Recycle old mobile phones

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:30:04 -0500

Mobile phones are an intrinsic part of our lives and culture. The popularity of mobile communications has rocketed and the mobile phone has become one of life’s essential products. To keep apace with this growing demand manufacturers have invested millions of pounds in developing the newest technologies and gadgets to keep us interested. Mobile phones are not a simple commodity to us. They are a status symbol, a gateway to our online social networks and a reflection of who we are. As one mobile phone trumpets its way majestically onto the mobile communications market another is cast disdainfully aside by its previously doting owner.

So what becomes of these sad and worn out relics? Most will be shoved to the back of a drawer but some will end up in the waste disposal system. Both options can be avoided by choosing mobile phone recycling. These small electronic devices harbour a lot of dangerous chemicals and substances, and need to be disposed of professionally. Some of the substances that can be found in a mobile phone are lead, cadmium, beryllium and flame retardants - all of which are extremely harmful to the environment. Recycling mobile phones is an important process that prevents the environment, land and indeed ourselves from being adversely affected by the damaging effects of these phones.

There are a variety of ways you can recycle a handset. You may choose to donate it to a charity who will distribute the phone to people who are needful. Others choose to return it to the network provider but by far the most popular choice is to sell mobile phones for cash to a mobile phone recycling company. Most companies will ask for the phone and its battery and in return will send you the relevant cash.

At Mazuma Mobile we offer a mobile phone recycling service to dispose of your old mobile phones for cash.

Conference Calling Audio Quality

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:41:16 -0500

The sound quality of conference calls can vary from one carrier to the next. Among the many factors affecting audio quality is the technology used to deliver the calls. Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs) are clearer than ever while newer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies are allowing for cheaper, though less clear, transmissions over the Internet. Today, most phone users are accustomed to crystal clear sound quality thanks to digital PSTNs. However, when it comes to low-cost conference calling plans, some are surprised at the lack of clarity. If you want the best audio quality possible, it’s crucial that you select a conference calling plan dedicated to providing it through a combination of state-of-the-art, high quality conference call bridges, telephony software solutions, and top tier telecommunications carriers.

PSTN vs. VoIP
Despite the alphabet soup of acronyms, PSTN and VoIP are relatively simply to understand. Public Switched Telephone Networks are also sometimes called “Plain Old Telephone Service” for good reason: that’s what they are. Your traditional land line uses PSTN, which is a global network of circuit-switched telephone networks. These networks are nearly completely digital and now include mobile telephones as well as landlines.

Voice over Internet Protocol is a transmission technology used for delivering voice communications over the Internet. As with sending data files over the Internet, VoIP breaks the voice files into small “packets” which are transmitted and reassembled over the Internet. These packets take various routes to reach the final destination with some arriving sooner than others. While this occurs at lightning fast speeds, some audio delays, dropouts, and “jitters” can occur with VoIP conference calls.

While VoIP conference calling is emerging as a viable, low-cost communications method, call quality has yet to equal that of the higher quality, tried-and-true PSTN technologies where static, interference, echoes, and call delays are virtually unheard of.

Conference Calling Bridges
Conference call bridges are used to facilitate multi-caller conference calls. Using a bridge, hefty toll charges can be avoided and a group teleconference set up and managed. Though far out of reach pricewise for individuals and businesses, conference calling service providers provide access to their bridges as part of their service plans. Essentially, you are renting the conference call bridge when you sign up for a conference calling plan. However, not all bridges are created equally, and sound quality can be affected.

Telephony Software
Another factor that influences the quality of conference calls is the telephony software. Software allows for computer-based conference calling management. For example, a teleconference plan may or may not include Web-based account management tools and features such as autodial and call recording. While the software may not directly influence audio quality, software is available that allows the host to identify poor quality connections and as well as mute individual callers whose phones may be generating static and degrading the overall experience.

Telecommunications Carriers
In addition to the transmission method, conference calling bridges, and telephony software, the underlying telecommunications carriers used for conference calls can affect overall audio quality. Services offered, rates, and call quality can distinguish one carrier from the next.

With so many factors involved with conference calling, it’s no wonder that audio quality can suffer. For the ultimate in crystal clear conference calls, look for a provider that:
•    Uses PSTN rather than the less reliable VoIP
•    Offers state-of-the-art conference calling bridges
•    Offers feature-rich telephony software
•    Uses top-tier telecommunications carriers

Now is an exciting time when it comes to conference calling with emerging and existing technologies converging to deliver high quality conference calls at an affordable price.

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Recycle old mobile phones

Conference Calling Audio Quality