How can OFWs save on phone calls?

Phone charges in Middle East countries belong to the highest in the world - well over $0.20 (PHP 12.50) per minute. The Philippines, to a lesser degree, also belong to the expensive rates in the world. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) abroad spend a lot calling their loved ones at home.

In contrast, United States, has the cheapest phone rates in the world. Calls to the Philippines costs roughly less than $0.08 (PHP 4.00) per minute. USA is also one of the cheapest destination - from Saudi Arabia, for example, it’s more expensive to call the Philippines than to the USA.

How can OFWs save those hard-earned Riyals, Dinar or Dollars? Simple - just get an Internet Phone that has a local phone number in the USA. Instead of calling the Philippines, the OFW calls the USA number - the call will be routed to the Internet Phone installed in the Philippines. Phone card users can also save a lot using this method.

For the Filipino seaman, well I sent one of my Internet Phone adaptor to my schoolmate, a ship captain, to see if it works on-board sea vessels.  If it works, consider the savings where ship-to-shore phone calls costs over US$2.00/minute!! Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Take note Skype users: Google acquired Gizmo5

I have tried Skype long time ago but I didn’t stick with it because (1) it’s using proprietary software, (2) any Skype installation is utilized, too, behind our backs to connect other Skype clients and (3) being a telecom guy, I want inter-connectivity with real phones.

Gizmo, although not as popular as Skype, uses open protocols (like SIP) and connects well with real phones. Google have seen this  opportunity to integrate it with GoogleTalk and GoogleVoice. Read the news from TechCrunch where I learned that Skype attempted to acquire Gizmo! In GoogleVoice blog, they temporarily suspended new sign-ups. Thanks I already have  Gizmoaccount.

What’s the benefit for ordinary users? Gizmo5 uses SIP protocol. SIP is royalty-free. Therefore, Skype-like communication among stand-alone IP phones, analog phone adaptors, mobile phones  and PC/laptops is readily available for you. Great isn’t it?

Playing YouTube music videos in stereo

Some YouTube music videos are played in mono by default. Thanks to one guy who gave the tip how to play it in stereo. How? Just append &fmt=18 on the URL and press the Enter key. Happy listening!

Fixing a laptop in London

just cleaned up a laptop in London from spyware/malwares.

Tale of Two Brains

Let’s have a short break, setting aside technos and music.  This time … the realm of psychology! After watching this, what can you say?

Can you still breathe?

Smart Plug N’Talk

Plug N’Talk, the latest service of  Smart Communications ,  uses a USB device that contains the ff components:

• sound chip - that connects to the earphone-mic as a calling device
• data storage - contains the software (sofphone) that is automatically installed to the PC. The phone number is also stored here. The user dials when the softphone is run.
• SIM - stores the prepaid amount

The target market is - OFWs abroad  especially in Middle East where the phone rates is one of the highest in the world (over US$0.20/minute).

Plug N’Talk is much cheaper - at PHP 6.50 (approx US$0.12) per minute for PLDT/Smart phones up to P8.50/min for non-PLDT/Smart. It’s similar to MagicJack, Vonage, or LanVox generic SIP phones where it’s has a VPN (Virtual Phone Number) assigned in USA or Canada. However, Plug N’Talk  is linked to a Philippine-assigned VPN so it can dial (and be called) as long as Plug N’Talk is ONLINE.

Plug N’Talk is the best option if  Philippines (not the country but the contact person) has no broadband Internet connection.  Otherwise, other options like Magic Jack, generic SIP IP phones or high-end Nokia phones like E51/52, E63 or N70 will come out cheaper since the per-minute charge will be practically ZERO. In fact, 2 of my readers, one in KSA and the other in NZ, called my SIP phone adapter using their Nokia E51 phone. Using mobile phones is more convenient because they can call the Philippines anytime - even from their office.

Tita Cory is dead … remembering Ninoy.

The nation is mourning for the passing away of former President Cory Aquino. She has done her part in uniting the Filipinos that eventually led to the depose of Ferdinand Marcos.This struggle started with Ninoy in the 60’s. I was still a kid then. At my tender age, I am aware of Ninoy and the national issues from the discussions of my father, a regular reader of the The Philippine Free Press magazine, with our barrio (barangay) folks . The first half of my life was mostly under the regime of Marcos and I witnessed how the Philippines, very prominent among Asian countries in the 60’s,  economically and morally declined over the decades.

In remembering Tita Cory, I watched the documentaries of Ninoy in YouTube instead to refresh my history. People easily forget the lessons of history. Let’s not  forget Ninoy’s struggles and his noble dream for country. Let’s be vigilant. For sure, this is one wish of our beloved Tita Cory. She may rest in peace. Amen.

