Make Calls Around the World

When you're out travelling the world, it's important to be able to connect to friends and family back home so you can share stories of your travels and learn about the things that have happened while you've been away. However, being half way across the world and using a traditional mobile phone package to call home can put a significant strain on your travel budget.

When you're travelling far from home, for long periods of time, it can be both comforting and reassuring to be able to hear the voice of a friend or family member on the other line. While staying in touch via email or through the use of various social media sites is a great method to help keep in touch, it just can't replace the feeling of talking to your loved ones on the phone.

To do so - and also to help save money and make calling easy - consider taking your mobile phone with you to stay in touch with your loved ones. Hotel and public phones can have expensive charges, and if you ever get carried away chatting to someone special back home, you might hang up to an expensive bill when the call is over. By bringing your mobile phone with you, you can avoid any hidden or unexpected charges.

However, instead of using the SIM card you use regularly, you might want to consider getting an international SIM card instead. This will help you make sure you can call home wherever you are and whenever you like, at a much lower price. The other advantage of getting an international SIM card is that often, SIM providers will be able to offer better deals than your home carrier, and often offer bonus credits when you recharge your SIM on the go. Definitely more cost efficient than calling home whilst using what might be considered a more "traditional" mobile phone package.

Keeping in touch with friends and family on your travels is easy when you take advantage of cut price phone calls to reach people from back home. An international sim card will help you phone home for less and hear all the exciting news while you're away, and after a chat back home you can get back to your adventure and enjoy all the sights and sounds on your travels without feeling like you're missing out on anything that's happening back where your heart is.

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The Exciting World of Cheap Contract Phones

There's no denying of the fact that the dropping prices of cell phones is one of the most important reasons behind their popularity. We all remember the days when owning a mobile phone was considered to be something of a luxury which only a handful could afford. The handsets were exorbitantly priced and even the though of owning one by a common man was considered to be sacrilege.

As the number of companies manufacturing mobile phones increased and competition spread across continents, the price of a handset began coming down. Companies realized that the price of a mobile phone was undeniably the most major determinant as to whether it would be popular or not.

But what about the phones that comprised cutting edge technology? These phones, certainly, can't be offered at rock bottom prices. Mobile phone companies were found scratching their heads on how to sell these phones.

It was at this point of time that the concept of a contract phone was mooted. The idea was simple. Offer the handset under a contract to the customer whereby the customer would hire the phone for a particular period of time for a fixed monthly fee. This made high-end mobile phones come within the reach of the common man.

In fact, so much was the popularity of these contract phone deals that companies even started offering cheaper handsets under cheap contract phone deals. A cheap contract phone is almost like adding wings to a customer's dream of owning his favorite mobile phone at a reasonable price. Cheap contract phones usually come with a free handset and many associated benefits. These often include free talk-time, free messages and a host of other features.

Today, companies are offering even the latest smartphones under cheap contract phone deals. Consumers can extract several advantages from the mobile service provider when he enters into a contract which usually ranges between six to 18 months. The period, however, varies between service providers. The advantages that a user gets when he subscribes to a cheap contract phone deal includes reduced call charges, free roaming, discounted charges on data access etc. Many companies, these days, are even offering a second handset to a customer who is subscribing to a cheap contract phone deal.

Cheap contract phones are a win-win situation for both the service provider and the customer. While the service provider or carrier can lock in the customer for a specific period of time and get assured revenues as the customer can't change the carrier before the term expires, the customer is relieved of hassles to recharge his balance after a month so that he can continue talking. Besides, the customer gets to own a handset of his choice which otherwise would have been quite expensive and impossible for him to afford.

So if you're still in two minds whether a cheap contract phone deal would suit you, subscribe to one such deal and be a part of abundant enjoyment. You won't regret it for the rest of your life.

Select from the best cheap cell phones, attractive mobile phone deals, cheap handsets & economical call plans.

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The Changing World of Technology - From Party Lines to Siri

On October 14th, my new iPhone was delivered. Moving up from the iPhone 3G - getting this phone was a huge treat. In fact, with the 3G, I could never totally understand all the iPhone hype. But this 4S is fantastic. Even though I also own an iPad - I use the phone to surf the web and do lots of other things.

But the feature I love the most is Siri. I must admit, we had our problems at first because we didn't always seem to understand each other but now we are good friends. I can be in the middle of something and quickly have her write a reminder for me. She sends emails and text messages for me and even knows my name. How things have changed during my lifetime.

When I was a little girl, we lived in Washington, DC and had no air-conditioning (I am not even sure it was invented back in the 40s). For those of you who have spent a summer in DC, you will understand when I say that area can be worse than miserable at that time of year.

