If you are new to the idea of using prepaid phone cards for your communication use, then you might want to read on to get acquainted with some of the commonly asked questions regarding its use.

You can always check them out one-by-one in the market, but being equipped with some of the questions being asked in regards to purchase and use of this communication media will help you pick the perfect one that will fit your calling needs without stressing yourself out.

Question 1: What Are Prepaid Phone Cards?

Before you start using prepaid phone cards, it is always advisable to get to know them better first to maximize its use. For starters, prepaid phone cards are the latest trend in communication media. It will allow an individual to call local or overseas without being subscribed to a regular telecom service.

Each phone card comes with their own specific denomination that is equal to the call credits in it that will be deducted every time you make a call. You can also purchase cards that can be reloaded with more minutes using a reload card or a credit card.

They can be used in various communication devices available today, such as regular telephone and mobile lines, pay phones you see in the streets, or through Web-based applications offered by your prepaid phone card provider.

Question 2: How Do You Make Calls With Them?

Prepaid phone cards are quite easy to use. You just need to connect to the service by dialing the toll-free number found in each card. Once the operator verifies your account, and you have sufficient funds in your credit, you can just punch in the number you want to call and voila! You're connected.

Question 3: Do These Cards Have Any Security Feature?

Actually, there are two types of cards being sold today: 1) cards with PIN feature, or 2) PIN-less dialing feature. Cards with PIN (personal identification number) require you to give an authorization code to the voice operator to use your account. This is perfect if you don't want anyone to make use of your prepaid phone card to budget your calls.

PIN-less dialing prepaid phone cards have no security features attached to them. They are quite useful in making emergency calls, since you don't have to verify your account to use the service. Note, however, that this type of card is vulnerable to outside usage.

Question 4: Where Can I Buy One?

There are two ways to purchase a prepaid phone card. You can buy them in gas stops, communication shops, or in department stores in your area. They are even sold in vending machines that you see on the sidewalk. If you are one of those people that are not fond of going out of the house, you can purchase one over the Internet if you have a computer with a connection to the Web -- though you need a credit card for the latter to complete the transaction.

You can always ask your friend to give you their address if you need it for something, but that is not always something we want to do. There are times when we don't really know how to reach our friend, or we want to surprise them with something. If you are planning something and you need a lot of addresses at once, calling each person one at a time can be very time consuming. It might be easier for you to use the Internet to get what you need much more quickly.

Some addresses are harder to find then others, but those that have listed landline numbers are the easiest to find. All you have to do is to go to the online white pages. Once there, all you have to do is to enter the name of your friend to see if their address comes up with their number. In most cases, that works with listed numbers. You can narrow down the hits you get by entering state or town. Instead of 500 Joe Smiths coming up, you may only get one or two when you do that.

You may find that social and professional networks can help you out with address. If you live in an area that has a lot of different towns crammed together, you may not be sure in which your friend's house resides. You can go to social networks to see what town is listed for them, though you rarely find the address that way. For a full address, you may have more luck through professional networks, as people post addresses there for reasons of networking with other professionals in their field.

You may also want to see what you can find through the regular searches you get through Yahoo, MSN or Google. You simply enter your friend's name and location (if known) to see if you can get an address that way. You may also want to use the news and blog search options, as these are also great places to find some addresses.

Another options is the reverse cell phone tracer. You can use this if you have someone's cell phone number. You may see that their names comes up with the number, and you may also see that you get an address. Sometimes, there are the best places to find those addresses, but searching all options is certainly a good idea.

There are many reasons why someone might need to find a friend's phone number. The most common is losing a friend's phone number and not being able to remember it. With so many people dependent on the address books in their cell phones, it's not surprising that this happens all the time. But if you're looking for a friend's number, knowing that you're not the only one searching doesn't really make your search any easier. Luckily, you can find what you're looking for without spending a lot of time or effort by using Wink and reverse phone lookups.

Wink is such a useful search tool because it actually works like does two different things at the same time. Experienced internet researchers know that two good ways to find a phone number are to check internet people searches and social networking sites. This makes Wink doubly useful, because it combines the best of both worlds. Wink bills itself as people search site, but also lets users join and take charge of personal profiles, letting them post contact information about themselves. This means that Wink can help you find a phone number for a friend in more than one way.