What is a Virtual Phone Number?

Virtual Phone Number, or VPN, is a regular phone number but it’s not connected to a telephone set (hence, the term virtual) so no locally connected phone rings. Instead, all  incoming calls are transparently routed to a remote telephone set via the Internet. For example, if someone calls my VPN in Washington state (360)812-2281, my phone set in the Philippines rings. VPNs are available in major cities like New York, LA, London and Sydney for a minimal fee ($5.95 per month).

The main benefit of having a VPN is - it provides local access from your foreign callers. For personal use, families in the Philippines can be called anytime,anywhere.  For business users, like a hotel or resort in the Philippines, consider their edge if they  have local  numbers in London, San Francisco and/or Sydney?
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VoIP without PC/Laptop?

When you come across this term VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), what comes into your mind? Hmmm… chatting, YM, Skype, GoogleTalk, or MSN. The latest craze is MagicJack where it uses ordinary phone as a calling device and it can dial regular phones. That’s better. However, there’s one big disadvantage, all of them require PC/laptop! 

How about old folks at home who doesn’t know anything about PCs? They only know how to use the ordinary telephone. Can we make phone calls via Internet without using a PC? Yes  - by getting an Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA). It’s a portable box with sockets for an ordinary phone as a calling device and to your Internet connection. There’s a socket for your PC should you wish to do your usual Internet stuff.  

How to get it? There are 3 options:

1. Subscribe to Vonage and send the device to your folks BUT there’s a monthly fee about US$17.95
2. Buy an ATA (Analog Telephone Adaptor - similar device used by Vonage) - there’s no monthly fee BUT you have to set it up yourself.
3. Buy a pre-configured ATA from a value-added reseller.

If you choose Option 3,  LanVox Systems  offers delivery to the Philippines. There’s no monthly fee. Plus … if you want your own phone number in USA/Canada, there’s a monthly fee of $5.95 plus a one-time setup fee of $5.95. Having a phone number in Los Angeles or Vancouver is like having a Vonage service but much cheaper.

So far so good. I recommend this to my (retirable and dinosaur) brother in Cagayan de Oro, a close friend in Silicon Valley for their residence in Quezon City, and a friend in Camiguin. We can call each other anytime, for free. So everybody’s happy!

Backdoor dialing

What is backdoor dialing? This is the method used to contact Internet phones by calling regular phone numbers. My US/Canada callers find this very convenient than using voice/video chat because they can call me anytime, anywhere e.g. from their work. Since this is a local call, it’s a toll-free call to any IP phone anywhere in the world. Since I’m using a stand-alone SIP device, they can reach me anytime 24/7.

Backdoor dialing involves 2-step dialing:

1. Dial the nearest available phone access number.  Access numbers are posted on the provider’s webpage.
2. When the call is answered, then dial the Internet phone number.

As you can see, this is no brainer stuff - even kids and old folks can use it.

Camiguin Telephone Listing

At last, Camiguin Telephone Cooperative (CAMTECO) puts up an online phone listing. For tourists and Camiguingnons abroad, it’s a big help. I posted this to my other blog. Please proceed to http://lanvox.wordpress.com

My first email experience

Can you still remember your first email message? 

Mine was in 1994,  in the remote island of Camiguin. I was then connected with the Telephone Project, a grant of the German government. At that time, there were no ISPs, surfing, cafes, Yahoo, Friendster, etc. it was just plain text BBS (bulletin board system) and email. I got the info about bbs, email and Internet from the pioneer himself, Joel Disini. He sent me a diskettes of Frontdoor DOS mailer and installed it on one of the project PCs, a 486.

After the installation and configuration of the dialer,  I composed a short message to Joel  “… please reply upon receiving this message”. After my message was sent (via 9600kbps to Manila!), to my surprise, I got this one - “You have a new message”. When I opened it, it reads “when you receive this message, congratulations! rgds. - joel”.  “How the hell I got this message?” Suprised and excited, I started exchanging email to my wife in Fairchild Cebu.

Email facilitated my communication with GTZ Headquarters in Germany re progress of the Camiguin Telephone Project. Joel contributed to the Camiguin telephone project because it was a free account of The E-Mail Company! Thanks Joel!

