the clay sticking to the mandrel. Form your ring from a rolled-out length of clay approximately 1mm thick and wrap it around the mandrel, joining the two ends together carefully to ensure that there is no obvious join. Allow the ring to dry naturally and remove it from the mandrel once it feels dry and firm. You can now use fine jeweller's files to smooth any rough edges and shape your ring. Place the ring on a heat resistant surface and apply the heat from the lit torch. The ring will begin to discolour and produce a small flame after about 30 seconds. Continue to fire the clay until the ring gives off a slight orange glow. This should take between three and five minutes. Once this point is reached, remove the heat and pick the ring up with tweezers and very carefully submerse it in cool water.

Once the ring is completely cool, it can be cleaned with a stainless steel brush until the white residue has been removed and a shiny surface is achieved. Your PMC ring can now be used in your final jewellery design.

Precious metal clay is simple to use and opens up a world of possibilities in jewellery making. It is no surprise that the popularity of this adaptable material continues to grow.

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Adam Hunter - E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including all types of precious metal clay (PMC) - art clay and silver clay. Other items include - jewellery tools, precious metal clay, gemstones and gold and silver sheet - gold, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students.

Contacts
Adam Hunter
E-commerce Marketing Manager
Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491
E-mail: adam.hunter@cooksongold.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/technology/voip/how-others-use-voip-to-make-cheap-calls-to-both-india-and-pakistan.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/voip/how-others-use-voip-to-make-cheap-calls-to-both-india-and-pakistan.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:50:37 -0500
VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol technology is revolutionising the way we talk to each other. Rather than using a traditional telephone system, VoIP uses the Internet to link you and the person you're calling. To make VoIP calls to India or Pakistan, all you need is a home phone handset, broadband connection and the software or adapter. The real benefit of this system is that because of the way VoIP transmits data, there is no way to specify the origin of the call, so as far as the Internet is concerned, when you make a VoIP call from, say, Birmingham or London, you could be calling Islamabad or Delhi, or you could be calling your neighbour next door. This drives down the price and makes using VoIP incredibly cheap for international calls. So you never again need to worry about calls to Pakistan or India costing the earth.

The best way to get the lowest price for your international VoIP calls is to sign up with a VoIP provider. Once you have subscribed to their service, you will receive a telephone adapter that connects your digital landline telephone to your broadband modem or router. And that's all it involves - you're ready to make calls to India and Pakistan in exactly the same way as you would with a normal telephone system, but much more cheaply because the service uses your broadband rather than your landline. VoIP providers can design your package around your telephone usage. So if you have relatives in India or Pakistan, but you don't need to call the USA or Australia, you can specify which countries you call most often. This means that you will be able to make cheap calls to anywhere in India or Pakistan whenever you want to. The people you're calling don't have to have broadband - they can receive your calls on their standard digital telephone handset, just as before.

Another useful function of VoIP is that you don't have to use your home phone to call India or Pakistan. The number is allocated to the person rather than the actual address, so as long as you have your adapter and access to a broadband connection and a telephone, you can use your VoIP service. Any calls to India and Pakistan are charged to your account, no matter where in the world you call from.

The cheapest way to make VoIP calls is what's known as ‘PC to PC'. As the name suggests, callers use their computers as telephones to speak to each other, using a microphone, speaker and the broadband connection. Although this is the cheapest method of all (free!), it does mean that you are tied to the computer. The person you're calling in India or Pakistan also has to be online at the same time to receive your call. This method does not allow you to make free calls to mobiles or ordinary landline phones - you will be charged by the minute and the costs can quickly mount. The better alternative, particularly if you call certain numbers on a regular basis, is to sign up with a VoIP provider who will be able to offer you a package that includes unlimited cheap calls to India or cheap calls to Pakistan for a fixed, monthly sum. You will also find that the sound quality on VoIP provider's systems is far better: there is no delay or ‘echo' effect, and there is less risk of the connection being interrupted or broken.

During a time of economic recession, when every penny counts, saving money on international calls is worth exploring, particularly if you are looking for a provider who can offer you a package to suit your telephone habits. By using VoIP to make cheap calls to India and Pakistan, you can stay in touch with your family and friends far more easily, and the distance between you and your loved ones will seem that little bit smaller as a result.

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Costas Kariolis - Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading VoIP (Voice over IP) providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap calls to India and cheap calls to Pakistan landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee.