But take heed, because not every phone number you'll get from Wink will be accurate or up to date. Many people post false data on the web on purpose, and many others might simply mistype their phone numbers. If either of these is the case, just dialing the phone number might leave you talking to someone you really would prefer to never speak to. But you can keep yourself safe by using a reverse phone lookup.

A reverse phone lookup is a great way to find out who owns a phone number. By using this convenient service, you can double check that the number you got from Wink is legitimate, and actually belongs to who you think it does. This way, you can get back in touch with your friend without potentially putting yourself in harm's way.

Imagine for a moment that you are getting phone calls from a number that you do not know, and they keep hanging up on your or your machine. They may not leave a message at all, and you are getting frustrated with them ringing you at all times of the day without letting you know who they are or what they want. When this happens, you can use a reverse phone lookup to find out who they are, and it is more simple now than ever before to use such a tool.

You could open up your printed phone directory to see if you can match that number with a name, as long as you know it is local, but that is next to impossible. Depending on where you live, there are thousands of numbers, if not millions, listed within those pages. Because the entries are listed alphabetically by name, you could spend years looking through the numbers. Obviously, no one has that kind of time.

Instead, you can turn on your computer to have instant access to a very quick and reliable tool called the reverse phone number lookup. All you a have to do is enter the number and any matches will come up for you within minutes, if not seconds. If the number you have in your possession is a landline number, you can go to the online yellow or white pages to use their reverse search. Any listed number should find you a name to match.

Though unconventional, you can use other means to search for a number through online sources. You can use the search engines to see if you can find a name to go with that mysterious number. You could go through social and professional networking sites to see if you can find a match that way (Wink.com is a great shortcut to searching them all at once). You may not find much this way, but you never know what will turn up.

If you have a mobile number, or perhaps an unlisted landline is calling, you have one very powerful option that you can use. You can easily find what is called a reverse cell phone tracer. These sites find these unlisted and private numbers for you from public sources. You may find this is the only place where you can get what you need.

Conference calls may be one of the most excruciating experiences for non-native English speakers. Personally, as a native English speaker, I often have difficulty understanding participants due to a number of factors:

* Sound quality
* Subject matter
* Number of participants
* Effective leadership during the call

I remember a conference call I heard recently. There were 18 participants and it was led by an American in the United States. There were about 10 native English speakers and 8 non-native English speakers. A Frenchman, with a good English level, was responsible for taking the minutes.

10 minutes into the call, he politely asked the leader to speak more slowly and clearly. The leader turned his request into a joke. He said "OK, this is my version of speaking slowly", and continued to speak as fast as a high-speed train.

You should have seen the Frenchman's face.

I felt so bad. I am sure the conference call leader is an educated individual. We are talking about a high- level executive in a group. I am also sure that when you have a complete lack of sensitivity and self-awareness, it destroys relationships.

Changing the communication process and using clear English can positively impact how non-native speakers perceive native English speakers.

Here are 4 tips to have more productive and successful conference calls with non-native English speakers:

1. Articulate and speak slowly and comfortably. Try to remove all unnecessary noise from your oral communication. For example, make a conscious effort to eliminate "Uh", "Right", "Uh-huh", "Um", "Like", and "You know". Those words may confuse non-native English participants.
2. Slow down the communication process. Pause between ideas (every 3 to 5 sentences) to give non-native speakers an opportunity to understand before continuing.
3. Be proactive. During the call, regularly remind participants that they may ask for clarification. Tell them that it is important to you that they understand. Give them permission to ask for clarification. After important points and at the end of each topic, ask everyone, "Is that comprehensible?", "Was I comprehensible?", or "What questions do you have?"

