Online dating is finally becoming more like regular dating, as online dating sites are now beginning to appear that facilitate user contact with Skype and similar services. Users have more choice than ever before in terms of the ways in which they wish to communicate.

Pretty much all online dating services have an email facility that allows you to contact people directly. It’s much more impersonal than other means of communication, and it’s the “safest” way to communicate. You can leave an email for somebody and they can receive it some time in the future, which can be very useful at times. A permanent record of the email is usually obtained automatically. However, communicating through email often has its problems. It’s quite easy to read somebody’s meaning wrongly using email. This is because you have no access to tonal inflections which help indicate the would-be speaker’s mood, which would otherwise allow you to detect emotion in the vocal patterns. Sarcasm can be particularly difficult to discern when reading email from somebody. You also cannot easily detect somebody who lies about their age or sex. Also, you don’t get an immediate answer to any questions you may pose.

The next communication tool used commonly by the online dating community is online chat. This is probably the most common tool employed at present. People type sentences to each other in real time, and essentially have an electronic version of a conversation. Both parties have to be present, and you do get an answer in real time. In all other respects, online chat is similar to email, complete with its advantages and disadvantages.

With both of these approaches, it’s quite easy to change the communications mode to vocal, and that’s traditionally been done by one of the parties deciding to offer their telephone number to the other, or both parties exchanging telephone numbers. Using telephone calls gives you the capability of discerning meaning from the vocal inflections given to the voice, and it’s a more effective means of communication than email. You can usually tell the sex, and you may be able to tell the approximate age, of the person with whom you are communicating. However, offering telephone numbers results in a loss of privacy for those who offer them: you have no control over when the other person will call you, and they could do something malicious with your number. Telephone calls are usually difficult to block.

With the advent of voice-over-IP, or VoIP, technology, it is now possible to make calls over the Internet. Using this technology is similar to placing a telephone call. Messages can be recorded if you are not available at the time of the call, and if you get trouble with someone, you can easily block their call with most VoIP systems.

Services such as Skype are now beginning to offer video-over-IP. If you have a webcam and the person calling you also has one, you can both see each other in real time. This means that you can view the body language of the person with whom you are communicating. Although this usually doesn’t lend any additional meaning to the conversation compared with solely hearing their voice, you can see whether the person you are calling is interested in you, or what you have to say, just from a basic knowledge of body language. This is closest in form to a real date, and you will probably achieve greatest success if you can take this approach.

Staying connected with a cell phone has become a way of life for most people. As a result, there are many types of cell phones on the market. Knowing what is important to you in a phone can help you decide which cell phone to purchase. The following is a list of things to consider.

1. The size and weight of the phone. Some people like the smallest phone they can buy while others want something substantial.

2. A phone with or without a flip cover. A flip cover can protect your keypad, but it may also be cumbersome.

3. The option to use the phone with a speakerphone. This is especially helpful while driving and talking on the phone.

4. A phone with a built in camera. You can be prepared to capture that great shot at any time.

5. Color display. Color really helps when surfing the web and taking digital pictures.

6. A phone with a built in PDA. Stay organized and have phone numbers at your fingertips. Check your schedule and talk on the phone at the same time.

7. Your budget. Cell phones range in prices, but usually are less expensive when also purchasing service.

8. Overseas usage. You may not need this often, but when you do, it’s very convenient.

9. Text messaging capability. This is another great way to keep in touch.

10. Accessing the Web. Stay connected to the web and look up information anywhere, anytime.

11. Ability to use your phone as a walkie-talkie. This is good for quick conversations.

12. Ability to download unique ringtones. Make your phone fun by choosing your favorite song as your ringtone.

13. An MP3 player. Take your favorite tunes with you wherever you go.

As you can see, there are many options available in a cell phone. Of course, the more options you choose for your phone, the more expensive it becomes. But if you want to stay connected, you’ll be sure to find the best phone for you if you consider all the options.

Copyright © 2005 Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet

About Susan and Debbie: Susan and Debbie are internet marketers. You can review more articles and Web sites on cellular phones and service by visiting http://www.callingallcellular.com.

Are you a salesperson who works at of your home and often uses the telephone to set up appointments, make deals and do cold calling? If so, it you may wish to check your bandwidth if you end up switching to voice IP because otherwise you may not have the proper bandwidth to carry on a conversation in the middle of the day when all the Internet lines are being used at maximum peak.

There’s nothing more aggravating to listen to someone using voice IP who is trying to explain something and the communications is coming out broken. If you are a salesperson and doing this you might be aggravating your customers or even frustrating them and certainly that is no way to open a dialogue or begin the sales process.

Make sure you have the proper bandwidth for your voice IP home office otherwise you are better sticking to regular phone service. Trying to explain to a customer why you’re so frugal that you wanted to only pay $19 a month and still call all over the country to very important clients may not make sense to them.

In fact if you think about it; it probably does not make any sense to you either. If you are a good salesperson and make a lot of sales on the phone then you need the best phone service possible and if voice IP is not doing it for you then you shouldn’t be using it.

How bad is this problem? Well, I have been talking to quite a few people who are consultants who work out of their home and they have tried VoIP and they had to switch back. It just wasn’t working out for them. Perhaps you will consider all this in 2006.

The internet can be a great place to buy your next cell phone. How many times have you been in the mall and were harassed by some pushy wireless telephone dealer? The internet store is a sharp contrast to this type of environment. On the internet, you can take your time, research a particular phone, and search for the best deals. In addition to this, internet dealers generally have better cell phone deals than their brick and mortar competitors. But how do you take advantage of these better deals?