For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact:
Costas Kariolis
Online Marketing Manager
E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/management/using-vehicle-tracker-systems-to-prevent-fleet-misuse.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/management/using-vehicle-tracker-systems-to-prevent-fleet-misuse.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:15:50 -0500
Using vehicle tracking isn't just a way of keeping tabs on your fleet drivers and preventing fleet misuse. They can also represent a sound investment into your business and a way of optimising fleet efficiency, as well as stopping unauthorised usage of company vehicles outside working hours. GPS tracking uses a triangulating algorithm to give the precise location of any vehicle it is fitted to. GPS devices are small, lightweight and easily fitted to your fleet vehicles. The information the vehicle tracker sends back to your control centre can not only tell you exactly where your vehicles are at any one time - they can also provide you with detailed information about the use of the vehicle, speed, fuel usage and a wealth of other information. This can all be incorporated into your fleet management plan to maximise efficiency, plan the most effective routes for collections and deliveries and actually reduce costs in the long term.

But for preventing the misuse of company vehicles, vehicle tracking systems give you an ‘eye in the cab' of every vehicle. Apart from unauthorised usage (which can be easily traced as the GPS devices will tell you if the vehicles are being used out of normal working hours), GPS tracking can also give you information about the speed of vehicles. Not only does speeding use up more fuel and subsequently increase your costs, but it is also dangerous and illegal. Despite the ‘How's my driving' stickers on the back of many company vehicles, the public is often reluctant to report dangerous driving or excessive speeding. By incorporating GPS tracking into your fleet management programme, you can get this data direct from the vehicles themselves. This gives you the ability to talk to drivers who are constantly speeding or driving in a manner that may cause concern. Remember; your drivers represent your company. If your drivers are misusing the vehicles, it will ultimately reflect badly on your company's reputation as a responsible organisation. The cost element is also important - major fleets that have used GPS tracking systems have been able to reduce their annual fuel bill by up to 40%, thanks to the information provided by vehicle tracking systems.

Fitting GPS tracking to your fleet vehicles can also help to recover stolen vehicles much more quickly, minimising the impact to your business. GPS tracking will be able to notify you of any unauthorised movement outside working hours, allowing you to inform the Police far earlier of stolen vehicles and maximising the chances of recovering the vehicle undamaged. It also benefits your company financially, as insurance brokers often offer substantial insurance discounts for fleets fitted with what are considered to be anti-theft devices such as GPS tracking systems.

Incorporating vehicle tracking systems into your fleet management is an excellent way to protect the company's substantial investment in its fleet, minimise inappropriate usage and maximise efficiency at the same time.

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Kent Stabler - Marketing Manager - Chameleon Direct are suppliers of gps vehicle tracker systems, gps tracking devices, hands free car kits and speed camera detector equipment. Our vehicle tracking aims at helping improve your fleet management. With over 1 Million UK customers Chameleon Direct also provide hands free installation services.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/technology/real-time-vehicle-tracking-explained.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/real-time-vehicle-tracking-explained.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:06:12 -0500
Real time tracking calculates the exact position of a vehicle at the current time and updates it constantly as time and the vehicle's position changes. Information concerning the tracked vehicle is not delayed or recorded for post-analysis, but uses accurate GPS positioning and the mobile phone network for communication, updating in real time over the phone. GPS systems that utilise the satellite-based network rather than just relying on the mobile phone network have the advantage of extended coverage; helpful if your fleet operates in more remote locations.

Different technologies are used in real time vehicle tracking systems including vehicle tag-based AVI and video image processing. While these commercial image processing systems work well in free-flowing traffic, they tend to be less effective in congested situations or where built up areas cause shadows and lighting transitions to ‘mask' the location of the vehicle.

Knowing exactly where your vehicles are in real time gives the fleet manager a huge advantage. It enables you to be far more streamlined in your operation, giving you the ability to make changes to planned routes in case of emergencies, breakdowns or other variables that may interfere with the usual routes taken by your vehicles. Something as simple as road works may mean that a planned collection from a customer is delayed. By utilising real time GPS tracking, a fleet manager can redirect the nearest vehicle to a destination, saving time, money and, most importantly, keeping the customer happy.

Real time tracking can also help fleet managers to ‘keep an eye in the cab' of every vehicle on the road. The data sent back can immediately tell fleet managers of any deviation from set routes, whether drivers are using excessive speed or even help drivers out if they get lost. Real time tracking can also be used in emergency situations to notify Police or emergency services of the exact location of a vehicle if it is stolen or involved in an accident. This also gives a fleet manager the ability to re-route other vehicles to cover the deliveries or pick-ups effected by such a situation.