Do not rush into the next topic. Be sure to give at least 30 seconds between topics for questions and clarification. At the end of each topic, rephrase important details and actions, even if participants do not ask for clarification.
4. Be an effective conference call leader. A leader ensures that comprehension is a priority. Leaders do not focus on the agenda, data, or action plans. They concentrate on creating a communication-friendly environment for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. How can a native English speaker expect a non-native speaker to participate or follow directives if he/she has trouble understanding? Of course, the minutes of the meeting often follows the call. However, productive and rewarding relationships are at stake. If there is little or no comprehension during a call, then non-native participants may as well not participate. They may feel alienated and understand more from the written minutes. An effective leader guarantees that:

* Every participant articulates, speaks slowly, and mentions his/her name before speaking to facilitate comprehension
* Participants actively ask for clarification
* Participants understand by clarifying important details and actions at the end of each topic
* If there is background noise, the call is put on hold until the noise is removed
* There is feedback at the end of the call to see how communication could be improved during the next call

Clear English cultivates relationships and increases productivity.

During a recent visit with my grandmother, I realized the importance of adapting your communication to older adults. Like many older Americans, my grandmother is challenged by chronic health problems. She takes medication for physical and mental ailments. Her chronic conditions and medication can complicate communication and understanding. As her dementia progresses, communication becomes more and more challenging. In her short-lived periods of lucidity, her hearing loss alone complicates interaction. During her periods of obscurity, it can be a frustrating and helpless experience.

Effective social workers must be able to communicate with older adults who are challenged with similar health problems. These health problems can complicate communication and understanding. Here are 8 techniques you can use to help facilitate interaction with older adults to create a communication-friendly environment.

1. Be aware of the person's health problems. Older adults may have health problems that add difficulty to speaking and understanding. For example, they may have hearing problems, speech problems, and memory loss. These factors complicate communication. Be sure you consider the person's health before you engage in communication. And remember, chronological age is not always a true indicator of a person's health.
2. Be attentive to the environment you are communicating in. Hearing and speech problems can create a barrier. Be sure to evaluate the environment you are communicating in. Is there any disturbing background noise? Are there many people speaking in the same room? Is there any intrusive music? Are there any distractions that can affect your communication? Ask the older adult if the environment is comfortable to them. If you sense any disturbance, try to go to a more peaceful and quiet place.
3. Speak clearly, articulate, and make eye contact. Older adults may have trouble hearing. It is important to articulate and speak clearly. Direct your speech at the individual and not to the side of the person. Do not eat your words. Move your mouth and pronounce each word carefully and precisely. If your tongue "dances" inside your mouth when you talk, you articulate. If your tongue "sleeps" and plays a passive role, you do not articulate.
4. Adjust your volume appropriately. There is a difference between enunciating and talking loudly. Learn to adapt your voice to the needs of the individual. Evaluate the environment you are in and the person's hearing. Sometimes, it is sufficient to interact in a quiet place. Never shout at an older adult. Treat the individual with respect by articulating and speaking at a comfortable volume that is suitable for both of you.
5. Use clear, precise questions and sentences and repeat and rephrase. Complicated questions and sentences may confuse older adults who have memory and hearing loss. Clear and precise constructions are easier to comprehend. Use direct questions: "Did you have soup for lunch?" "Did you have salad for lunch?" It may be more difficult to answer: "What did you have for lunch?" The more precise you are in your language, the less difficulty the elderly have to understand.In addition, reduce the "noise" in your sentences and questions. Limit your sentences and questions to 20 words or less. Deconstruct complex ideas. For example, it may be better to say, "Is there any pain in your back (pointing to the person's back or your back)? Is there any pain in your stomach (pointing to the person's stomach or your stomach)?" A more complicated construction would be: "Do you have any pain or discomfort?" Do not hesitate to repeat and rephrase your sentences and questions if you sense there is an absence of comprehension.
6. Avoid confusion of mixed ideas and questions. Try to define your ideas and questions logically. If you mix ideas, it may be confusing for the older adult to understand. Express one idea and message at a time. For example, "It is a good idea to call John. He is your brother. After, we can call Susan. She is your sister." A more complicated construction would be: "I think we should call your brother, John, first, and then after we could call your sister, Susan."
7. Use visual aids, if possible. If an older adult has a hearing or memory problem, it is important to be creative. Visual aids help. Show the individual what or who you are talking about.
8. Be patient and smile: Slow down the communication process! A sincere smile shows that you are patient and understanding. It also creates a friendly environment to communicate in.