As a result, almost every summer, my mother packed up the kids and would go up to Cazenova, NY to visit my grandparents. My father would take leave and come up for several weeks. The year I was born, they had built a cottage on their property, so we had separate living quarters, which was an ideal situation.

One of my strongest memories of those days was my grandparents picking up their phone and asking the operator to dial a number for them. But they only reached the operator if no one else was using their shared line. And there was no such things as an actual dial feature on any of their phones.

At our house, we had a black rotary phone with a dial that clicked every time the wheel was turned. If I remember correctly, our phone number was something like MA-1212. Area codes were a long way off in the future. My parents had been given a choice of a party or private line - they elected the more expensive route and picked the private one. To call long distance, we had to dial "O" to get an operator to call the number for us.

Calling long distance was expensive - especially for those days. Twenty-five cents a minute wasn't unheard of. So we kept in touch by writing letters - calling long distance was used for such things as emergencies or very special occasions. To put it into context, the mailman also walked from house to house with a big leather pouch on his back - people either had a mail box by their front door or there was a mail slot built in the door.

My parents, who have been deceased for a number of years, would be blown away if they could see the world as it is today. My father, who died in 1987 didn't even know what a PC was. My mother lived until 1998 but during her last years she was so senile she didn't have much of an idea as to what was going on around her.

Now look at us. Little did I dream, even 5 years ago that my phone would call me Ellen. And even funnier, I find I thank her when she helps me out. How crazy is that?

As a senior citizen that has spent over two years studying this crazy online world that we are living it, I have found that it can be fun at times and frustrating beyond belief at others. The young who have grown up in the computer era have no idea of how we can struggle with just trying to understand them. My goal is to help those who are either older or non techies survive because we have to adapt. If you are interested in learning more, please visit my website at http://etsocialmedia.com/.

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Apple iPhone Rules the Mobile World

The launch of Apple iPhone has changed the way people use mobile phones. While previously mobile phones were only used for calling up people and sending and receiving texts, now Apple has come up with mobiles that are mini computers in themselves. They are equipped with every application or program that would help in communications as well as in work.

The development of technology has advanced to such an extent that mobile phones are becoming incorporated with remarkable features. With a number of applications and systems, these iPhones have given the world a simplified view of surroundings along with easy access with assistance of the buttons on their phone sets. Not only for business but also for pleasure usage, Apple iPhones are considered the best phones as they help in communication that is required on daily basis and allow the running of programs that help in staying connected.

With a big screen that allows a better view of applications and more compelling media experiences, iPhones are certainly going to rule the world. It is not only a phone but a laptop replacement too that is needed for the basic work carried out most of the time when users are on the road. Whether it is working on your emails, web pages, web forms, creating and editing documents, spreadsheets and even presentations, this device has everything to help you work. Along with the high-resolution camera and video making facilities that help in creation of beautiful images and audio and video facilities, these phones are ruling the world and becoming the joy and pride of every owner.

When it was launched in the early 2007, iPhone was all about the web and messaging without any apps and even then it sold like hot cakes. However, considering the way this industry developed and the quick advancement has made it an all in one product, it is now a mini portable computer that can do everything for you with just a click.

The adaptation of VoIP technology that is being used in iPhones helps the businessmen to deal with the upcoming events very effectively. With various options of communications, these phones enable users to stay in touch with their colleagues very easily using apps and programs that are very simple to operate.

Customized according to the needs of various companies, Apple has made its iPhone to facilitate the users and introduced features that were previously unthought-of in mobile phones. By helping businesses keep records of the ongoing happening in a smart way with use of various technologies, iPhone has become the ideal device for communication when it comes to mobile.

Along with it, the applications that are offered on these devices are simply great. From young kids to adults and even women, all are avid fans of applications that are entertaining and helpful. All these factors have made this phone the talk of the day and the sale of iPhones is a record in itself as each model of this device is received very enthusiastically and admired by the businessmen as well as the individuals.

Roses Mark is a professional iPhone Application Developer. To date he has made numerous iPhone application and published several articles on social media.

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How Many Cell Phones Are There in the US and the World?

There are like a billion of cellphones in the world as there are around 8 billion total population globally speaking. You can see cellphones everywhere. Cellphones are manufactured, displayed and sold in stores, and used by people. Cellphones are no longer a luxury but a necessity. That is why people can have as many cellphones with them. There are those who prefer to have one cellphone alone especially those who can't afford to buy an extra unit but just resort to phone recycling. Sometimes, those who have extra and old units rather look for booths that offer cash for phones. As for my experience, I used to have 2 cellphones and I sometimes sell my cell too, especially during times when I have nothing to grab in my pocket yet I want to buy something I badly like.