GPS tracking not only tells fleet managers about the vehicle, it can also be employed to keep track of the cargo as well. GPS trailer tracking are an excellent method of keeping track of the cargo being transported by the vehicle, particularly important if the goods are perishable or time-sensitive. The most up to date systems even employ 3D modelling, which involves recovering trajectories and models with high accuracy. These systems work well on small to medium sized fleets, but can become inherently complex on larger fleets. Region-based real time tracking uses a system of overlays identifying a connected region in the image associated with each vehicle and tracks it over time using a cross-correlation algorithm.

Modern real time vehicle tracking systems are becoming increasingly complex, but the information they provide is invaluable to effective fleet management. Although expensive to begin with, the long-term savings for any sized fleet can be considerable.

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Kent Stabler - Marketing Manager - Chameleon Direct are suppliers of gps vehicle tracking systems, gps tracking devices and hands free car kits. Our fleet management system aims at helping improve your fleet operation and efficiency using vehicle tracking.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/management/how-to-save-money-using-fleet-management-systems.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/management/how-to-save-money-using-fleet-management-systems.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:27:14 -0500
Fleet management can be dealt with in-house, or alternatively it can be outsourced to a fleet management provider. Whether you choose to go down the self-management route or bring in a third party to do your fleet management for you, there are a number of tools at your disposal to help you save money. The most obvious is the inclusion of a GPS vehicle tracking system that relays real-time information to a central control, telling you exactly where all your fleet vehicles are at any time. Vehicle tracking systems don't just tell you where your vehicles are - they can also give you diagnostic information regarding speed, fuel consumption and other operational aspects. By analysing this data, fleet managers can work out the most cost-effective routes, reduce fuel consumption due to excessive use of speed and streamline the operation making it more efficient.

Collating the data from the onboard computer and from data fed back to the base station also gives fleet managers the ability to ‘profile' their drivers. If a driver is constantly speeding, a fleet manager will be able to chart this behaviour and find out the reason for it. If the driver is rushing to meet deadlines then the manager has the chance to re-plan the driver's route, allowing him or her more time to meet deadlines and reduce fuel consumption as a result. Where fleet management systems have been incorporated into large organisations, a saving of up to 40% on annual fuel bills have been achieved - particularly important when you consider the constantly rising price of fuel.

Vehicle trackers can also help to reduce your fleet's annual insurance costs. Insurance providers reward any attempts by fleet managers to minimise the chances of vehicles being stolen or used inappropriately, so by fitting a vehicle tracking system to your fleet vehicles you can also make considerable savings on your insurance premiums. Real time tracking also means faster recovery of stolen vehicles, minimising the impact to your daily operations and costing less in repairs or even replacing stolen and damaged vehicles.

Fleet management systems are designed to streamline operations, cut costs and increase efficiency. All of these will result in long-term savings to the company as a whole, and while the initial outlay of installing GPS tracking or fleet management system may seem high, the long-term benefits to the company far outweigh the initial expense. It also means that the company is more likely to be fully compliant with any legislation, the duty of care to employees and prove to be a worthwhile investment, no matter how big or small your fleet.

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Kent Stabler - Marketing Manager - Chameleon Direct are suppliers of gps vehicle tracking systems, gps tracking devices, hands free car kits and speed camera detector equipment. Our vehicle tracking aims at helping improve your fleet management. With over 1 Million UK customers Chameleon Direct also provide hands free installation services.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/management/deciding-between-the-fleet-management-vehicle-tracking-systems-available.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/management/deciding-between-the-fleet-management-vehicle-tracking-systems-available.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:13:45 -0500
The primary concern initially is the cost. Comprehensive fleet management systems don't come cheap, but the initial financial outlay has to be considered against the long-term potential savings to the company as a whole. Some operators have seen their fuel bills alone reduced by up to 40% per annum - a considerable and ongoing saving, particularly during a time when oil prices are driving up costs at the pump. Savings in fuel costs alone can often justify the initial cost of a vehicle tracking system.

However, there are free options available. Google and Locatea.net both offer a free GPS tracking system. Google's ‘Latitude' is a free access system showing participants their exact location on the planet and the location of their friends and family who have also signed up to the system. Locatea.net works in a very similar way, giving an accurate location of everyone that wants to be involved in the network. But therein lies the weakness of both systems - they are not designed for business users. Rather, their appeal lies more in the ‘social networking' aspect of online communications - basically, they're a bit of fun that you can join if you want to. It's just as easy to opt out of the system. For accurate, useable information that can make a real difference to your business, fleet managers are better off steering clear of the free packages and looking for more specialised adaptations of GPS tracking software.