Older adults often have more difficulty interacting because of health problems. Remember to pause between sentences and questions. Give the individual an opportunity to understand and "digest" information and questions. If a person has memory loss, it is a valuable technique. When you pause, you show respect and patience.

When you think back over your life, there are many people who have played roles at different times who were very important to you at the time, but who seem to have faded into the background over the years. Wouldn't it be great if it was possible to reconnect with some of those people who have come and gone throughout your life? Now there is, through the various searching tools available on the internet.

To start, you can always try a basic search engine query. Make sure that you don't give up right after your first search using your friend or relative's name as the keyword. Instead, try including other relevant terms along with the name, such as any organizations with which he or she is affiliated, a place of work, a former school, or even simply the city where he or she lives. You may also want to try putting the name in quotes to tell the search engine that you want only that spelling with those two names together, and not every instance where one of the names, but not the other one, occurs online.

If you aren't successful with the search engine query, then you may want to head to a people search site that is better geared for that type of investigation. These sites allow you to enter other possible searching terms and know that you are looking for a specific individual, not just anyone with one or both of your acquaintance's names. The results with these sites are usually a great deal more accurate than those using a regular search engine.

Should you be looking for a former classmate, then a free alumni finder might be just what you need. This will help you to refine your search even further so that you can find the person you're looking for. By identifying the school and graduating year, you will be providing your lookup tool with a great deal more precision with which to hunt for your friend. If it's a school chum you're looking for then you certainly won't want to skip alumni lookup sites.

Two way radios are radio devices that can both transmit and receive signals. This is in contrast to a broadcast receiver, which only receives information. In order to operate these radios, the user simply pushes a button to transmit audio content. Handheld two way radios are called walkie-talkies. Full-duplex radios are classified as cellular phones.

Simpler two way radios are far cheaper than cellular phones. When a person searches for these products, it usually means that they want cheaper alternatives to cell phones. A basic two way unit is far more cost-efficient and does not require the subscription fees demanded by cellular phone services. Some of the top manufacturers of such radios include RELM, Kenwood, and Motorola.

Every country allocates radio frequencies to various two way services. This is done with respect to the rights of other countries to provide this communication. For example, in the United States popular services for radio frequencies include Citizens Band Radio, General Mobile Radio Service, Multi-Use Radio Service, and Family Radio Service. Where can you find out more about two way radios? How about a website that you can trust for all your two way radio needs?

Consider finding an online company that offers a great deal of information on two way radios, from an introduction to radio frequencies to more complex subject matter such as installations. The company should have experience in the communications business and should have a favorable reputation online for its generous warranties, large product line, and friendly customer service. For more information on this type of company, visit 49erCommunications.com.

Using a reverse phone finder will let you know the name and address of any unknown phone number. Ever get prank calls or repeated calls from an automated telemarketer? They are annoying and burn up you cell phone minutes. There is a way to put a permanent stop to them.

Next time you want to see who is on the other end of a call without them knowing write down the complete number with area code. The first thing you can try is any major search engine. Enter the number in quotes, "xxx-xxx-xxxx" or try Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx and see what you get back, While this works great for most land lines, cell phone are usually not in the system unless the person has posted their number online somewhere.

You may have to pay a one time fee and use a paid service. There are some big advantages of using a paid service. You will be able to trace any cell, unlisted, pay phone, pager, mobile, business or residential. Plus depending on what service you decide to use you will get access to a lot more, like criminal and court records, marriage and divorce, address history and even people search for finding lost friends or classmates.

If you are get ting calls late at night and do not want to turn your phone off you can run the number through a search and get their info, print it out and call them back. Most people are so shocked that you now know who they are and where they live they never call back again. In most cases it ends up being someone you know like an ex boyfriend or girlfriend.

So is it really worth paying for a reverse phone service? You will be amazed at the sort of info you can find out with just a phone number. The information you get back is the same type you had to hire a private investigator to get access to. Now you can use the same services the professionals use!

Are free person search locators really the best thing for searches to locate a person?