Cheap or even free calls in Wi-Fi hotspots using GSM/WLAN phones

The availability of wi-fi hotspots is increasing - malls, coffee shops, etc. Hotel guests are looking for wifi in their rooms, too. So two  5-star hotels here in Cebu just activated 100% wifi access to the guest rooms. During our speed tests, I made VoIP calls using my laptop hooked up with a USB phone. I was able to contact Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro and USA. The quality is good - not bad for a free call. What could be a better device to use than a WLAN-enabled mobile phone? Imagine you can even make free calls in hotspots and still be able to text/talk through your regular network? (more…)

Toll-free call to the Philippines

My family and friends abroad loved my new trick for them to save on overseas calls. I just told them to dial a local number then they dial my Internet phone number. My IP phone in the Philippines rings! Free for them but not for me cuz’  I’m paying for the DSL line. With the increasing gasoline prices and worldwide recession, this is a big savings for everyone.

They were able to adapt easily because:

• they’re don’t know how to use Yahoo Chat or Skype,
• they prefer to use the phone than to type,
• it’s quicker than using a PC, Skype or even Phone Jack (see at the end why?) and
• they can call anytime … almost anywhere

This is not an illegal hack but a legal way how to fully utilize new technology and gadgets.  A broadband Internet connection at home is the most important requirement. No broadband connection yet? Get one now! Think the huge savings you can make abroad or within the Philippines?

How I did it? (more…)

Tweaking my analog audio gear

You can call me a vinyl junky because I still love to play records inspite of the CDs, DVDs and MP3/iPod’s around us. With the nostalgia of  LPs I inherited from my father and the ones I bought during my first employment, I cannot just throw them away. For years, I kept my LPs with no turntable to play since my audio gear was carted away by a burglar years ago. The only time I can listen to LPs is - when I’m on vacation in our ancestral home in Kuguita, Mambajao, Camiguin (see the picture included in Ivan Henares’ blog)

My interest in pursuing turntables revived when I come across an article from Beat Reviews, a Singaporean hi-fi magazine, written by Gary Leonard Koh, CEO of Genesis Loudspeakers (http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com). The conclusion of his article "LPs vs SACDs" is  - LPs are much better than SACDs! But that was before he discovered Black CDs. I believe him is because he’s an authority but there’s no substitute with  first-hand experience. (more…)

Vista vs. The Gutsy Gibbon (Ubuntu 7.10)

i might be biased towards Linux because i got a taste of a multitasking, multiuser SCO Xenix 386 in 1989 - when PCs was still dominated by Microsoft MS-DOS. but here’s an interesting article of ZDNet’s Robert Goodwin comparing his 7 PCs running on different platforms - 3 XPs, one Ubuntu 6.06, 3 Ubuntu 7.10 and one Vista. Bob is a Windows user from Day 1, and lately converted to Linux Ubuntu. his point of view should represent to most Windows users than me.

take note his Vista is running on Sony X1 2GB RAM but his Ubuntu 6.06 is running only on a PIII 500MHz (i guess with 512MB RAM because i still dual-boot Linux and XP on my Asus P3V133 Pentium 3 733MHz with 448MB RAM). i encourage everyone to try out Ubuntu. you can request for  a free LiveCD which runs by booting on your CD drive without installing on your hard disk. finally, whatever platform you have, i highly recommend on investing on RAM because my P3 still runs hardware-intensive X-Plane flight simulator.

Windbelt - cheap power generator for the Third World

One of the 10 most outstanding innovation released by Popular Mechanics magazine is the  Windbelt invented by Shawn Frayne which he hopes to get funding for distribution to Third Word Countries. What I marvel in this invention is - it uses the very same mechanism to make our kites drone during our childhood days.  With its simple design, very low cost and can be made from local materials, I remember the energy project started by our friend, Heinz Pomplun, a German consultant of the GTZ when we were still working on the Camiguin Rural Telephone Network project, when he donated a wind turbine to Mantigue Island, Camiguin. Its high cost is prohibitive to provide all households. However, the Windbelt is so easy and cheap to build that it can be a good science project for elementary and high scholl levels. I hope the Windbelt will spur concerned inviduals to continue the energy project in Mantigue.

Black CDs - sounds better than the original copy

Two years ago, I have come across an article written by Gary Leonard Koh, CEO of Genesis Loudspeakers, how Black CDs improved the sound of audio CDs.  I had the privilege to personally met Gary because he is a former house tenant of my sister Daylinda here in Cebu. His white paper, In Quest of Absolute Fidelity: The Saga of Black CDs,  (click here to view and download) details the process. I tried to copy some of my favorite selections to Black CDs. Lo and behold … I find the imaging (the location of the instruments and performers) more defined and the space acoustics somewhat widened even with my modest stereo system. Now, I end up copying almost all my original audio CDs into Black CDs.

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