Paid vehicle tracking is different. It is specifically designed for business users and allows fleet managers to monitor and control exactly how their fleet operates. Putting aside the obvious benefits of paid tracking systems - real time locations, diagnostics and fuel consumption data etc - paid for tracking also guarantees the end-user a far more comprehensive aftercare service. With some ‘plug and play' systems, software updates, patches or general aftercare maintenance of the system can be an expensive extra, with the additional extras being limited to maps, for example. Fully comprehensive services offer this invaluable extra as part of the package, ensuring that your system is kept up to date with not only the latest maps, but also the most up to date diagnostic capabilities, general maintenance and repair in the event of anything going wrong. Updates, hardware and software are also covered by a manufacturer's warranty, which means that your system is always working at maximum efficiency. Free systems tend to rely on generic updates, which may not have the additional features included as part of the package.

Like any other product, vehicle tracking systems are a product that is designed to fulfil a particular niche in the market. There are plenty of systems to choose from, so the fleet manager's first step is to do a bit of in-house research, decide exactly what they want their GPS tracking system to achieve and weigh up the benefits of each system individually in relation to their own business needs. Vehicle tracking systems provide fleet managers with a powerful tool in their business strategy to maximise efficiency and maintain a well run, cost-effective fleet. It should be a considered business decision and one that takes into account the long-term benefits as well as the short-term initial outlay.

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Kent Stabler - Marketing Manager - Chameleon Direct are suppliers of gps vehicle tracking systems, gps tracking devices, hands free car kits and speed camera detector equipment. Our vehicle tracking aims at helping improve your fleet management. With over 1 Million UK customers Chameleon Direct also provide hands free installation services.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/technology/voip/everyday-people-and-even-businesses-use-voip-to-make-cheap-calls-to-pakistan.html http://www.articletrader.com/technology/voip/everyday-people-and-even-businesses-use-voip-to-make-cheap-calls-to-pakistan.html Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:06:08 -0500
Of course, there is email, but that can come across as impersonal. Sometimes, only a phone call will do. If you live in London, and your cousin is celebrating a significant birthday in Islamabad, you probably wouldn't want to just send her an email. This is especially true of business communications: there are certain exchanges for which email will do, but there are other times when it has to involve a phone call. With Pakistan's resurgence as a business supporter and generator across the globe, it's easy to see why telephone communication is becoming such an issue.

Fortunately, developments in communications technology now mean that cheap calls to Pakistan are a reality for friends, family and businesses worldwide. VoIP technology offers convenience and cost-efficiency in one package. Users who decide to take advantage of the cheap calls to Pakistan offered by VoIP service providers typically need three things:

1. a traditional landline or digital phone
2. a broadband connection
3. a VoIP adapter

This adapter connects their ordinary landline telephone to their existing broadband connection. This set-up allows them to then make and receive cheap calls to and from Pakistan. With few wires to maintain and much less paperwork to worry about, VoIP providers are able to keep their costs right down, and pass on the savings to their customers. VoIP calls to Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi or anywhere else in Pakistan are a fraction of the cost of traditional phone lines. Depending on the call plans the VoIP provider offers, you'll probably be able to make calls to landlines in various other countries for free.

Of course, different VoIP providers offer different benefits. Some may offer a low cost per minute rate to specific countries. Others offer a capped or unlimited subscription fee. You simply work out which country or countries you want to be able to call and pick a package that suits you. Your bill will be capped and include unlimited calls to the countries in that package, no matter how many times you call. This means that you can call much more frequently, at a fraction of the cost of standard phones. It's perfect for friends and family who live in different parts of the world, and vital for businesses that need to stay in touch with international colleagues or clients. At the end of each month, your bill will be the same. If you need to call a country that's not in your call plan, you can do that, too, as VoIP providers can offer international tariffs that are extremely competitive. The best advice for potential customers is to shop around.

Another major breakthrough of VoIP services is call manageability. This means that there are many more ways you can keep track of any calls you make to Pakistan, or anywhere else, thanks to the extra web-based services that VoIP offers. For instance, you can set up your account to reject anonymous calls, forward calls to another number your mobile, for example, return calls alert you to a call waiting. So you'll never miss an important call from family or clients in Pakistan. You can manage all these features from your web based control panel, which means that you have full control over your VoIP line, no matter where in the world you are.

With the cost of International calls climbing, it's probably just a matter of time before we all turn our backs on conventional telephones and use VoIP to make all our calls.

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Costas Kariolis - Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading VoIP providers of cheap phone calls for home & small business users. Offering cheap calls to Pakistan landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee.

For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact:
Costas Kariolis
Online Marketing Manager
E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>