Surfing the web can be an overwhelming experience to those who have just gotten acquainted with this technology. Often, they are faced with the what's, where's, and how to's. But once they finally get the hang of it, they'd be amazed to know that this is the best source of information and specifically for doing a person search.

First, it is important to realize what the web is capable of providing us. It works like a huge storeroom, containing comprehensive and vast quantity of data. You can practically find out everything about anything with just a click of your mouse including doing a search to locate a person.

Information and data can be acquired through search engines. If you know how to properly use these tools, all these can actually work for you. The web does not only offer information about things, events, and places, but also provides details about missing people.

If you wish to find free person search locators, the web is home to hundreds of them. But while they scream "free" in bold letters, all of them are still out to earn money. This does not discourage anyone from trying to find free locators online, however, do not expect them to provide you with the same level of service as those that charge clients for their services.

When you find free locators, keep in mind that even if you can avail of the services without paying anything, these sites have to market ad spaces to different companies so that they can pay their bills. So expect them to lead you to some unrelated pages and a not-so-detailed search result.

Those who are out to find free person search locators are usually the people who are not really after the most comprehensive details about a person. Otherwise, they would need the services of those search finders that offer intensive results for a price.

But in case you only want to know how an old classmate is doing after years of not being in touch with him, you can try to find free locators and start gathering information from there. A few wrong numbers from the results that these sites generated won't be a hassle if you're not charged for the list.

As the saying goes, "you reap what you sow." Thus, the free person search locators are most likely only able to provide you with the "free" or readily-available information.

Staying in touch with friends and family by phone is still the best way to communicate. But sometimes our loved ones move away either temporarily or permanently and staying in touch is even more important. That's when phone calls can get expensive, especially if they move overseas. That's where prepaid calling cards come in handy to save you money so that you can still hear your loved ones voices without breaking the bank.

There are many ways prepaid calling cards can save you money by combining a few tactics.

For instance it is best to use International Prepaid Calling Cards combined with a mobile cell phone on weekends. Why you may ask? Well most major mobile cell phone carriers in the US include unlimited calls on the weekends in their contracts. Which also means long distance calls are basically free because you are not draining any of your contracts monthly minutes. Do check your contract to make sure though.

So let's see how we can make the right decision in choosing a prepaid calling card.

The majority of prepaid calling card companies now offer a no brainer for choosing their services and it is easier than ever because it is done in the Internet. So no more having to drive to your local convenience store. There are so many options for you to choose and pick from the Internet but don't worry, everything is automated for easy selection. Most important thing to remember is to check and make sure that whatever fees such as maintenance are upfront and visible along with the per minute call rate. If you do not see any at all, quickly look for a new company.

Another tip is to check prices with another reputable calling card company. It's just like getting a second opinion from a doctor. You may be tempted to buy the first prepaid calling card you see because the rates and fees are so good, but you don't want to be disappointed when you find out later that you would've had more minutes with the money you've just spent.

But keep in mind the cheaper the card, the higher the maintenance fees are. My suggestion is to choose a rate that is between the lowest rate and the highest rate that you can find. It's sort of like averaging out the middle cost so you have a balance of more minutes and a maintenance fee that is more reasonable.

What are the maintenance fees? Well calling card companies don't actually own the telephone lines that you make the calls on. They basically buy the phone lines at a discount wholesale rate from major land line carriers. So in a way they're passing some of the cost on to you. But relax, using a prepaid calling card to make calls especially international calls on a mobile cell phone is a better way to go.

So, all you've got to go by is an email address huh? Well, that can open up more doors than you think. These days an email address can reveal lots of info if used with the right search partner. But before you go opening up an email from an unknown person please be careful, the downside of curiosity could be a virus that ruins your computer.

Locating Someone By Email Address-Free Methods:

The first thing that you can do is to type the full email address with quotes into Yahoo, Google, Dogpile (yes, it's a search engine) and MSN search and see what comes up. The reason for using quotations is because if you don't then you will get search results that contain bits and pieces of the email that you are trying to find and that's not what we want. The search results will reveal any pages that contain the full email address-this can be useful if this person has posted their email in forums or ads, if you find any info, you will be one step closer to hunting down their name.