Based on statistics, the number of mobile phone users in the US alone has reached to over 303 Million and 4.6 Billion worldwide - and approximately more than 1,000 new subscribers added every minute. The survey of wireless carriers revealed that 96% of Americans are mobile subscribers and continues to grow and is expected to increase to five billion this year. The increase of mobile phone industry is due to people dropping their house phones and shifted to mobile for it is more convenient that you can carry it with you and sometimes cheaper than fixed house phones.

The spread of mobile phones has aided millions of Americans and billions of people around the world in a modern age of convenience. On average, one person in the US buys mobile phone once in every 18 months, every 15 months in Europe and every 13 months in Asia. The mobile survey revealed that more than 257 million "data-capable" phones are active on most wireless provider in the US and roughly 50 million of those are smartphones.

Mobile growth is fueled by demand developing countries - the most populous nations have the most mobile subscriptions are led by China and India. In the same time, these countries contributed over 300 million new mobile users which is more than the total number of mobile users in the US. However, AT&T Mobility CEO and current CTIA chairman Ralph de la Vega stated that US still tops globally in different categories, including 3G users, number of smartphones activated and number of mobile applications purchased.

National Bureau of Statistics of China survey released in February 2011shows China has a total of 859 million subscribers or 64% of the population. 47 million of these users own 3G mobile phones. Telecom subscription data by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released in July 2011 states that India now has over 840 million subscribers or 70% of the total population.

Mobile annual average growth worldwide is up at 22% over the same time last year, according to surveys. It shows that even in the face of global economic recession, wireless industry continues to grow. International Data Corporation believes that mobile phone market around the world will be driven by smartphones through the end of 2014.

Richard Xrystiann Fernandez is a writer and writes a lot about his passion. He has written a number of articles about sell my cell, phone recycling and cash for phones.

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Researching graphene nanoelectronics for a post-silicon world

ScienceDaily (Nov. 10, 2011) — Copper's days are numbered, and a new study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could hasten the downfall of the ubiquitous metal in smart phones, tablet computers, and nearly all electronics. This is good news for technophiles who are seeking smaller, faster devices.

As new generations of computer chips continue to shrink in size, so do the copper pathways that transport electricity and information around the labyrinth of transistors and components. When these pathways -- called interconnects -- grow smaller, they become less efficient, consume more power, and are more prone to permanent failure.

To overcome this hurdle, industry and academia are vigorously researching new candidates to succeed traditional copper as the material of choice for interconnects on computer chips. One promising candidate is graphene, an atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged like a nanoscale chicken-wire fence. Prized by researchers for its unique properties, graphene is essentially a single layer of the graphite found commonly in our pencils or the charcoal we burn on our barbeques.

Led by Rensselaer Professor Saroj Nayak, a team of researchers discovered they could enhance the ability of graphene to transmit electricity by stacking several thin graphene ribbons on top of one another. The study, published in the journal ACS Nano, brings industry closer to realizing graphene nanoelectronics and naming graphene as the heir apparent to copper.

"Graphene shows enormous potential for use in interconnects, and stacking up graphene shows a viable way to mass produce these structures," said Nayak, a professor in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy at Rensselaer. "Copper's limitations are apparent, as increasingly smaller copper interconnects suffer from sluggish electron flows that results in hotter, less reliable devices. Our new study makes a case for the possibility that stacks of graphene ribbons could have what it takes to be used as interconnects in integrated circuits."

The study, based on large-scale quantum simulations, was conducted using the Rensselaer Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovations (CCNI), one of the world's most powerful university-based supercomputers.

Copper interconnects suffer from a variety of unwanted problems, which grow more prominent as the size of the interconnects shrink. Electrons travel through the copper nanowires sluggishly and generate intense heat. As a result, the electrons "drag" atoms of copper around with them. These misplaced atoms increase the copper wire's electrical resistance, and degrade the wire's ability to transport electrons. This means fewer electrons are able to pass through the copper successfully, and any lingering electrons are expressed as heat. This heat can have negative effects on both a computer chip's speed and performance.

It is generally accepted that a quality replacement for traditional copper must be discovered and perfected in the next five to 10 years in order to further perpetuate Moore's Law -- ;an industry mantra that states the number of transistors on a computer chip, and thus the chip's speed, should double every 18 to 24 months.

Nayak's recent work, published in the journal ACS Nano, is titled "Effect of Layer Stacking on the Electronic Structure of Graphene Nanoribbons." When cut into nanoribbons, graphene is known to exhibit a band gap -- an energy gap between the valence and conduction bands -- which is an unattractive property for interconnects. The new study shows that stacking the graphene nanoribbons on top of each other, however, could significantly shrink this band gap.

"The optimal thickness is a stack of four to six layers of graphene," said Neerav Kharche, first author of the study and a computational scientist at CCNI. "Stacking more layers beyond this thickness doesn't reduce the band gap any further."

