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The Telecom Digest for March 18, 2011
Volume 30 : Issue 69 : "text" Format
====== 29 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ====== |
Telecom and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Digest for the
Internet. All contents here are copyrighted by Bill Horne and
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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, and other stuff of interest.
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Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:23:18 -0600
From: Fred Atkinson <fatkinson.remove-this@and-this-too.mishmash.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Annoyance Calls (again)
Message-ID: <20110317021129.98128.qmail@gal.iecc.com>
Well,
I got another one. This time the number was: (956) 440-1397.
Let's hope that the PUC gets in touch with them.
Regards,
Fred
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:02:00 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: In and Out Of Office: Putting iPads To Work
Message-ID: <p062408cbc9a7459c1a21@[10.0.1.3]>
In and Out Of Office: Putting iPads To Work
March 16, 2011
by Walter S. Mossberg
While it can perform many of the functions of a PC or Mac, Apple's
iPad- including the new iPad 2-lacks two of the most common and
frequently used features of a traditional computer. It has no
standard USB port for connecting a flash drive or external hard disk,
so you can't move files into and out of it from these devices. And it
doesn't have a systemwide, user-accessible file system like those on
traditional computers.
These omissions have led many readers to ask me how you get
files-especially Microsoft Office files and PDFs-into and out of
iPads. They have bolstered the contention that the popular tablet is
really just a "consumption device," not a productivity tool.
So, here's a brief primer on how to get such documents into and out
of an iPad, and how to view, edit and create them on the tablet. This
isn't an in-depth product review, though I've tested every product
and method I will mention here. It's merely a quick, practical guide
to how to work with documents on an iPad.
...
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20110316/in-and-out-of-office-putting-ipads-to-work/
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:05:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lisa or Jeff <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Carriers offer special rates on calls to Japan
Message-ID: <98d601bf-5afe-4a4e-b7ef-a9d83dcc777a@r19g2000prm.googlegroups.com>
The Phila Inqr reported:
"The nation's two largest wireless carriers, Verizon/AT&T, both said
they were waiving some charges retroactively to Friday, the day of the
devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami. AT&T's free calls
and texts - including up to 60 minutes in free calls from U.S.
landlines - will continue all month. Verizon said its waivers would
last till April 10, and would include all calls to Japan from U.S.
landlines."
For full article please see:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/ATT-offers-free-calls-texts-to-Japan.html
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:11:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lisa or Jeff <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Traveler hit with huge data roaming charges
Message-ID: <8743778b-8dc7-4f92-9e19-4001949a2190@18g2000prd.googlegroups.com>
The Phila Inqr reported about a traveler who received unexpected
$20,000 charge for data roaming, and then his efforts to get credit
for the charges.
For full article please see:
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20110317_A__20_000_data-roaming_shock.html
[from the print edition] Tips for Data-Hungry Roamers:
--Check with your wireless carrier before leaving the United States to
see if there's a plan suited to your needs.
--Describe your itinerary in detail, and double-check answers on the
carrier's website. Terms change frequently and vary from country to
country.
--Ask about all devices - smartphones and tablets as well as laptops.
--Disable "data roaming," if possible, on your smartphone before you
leave the United States. Otherwise, it will begin downloading data as
soon as you restart it.
--Consider buying or renting a prepaid device at your destination,
such as a local phone, wireless modem,or data card. With an unlocked
GSM phone, you may be able to purchase a substitute SIM card with a
local number and predictable data rates. Most U.S. phones are locked.
--Use free WiFi at hotels, when abroad, and check e-mail or surf the
Web at Internet cafes.
--Power off devices when not in use.
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:21:24 -0500
From: John Mayson <john@mayson.us>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Traveler hit with huge data roaming charges
Message-ID: <AANLkTinzis52keUS1qM4WUJQHrb9tJxk-SG7r6zL73wi@mail.gmail.com>
On Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 9:11 AM, Lisa or Jeff <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:
> The Phila Inqr reported about a traveler who received unexpected
> $20,000 charge for data roaming, and then his efforts to get credit
> for the charges.
I've heard horror stories from people about this. My experience is
the wireless companies want people to use their phones overseas and
really gloss over the facts or toss out rates in $/kB that mean
nothing to the average consumer. I consider myself knowledgeable
about telecom issues, but was woefully ignorant about using a mobile
phone overseas and found my carrier wasn't the best source of
information.
I'm not sure really how to fix it. Perhaps the best way is to mandate
a cap on roaming charges and require subscribers opt-out. Once a
subscriber hit that dollar amount the phone would stop working and
they'd get an SMS explaining what to do.