Secondly, you can try your luck on a search at Myspace. Go to the toolbar at the top right of the page and type in the persons email address. Then, just above the results you will see a tab that says "people" click on that tab. Now, on the right side of the page you you see a section to refine your search. This is where you click on th search by email option. If this email is in their database, you should come up with successful results. You can also implement this same technique on Facebook. They offer a "search by email" function as well.

If the above options leave you in the dark, or you just don't have the time needed to execute all of these searches, there is always the paid method. Companies that offer this usually maintain massive databases of information that is updated regularly, and this is their main focus-to provide the data that you need. For a nominal fee, you could be viewing the results immediately-mission accomplished 'eh?

As technology changes so does the court reporting profession. A growing trend in courtrooms across the country is the use of real-time rather than traditional transcription. Like everywhere else, Tennessee court reporters have to keep up with increased demands.

Traditional Court Transcripts

Historically, Tennessee court reporters kept records of court proceedings using stenographic techniques. In order to keep up with the fast pace of conversation they used shorthand script.

The invention of stenographic machines made their jobs easier. Using a special keyboard they could record symbols that represented phonetic sounds, allowing them to type even unfamiliar words as fast as they were spoken. Variations of these machines are still in use today.

The output from a stenographic machine is gibberish to people who aren't court reporters. Often one reporter can't read the output of another as each person adopts an individual system of abbreviations and shortcuts to keep up. Part of the duties of Tennessee court reporters was to transcribe these confusing symbols into clear transcripts that could be provided to the attorneys, the judge, or other interested parties.

Closed Captioning Created New Opportunities

The captioning of television programs for the hearing impaired has its roots in Tennessee. The First National Conference on Television for the Hearing Impaired was held in Nashville in 1971 to discuss the technologies for closed captioning.

The captioning system struggled in the 1970s but finally the first closed captioned television program was broadcast by the National Captioning Institute (NCI) on March 16, 1980. At first captioning was limited to pre-recorded programs, leaving studios plenty of time to create the captions. However the hearing impaired community demanded access to live programs as well and in 1982 the NCI developed real-time captioning.

In order to meet the demand of captioning live events, court reporters across the country were recruited and many Tennessee court reporters left the courtrooms to work at television stations.

Courts Implement Real-Time Transcription

Over time, court systems saw the advantage of real-time access to trial transcripts. The judge and attorneys can not only review the transcript during the session but can add their own notes to the proceedings.

It allows hard of hearing litigants to fully participate in their own court proceedings without the use of an interpreter. Deaf jurors get just as much information as their hearing counterparts. This change owes a lot to new software that allows a court reporter's stenographic output to be instantly translated to clear English text.

Tennessee court reporters have had to adapt to these new demands, implementing this new transcription software and customizing it to their unique stenographic techniques. They also have to increase their speed as court reporters have to take down testimony at 180 words per minute while a real-time reporter has be able to operate at 225 words per minute. This new real-time reporting offers transcription services that a recording device never could and gives judges and attorneys access to more information than they've ever had before.

There are many online resources that can help you locate an old friend, including phone number lookups and social networking sites, all of which can assist you at no charge. Free people searches access these and other online services, and with a little basic information about how they work, you can quickly and easily find the results you need.

While many people searches cost, sometimes regardless of your success, free people searches can often deliver the same level of detail and personal information to help you locate a friend. Free people finder services cannot return private information, including cell phone records, but there is a surprising amount of material that is public, and can be accessed by these services. Among this material are public phone directories containing numbers and addresses.

Social networking sites are online collections of user profiles that, while you often have to get permission to view, are completely free to use. One great feature of free people searches is their ability to turn up links to social networking site profiles, on which people often post personal contact information such as phone number and e-mail address that can be vital to helping you locate an old friend. By registering for and using social networking sites, you can not only locate, but keep in touch with friends from throughout your life.

If free people searches or social networking sites cannot find a phone number or other way to locate an old friend, phone number lookups can help you find public and private directories, and sometimes even cell phone information. Reverse phone number lookups can help you find an address for someone whose number you found using other online services. By using free people searches to access social networking sites or a phone number lookup, you can help find all the information the internet has to offer with the click of a few buttons.