The end destination, Nayak said, is to one day manufacture microprocessors -- both the interconnects and the transistors -- entirely out of graphene. This game-changing goal, called monolithic integration, would mean the end of the long era of copper interconnects and silicon transistors.

"Such an advance is likely still many years into the future, but it will certainly revolutionize the way nearly all computers and electronics are designed and manufactured," Nayak said.

Along with Nayak and Kharche, contributors to this study were: former Rensselaer physics graduate student Yu Zhou; Swastik Kar, former Rensselaer physics research assistant professor; and Kevin P. O'Brien of Intel Corporation.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Neerav Kharche, Yu Zhou, Kevin P. O’Brien, Swastik Kar, Saroj K. Nayak. Effect of Layer Stacking on the Electronic Structure of Graphene Nanoribbons. ACS Nano, 2011; 5 (8): 6096 DOI: 10.1021/nn200941u

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here

Researching graphene nanoelectronics for a post-silicon world

ScienceDaily (Nov. 10, 2011) — Copper's days are numbered, and a new study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could hasten the downfall of the ubiquitous metal in smart phones, tablet computers, and nearly all electronics. This is good news for technophiles who are seeking smaller, faster devices.

As new generations of computer chips continue to shrink in size, so do the copper pathways that transport electricity and information around the labyrinth of transistors and components. When these pathways -- called interconnects -- grow smaller, they become less efficient, consume more power, and are more prone to permanent failure.

To overcome this hurdle, industry and academia are vigorously researching new candidates to succeed traditional copper as the material of choice for interconnects on computer chips. One promising candidate is graphene, an atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged like a nanoscale chicken-wire fence. Prized by researchers for its unique properties, graphene is essentially a single layer of the graphite found commonly in our pencils or the charcoal we burn on our barbeques.

Led by Rensselaer Professor Saroj Nayak, a team of researchers discovered they could enhance the ability of graphene to transmit electricity by stacking several thin graphene ribbons on top of one another. The study, published in the journal ACS Nano, brings industry closer to realizing graphene nanoelectronics and naming graphene as the heir apparent to copper.

"Graphene shows enormous potential for use in interconnects, and stacking up graphene shows a viable way to mass produce these structures," said Nayak, a professor in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy at Rensselaer. "Copper's limitations are apparent, as increasingly smaller copper interconnects suffer from sluggish electron flows that results in hotter, less reliable devices. Our new study makes a case for the possibility that stacks of graphene ribbons could have what it takes to be used as interconnects in integrated circuits."

The study, based on large-scale quantum simulations, was conducted using the Rensselaer Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovations (CCNI), one of the world's most powerful university-based supercomputers.

Copper interconnects suffer from a variety of unwanted problems, which grow more prominent as the size of the interconnects shrink. Electrons travel through the copper nanowires sluggishly and generate intense heat. As a result, the electrons "drag" atoms of copper around with them. These misplaced atoms increase the copper wire's electrical resistance, and degrade the wire's ability to transport electrons. This means fewer electrons are able to pass through the copper successfully, and any lingering electrons are expressed as heat. This heat can have negative effects on both a computer chip's speed and performance.

It is generally accepted that a quality replacement for traditional copper must be discovered and perfected in the next five to 10 years in order to further perpetuate Moore's Law -- ;an industry mantra that states the number of transistors on a computer chip, and thus the chip's speed, should double every 18 to 24 months.

Nayak's recent work, published in the journal ACS Nano, is titled "Effect of Layer Stacking on the Electronic Structure of Graphene Nanoribbons." When cut into nanoribbons, graphene is known to exhibit a band gap -- an energy gap between the valence and conduction bands -- which is an unattractive property for interconnects. The new study shows that stacking the graphene nanoribbons on top of each other, however, could significantly shrink this band gap.

"The optimal thickness is a stack of four to six layers of graphene," said Neerav Kharche, first author of the study and a computational scientist at CCNI. "Stacking more layers beyond this thickness doesn't reduce the band gap any further."

The end destination, Nayak said, is to one day manufacture microprocessors -- both the interconnects and the transistors -- entirely out of graphene. This game-changing goal, called monolithic integration, would mean the end of the long era of copper interconnects and silicon transistors.

"Such an advance is likely still many years into the future, but it will certainly revolutionize the way nearly all computers and electronics are designed and manufactured," Nayak said.

Along with Nayak and Kharche, contributors to this study were: former Rensselaer physics graduate student Yu Zhou; Swastik Kar, former Rensselaer physics research assistant professor; and Kevin P. O'Brien of Intel Corporation.

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Neerav Kharche, Yu Zhou, Kevin P. O’Brien, Swastik Kar, Saroj K. Nayak. Effect of Layer Stacking on the Electronic Structure of Graphene Nanoribbons. ACS Nano, 2011; 5 (8): 6096 DOI: 10.1021/nn200941u

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here