John
--
John Mayson <john@mayson.us>
Austin, Texas, USA
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:56:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lisa or Jeff <hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Annoyance Calls
Message-ID: <7e8b5cf7-e1ae-4ad4-b227-d2f9360ec9f7@f18g2000yqd.googlegroups.com>
On Mar 16, 12:18 pm, Jim Haynes <jhay...@cavern.uark.edu> wrote:
> Somehow the word has got out that I am diabetic. I'm not, nor is
> there anyone living here who is. But I keep getting phone calls from
> various companies that I assume are offering diabetic supplies.
The troubling part is that if you seek a new job or any kind of
insurance that "data item" will at best, give you aggravation as you
explain and document the real facts, and at worst, deny you a job or
insurance.
When my mother took ill I changed her mailing address to mine to
handle her paperwork. A change-of-address spurs all sorts of things
to happen behind the scenes*.
I soon received invoices from her auto insurance company for a
surcharge; then when I attempted to cancel her policy since she didn't
drive nor owned a car they hit me with a cancellation fee (which I
didn't pay). Then my insurance company hit me with a surcharge for
having another driver in the house (didn't pay that either).
It would've eased things to simply surrender her driver's license back
to the state. However, health care providers required her license to
be presented when she got care, so I still needed it as an official
identification for her.
* I got mail addressed to my father sent to my address, even though he
had been deceased for many years.
I found it disturbing the way the unseen and unknown databases link up
various data elements. I contacted one the banks that sent mail to my
father and asked them why given his situation, but they could not
answer "that is handled elsewhere".
P.S. When my mother passed I pulled her voter's registration. None
of the less, for several years afterwards I was aggressively
telephoned by campaigners asking for her to get her to go and vote.
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 06:06:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joseph Singer <joeofseattle@yahoo.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Re: Buying prepaid SIM cards in advance
Message-ID: <530881.55766.qm@web52708.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:06:33 -0500 John Mayson <john@mayson.us> wrote:
> My son is visiting Germany for about 10 days during in summer 2012. He
> has a unlocked GSM phone. I would like to get him a German SIM card
> with enough credit on it for him to have broadband access and to be
> able to make calls and SMS while over there. The fly in
> the ointment is I don't know if he'll have time to set that up given
> he'll be on school trip with limited free time.
>
> Is it possible for buy one ahead of time allowing me to set it up for
> him? I have searched online but all I seem to find are absolute
> ripoff plans. He'd be better off with global roaming from AT&T.
All German prepaid accounts offer data albeit at a non trivial rate.
As for getting the card as Mr Levine wrote you can go through
telestial.com but for the convenience of getting a card in advance and
from them you'll pay a very hefty premium. If it's at all possible
it's better that you get a SIM when you arrive in Germany. SIM
availability in Europe is very easy and you can even get starter SIM
kits at corner stores. Even at arrival in Frankfurt or other major
airport there may even be a facility in the airport to obtain a SIM.
Even if not pretty much any town will likely have a place to purchase
a SIM.
Go to http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/germany.html for details of German
prepaid GSM SIMs. Again, if at all possible I'd recommend waiting til
arrival in Germany rather than using Telestial. Telestial's only
advantage is that you'll know the number prior to landing in
Europe. e.g. for e+ Telestial wants $55 for the starter packet.
Getting the card locally is DM19.90. Vodafone packet is $49 from
Telestial and DM19.95 in Germany. Installing a SIM packet is trivial
as long as you can figure out how to install the SIM card (usually
removing a battery and inserting the card.)
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:53:04 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: RIM Recommends Users Disable JavaScript to Protect BlackBerry OS 6 Handsets
Message-ID: <p062408dac9a878b96a17@[10.0.1.3]>
RIM Recommends Users Disable JavaScript to Protect BlackBerry OS 6 Handsets
March 16, 2011
By Michelle Megna
Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) just issued a security advisory
urging BlackBerry users to disable JavaScript in browsers on handsets
running BlackBerry 6 to prevent exploits from a potential security
breach revealed at a recent security conference.
During the Pwn20wn hacker challenge at the CanSecWest conference last
week, the security vulnerability was exploited to hack into a
BlackBerry Torch 9800 smart phone to steal the contact list and image
database. The security soft spot exists in the WebKit browser engine
included in the BlackBerry 6 mobile operating system.
...
http://www.enterprisemobiletoday.com/features/security/article.php/3928381/RIM-Recommends-Users-Disable-JavaScript-to-Protect-BlackBerry-OS-6-Handsets.htm
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