From editor@telecom-digest.org Wed Oct 13 21:00:13 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i9E10Cn29303; Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:00:13 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:00:13 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200410140100.i9E10Cn29303@massis.lcs.mit.edu> X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f To: ptownson Approved: patsnewlist Subject: TELECOM Digest V23 #487 TELECOM Digest Wed, 13 Oct 2004 20:59:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 487 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson HomePlug AV Specification Enters Final Stage (Monty Solomon) CheckHD.com - DTV Education Site (Monty Solomon) Targeted TV Advertising Catches Interest (Monty Solomon) Mobile Use a Health Problem? (David Clayton) Re: Cellphone Industry Turns to Unmined Territory: Seniors (kansasman) Re: Two Way Radio Service (Scott Dorsey) Re: Two Way Radio (jdj) Re: Deutsche Telekom AG Executives Reported To FBI For Abuse! (S Dorsey) Re: Monthly Bill Fatigue (DevilsPGD) Re: Law Hits Home (GL Fowler) Re: Basic Menu System Using VoIP? (John R. Covert) All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are included in the fair use quote. By using -any name or email address- included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the email. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 10:09:54 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: HomePlug AV Specification Enters Final Stage HomePlug AV Specification Enters Final Stage; The First Global Specification for a 200-Mbps-class Powerline-Networking Technology is Now Ready for Final Industry Input SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 2004--The HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance, Inc. is entering the final stage of the specification development process for HomePlug AV, a technology poised to change the way that HDTV, Digital Audio, and Internet access are distributed around a home. The alliance has reached a significant milestone by completing the advanced preliminary specification for HomePlug AV, and is now inviting companies in the home networking, consumer electronics, computing, and communications industries to join the alliance and contribute to the final version of the specification. http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=200410131201_BWR__BW5336 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 10:14:32 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: CheckHD.com - DTV Education Site Decisionmark Announces CheckHD.com: Complete Digital TV Consumer Education Resource WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2004-- Powered by Decisionmark's Patented Technology, Free Site Helps Consumers Get Informed and into the DTV Retail Store Decisionmark Corp. announced today that a cross-industry supported digital television (DTV) education site, on the Internet at www.CheckHD.com , is now available for consumer use. While the digital broadcast signals reach just over 100 million American households, according to Decisionmark, consumers are often unclear about the benefits and availability of digital and high-definition television (HDTV). With today's launch of CheckHD.com, consumers can easily find straightforward, accurate answers to these fundamental questions: What is digital TV?, Can I get digital TV?, and What do I need to get digital TV?, helping the industry move more Americans closer to purchasing a digital television. This announcement comes on the heels of a separate announcement today by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell regarding a major FCC consumer education campaign. "A successful transition to the world of high-quality, digital television requires a combination of efforts from both industry and the government. Websites like this one, and the FCC's own site, will help consumers learn more about the content and availability of digital programming," Chairman Powell said. A number of other organizations ranging from broadcast networks and associations to the consumer electronics companies are in full support of CheckHD.com. (See attached list of Quotes from Supporting Industry Leaders.) The site is loaded with clear DTV information, including a comprehensive guide for DTV and HDTV channels and programming broadcast to a consumer's exact location, which only Decisionmark patented technology can provide. "Once consumers realize the vast amount of HD and DTV programming available to them in over-the-air broadcasts, cable and satellite, they'll be more likely to invest in the new technology," said Jack Perry, President and CEO of Decisionmark. "Part of the struggle up to this point has been getting consumers to a place where they can find out if and when the digital and HD content is available to them. CheckHD does that," he added. CheckHD provides a one-of-a-kind, interactive, printable Buyer's Guide that consumers can take to their local retailers, a great research tool in the DTV shopping process. The Buyer's Guide comes complete with customized information on the channels received, products of interest, local retail locations and antenna recommendations. Once in hand, the Buyer's Guide serves as a concise set of answers that the retailer and consumer can review together, answers they wouldn't find in any other single resource. Completing the site is a guide to HDTV provided by the Consumer Electronics Association. The section also includes high-definition and digital TV Frequently Asked Questions, along with terms and definitions. These information resources together allow a consumer at any stage of the digital TV conversion process, from just interested to wanting to buy a set, to access the information they need. http://finance.lycos.com/qc/news/story.aspx?story=200410041400_BWR__BW5222 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 18:02:22 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Targeted TV Advertising Catches Interest NEW YORK (AP) -- As the advertising industry worries about the effectiveness of traditional television advertising, venture capitalists are betting the 30-second spot has a bright future. Since 2000, venture-capital firms have poured millions of dollars into fledgling companies developing software designed to get America's couch potatoes to watch TV ads. Television companies are starting to roll out those services, which enable advertisers to broadcast commercials tailored to specific groups of viewers. With the technology, a New York car dealership, for instance, no longer is limited to a one-size-fits all TV commercial. Instead, the dealer can air ads for its luxury brands in an affluent neighborhood such as Westchester, while marketing its lower-priced models in zip codes where residents may have less purchasing power. In the next year or so, advertisers in some regions will be able to use the technology to target individual households _ a sort of direct marketing over TV. Depending on the company, it can be done on cable, satellite or traditional broadcast television. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=44242372 ------------------------------ From: David Clayton Subject: Mobile Use a Health Problem? Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 10:46:52 +1000 From http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/14/1097607336738.html Long-term mobile use linked to benign tumours Stockholm Ten or more years of mobile phone use almost doubles the risk of acoustic neuroma, or benign tumours on the auditory nerve, according to a study published by the Swedish Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) on Wednesday. "The risk of acoustic neuroma was almost doubled for persons who started to use their mobile phone at least 10 years prior to diagnosis," IMM said in a statement. "When the side of the head on which the phone was usually held was taken into consideration, we found that the risk of acoustic neuroma was almost four times higher on the same side as the phone was held, and virtually normal on the other side," the institute added. Some 150 acoustic neuroma patients and 600 healthy control subjects participated in the study, which was the first Swedish report within the so-called INTERPHONE study, an international collaboration coordinated by the World Health Organisation's cancer research institute IARC. "The Swedish results need to be confirmed in additional studies before firm conclusions can be drawn," IMM said. Since only analogue (NMT) mobile phones had been in use for more than 10 years when the study was conducted, the institute emphasised that it could not determine whether its research also reflected the use of digital (GSM) mobile phones. While non-cancerous, acoustic neuroma tumours that are not removed can grow to sizes where they put pressure on the brain and become life threatening. AFP Regards, David Clayton, e-mail: dcstar@XYZ.myrealbox.com Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (Remove the "XYZ." to reply) Dilbert's words of wisdom #18: Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience. ------------------------------ From: dog4dogg@yahoo.com (kansasman) Subject: Re: Cellphone Industry Turns to Unmined Territory: Seniors Date: 13 Oct 2004 14:16:14 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Marcus Didius Falco wrote in message news:: > From the New York Times -- > http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/technology/11cell.html?oref=login > By MATT RICHTEL > Having equipped most adults and half of all teenagers with cellphones, > the mobile phone industry is turning its attention to the last > untapped demographic -- people over 65. > But its dreams of collecting monthly subscription fees from > grandparents talking to their grandchildren, retirees calling friends > from their recreational vehicles or patients checking in with their > doctors may exact a hefty and unexpected price. The mobile phone > industry has roused the interest of AARP, the powerful lobby and > advocacy group for older Americans. > And AARP is not happy with what it has heard from its members: > complaints about incomprehensible service contracts, confusing bills > and dead zones that are not clearly marked on coverage maps. They are > the same concerns that have been expressed for years by other consumer > advocates, who now have a new champion in the 35-million-member AARP. > We're hoping "to make the industry stand up and say, 'We've got to fix > what's going on here,'" said Susan Weinstock, national coordinator, > economic and utility issues, with AARP. > The group has already prompted the introduction of legislation in New > York State that would provide more flexibility in canceling cellphone > contracts, and it plans similar efforts in other states. AARP's > campaign, which includes lobbying Congress, the Federal Communications > Commission and state legislatures, and talk of running its own > cellphone service, has caught the cellphone industry off guard and ill > tempered. Consumer advocates say AARP's aggressiveness also reflects > its own internal dynamics, that AARP is focusing on such a universally > and easily agreed upon position to unite a membership angered and torn > by the turmoil of last year's divisive Medicare fight. The cellphone > industry has argued that it has done a good job of serving the needs > of older customers and that what is best for people on fixed incomes > is an industry free from taxation and regulation and thus, > theoretically, able to offer lower prices. "Gene Kimmelman, executive director of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, said AARP had another motive -- getting its own membership to take notice." I am glad that seniors have an organization that helps to defend members from possible price gaugers. ------------------------------ From: kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) Subject: Re: Two Way Radio Service Date: 13 Oct 2004 10:22:42 -0400 Organization: Former users of Netcom shell (1989-2000) William Warren wrote: > Users of trunked systems have the advantage of _not_ being on > common-carrier frequencies, so there's little chance of being out of > service during a mass-calling event, and they're insulated from price > hikes during the duration of their contract with the consortium or > aggregator. OTOH, they must buy and maintain expensive radios, can't > operate outside of their assigned area, and have no way to hook the > system up to the PSTN. Actually, many of the trunking systems do have an autopatch feature, where a simplex call can be patched to the PSTN. It's rather difficult to carry on a conversation this way, but it's an extremely useful feature to have, especially in emergencies. scott "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." ------------------------------ From: jdj Subject: Re: Two Way Radio Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 12:28:25 -0700 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 22:16:01 -0400, Chris Farrar wrote: >> Geller wrote: >>> Is there any two-way radio service provider.? Can any one give me the >>> list of service providers.?? > It depends if he is talking about Commercial two-way radios, involing > repeaters or trunked service. If your geographic area is big enough two > individual radios won't have the range needed and you contract with XYZ > Ltd. to provide you with radios & service, either using dedicated > frequencies, PL tone squelch on shared frequencies, or on a trunked > radio service. Or you can go the Nextel route. All of the above will > cost money, either as a flat monthly fee or airtime minutes. There are in fact people attempting to sell ordinary two-way radio as if it were cellular. Most of these are cellular resellers. One of these jokers tried to offer me a simplex setup with a pair of one-channel UHF Kenwood HT's while I was trying to haggle on better terms for cellular, which I rarely use. He had the nerve to put a contract before me selling the radios for $300 each, and a $20.00 monthly subscription rate for 2 years. For many people their first real exposure to two-way radio is a cellular telephone. When someone comes along and offers a two-way radio plan with "unlimited anytime minutes" for only $20.00 per month, it seems to be a real bargain, even if the radios cost far more than a phone. > If someone is selling him a contract for 2 way radio, you need to know > what is being provided, trunked service covering what area, or if on a > dedicated frequency or using a shared frequency/PL Tone squelch, do they > have enough repeaters to cover the area you expect to use the radio in. Again, one must be familiar with radio and not just cellular, first. I don't want to second-guess but it seems from the question asked that he may be quite unfamiliar with two-way radio beyond cellular. There was once a two-way radio FAQ/tutorial on some website. I do not have the link anymore. Does anyone else? ------------------------------ From: kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) Subject: Re: Deutsche Telekom AG Executives Reported To FBI For Abuse! Date: 13 Oct 2004 10:20:40 -0400 Organization: Former users of Netcom shell (1989-2000) Freespeechstore wrote: > FSS does not spam! Anybody can make a report to antispammers ... a > well documented fact. The FSS email system works similar to the > media, i.e. usatoday.com, but FSS has more controls, as well as > instant and permanent opt-out! The site is not about negatively, but > the speeches about such do get the most responses. Posting is FREE. > Come on in and say something positive! I think a quick search of news.admin.net-abuse.sightings will prove this incorrect. scott "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." ------------------------------ From: DevilsPGD Subject: Re: Monthly Bill Fatigue Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 23:25:27 -0600 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Marcus Didius Falco wrote: > Businesses can only allow the general public to use their telephones > for free in places where there is no charge for local usage. This > might be the case in some countries, though I am not aware of any. In > most countries the telephone company charges businesses for usage > (even local usage), and businesses would have to pass on that charge. Canada and/or the US? Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. -- George W. Bush 08/05/2004 ------------------------------ From: GL Fowler Subject: Re: Law Hits Home Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 14:46:10 GMT Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 23:51:46 GMT, William Warren wrote: > On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 12:37:52 EDT, Lisa Minter > wrote: >> by Anush Yegyazarian >> A recent court decision on a 5-year-old case highlights the failure of >> our laws to protect the privacy of personal e-mail. >> Everyone (or almost everyone) knows that the e-mail you send and >> receive at work, using your employer's computers and network, isn't >> really private: The company and your boss have the right to both >> monitor and read what you're sending and receiving. But if you're like >> me, you probably thought that the Internet service provider you use at >> home -- and by extension those who work there -- doesn't have the same >> right. We're wrong: They do. > The safest approach to this problem is the same one the military uses: > they assume that everything transmitted electronically is fully open > to everyone in the world, and employ appropriate levels of > cryptography to secure information while in transit. > In other words, go to http://www.thawte.com/email/index.html and get a > free encryption certificate, which will allow you to receive encrypted > emails using most email clients. If your correspondents do the same, > you'll be able to encrypt things you send to them as well. > You may also use GPG, and encrypt emails offline for inclusion in an email > (either inline or as an attachment). GPG is Open Source, and free: > http://www.gnupg.org/. > John Ashcroft will thank you. The NSA will thank you. > HTH. > William > (Filter noise from my email for direct replies.) If I send a postcard to my Aunt in Texas should I have an expectation that the postman won't read the card? "The best proof of intelligent life in space is that it hasn't come here." - Sir Arthur C. Clarke ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 10:58:32 EDT From: John R. Covert Subject: Re: Basic Menu System Using VoIP? James Bowery wrote: > I need a basic touch tone menuing system that receives calls via > ethernet port using VoIP. This is trivial with Asterisk PBX, an Open Source PBX running on Linux (and Mac and other U*x platforms). > Call-back to purported Caller ID for spoofing prevention. You might think about another way to do spoofing prevention. If someone spoofs YOU (and callerID spoofing is quite easy on VoIP), you will place annoying callbacks to the spoofed numbers. /john ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. 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