In 2004, the government approved number portability. Number portability allows you to keep your cell phone number, even if you switch carriers. The implications of this are crucial for taking advantage of internet cell phone deals.

Internet dealers often offer some very innovative and high end cell phones for free after rebate. However, to receive these offers, you must also sign up for a new cell phone plan. If you want to stay with your current carrier, you must sign up for a new phone number along with the new phone plan. This is because number portability is carrier to carrier (not inter-carrier). Although you could upgrade your phone and keep your number and carrier, this would not qualify you for most internet offers. The alternative is to keep your cell phone number (through number portability) and switch carriers. However, if you choose this option, make sure that you are not under contract with your current provider or you could stand to face a hefty termination charge.

Nevertheless, there are many quality carriers in the marketplace. Switching carriers should not be that troublesome. Therefore, these internet cell phone deals have great value for the consumer. Often, these phones that you can get free after rebate would cost you more than $200 as an upgrade. As a savvy cell phone consumer, you could select two carriers that you are comfortable with and switch between the two every one or two years (and receive a high quality cell phone free after rebate) in the process. The internet marketplace holds great value for the cell phone consumer. Take advantage of these great internet cell phone deals.

Jaye Seay is an MBA candidate at Howard University in Washington, DC. He is also the owner of http://www.8ballwireless.com, a website that offers consumers information, reviews, and links to the best internet cell phone deals.

Firstly, it’s vital to point out that this short report is NOT one of my many tips or secrets related to saving an absolute fortune on your Mobile Phone expenses. It’s about something even more serious and that is - your health and quality of life!

Now it’s important for me to mention at this stage that I am not a scientist or a doctor, however being a person closely involved in the mobile phone industry for many years I wanted to give you a strong insight into the concerns about Mobile Phone Radiation and the protection you need from EMR (Electro Magnetic Radiation). You can then draw your own conclusions on this subject and make your own decisions.

Later in this report, I will give you some tips and pointers to ensure you are far less at risk by using some simple mobile phone radiation protection techniques!

Ok, so let’s get straight into it shall we?

In 2001 a leading Australian Scientist began researching a link between Mobile Phones and Cancer. These were some of his findings:

Phone companies are insisting that mobile phones only omit low levels of radiation, but tests have shown that even exposure to low levels of radiation CAN be harmful

Long periods of time exposed to EMR can cause changes to cell structure and could ultimately lead to brain tumours

In June of 2004 a prominent neurosurgeon also carried out some research between Mobile Phones and Brain Tumours. Some of his findings were:

A 40% increase over the last 20 years (since the beginning of Mobile Technology) in Brain Tumours

Brain Tumours are now the No:1 threat for children overtaking LEUKAEMIA
Most of his Tumour patients had developed these Tumours just above the ear on the same side that they use their mobile phone
Strange Coincidence or FACT? Certainly it’s enough information to make you stand up and take notice.

Some other interesting facts to come out of tests on this subject were:

EMR (Electro Magnetic Radiation) can cause problems with the following:

The Reproductive System
Your Eyes
Memory and Reaction Times
Sleeping Patterns
Headaches, Dizziness and Nausea
Now don’t panic just yet because there are some ways to reduce your exposure to EMR or what’s commonly known as “Mobile Phone Radiation”

Here are some TIPS that I would recommend - for protection against mobile phone radiation.

First and foremost - try to reduce the AMOUNT of calls you make and receive on a mobile phone and where possible use your home phone. (Now here’s a Quick tip on this point too: - try to avoid the cordless phone because they are not much better!)
Take a look at the actual LENGTH of your calls because the longer the call the higher the possibility of more exposure to radiation.

I’m sure that if you’ve ever had an extremely long call you will recognise the signs like excessive heat around the ear area. This should be avoided as often as possible
Remember that if you’re using a portable hands-free (with a speaker & cord that runs up into your ear) you are NOT necessarily safe.

A controversial test in the UK had shown that radiation can actually travel up the cord and into your ear which can be even more harmful accelerating the damage being done.

Try to avoid keeping the phone ON or NEAR your body because there have even been links to infertility in men - (Frightening isn’t it!)
Ensure you get your point across and get off the phone! In other words, use your mobile phone for what you NEED to say and then end the call as soon as you can…

I wouldn’t recommend using your mobile to make lots of SOCIAL CALLS (these are usually quite lengthy in nature)… You could be frying your head while you’re gossiping.

Also avoid long calls BEFORE going to bed. Tests show that your quality of sleep suffers greatly as a result.
Finally, the best recommendation I can give is EXACTLY what I do myself and that is…

You might like to consider getting yourself a mobile phone with an inbuilt SPEAKERPHONE - In other words a Mobile Phone that has an inbuilt HANDS-FREE feature to give you ultimate mobile phone radiation protection!

This way you’ll be able to actually place the mobile phone infront or away from you - for example on a table, and speak and listen to the other person - WITHOUT having the Mobile Phone near your head or ANY part of your body for that matter…

It could take 10-15 years before we really know the TRUTH about Mobile Phone Radiation and the effects of EMR’s. In the meantime, don’t be a person that ends up with a brain tumour just because the Mobile Phone industry is trying to protect its financial interests at the expense of you and your family’s HEALTH!

If you’re NOT currently using a mobile phone which has an inbuilt SPEAKERPHONE feature, you might like consider getting one soon.

John Bertone is the author of Mobile Phone Secrets Revealed. An insider’s guide on how to save Hundreds to Thousands of dollars on your mobile phone costs. John will show you exactly how to compare and review mobile phone plans and deals to massively reduce your mobile phone charges!