plaloma

Used Car Buying

2008-09-26T09:38:00.001+07:00

Owning a four wheeler have become necessity in today’s motorized world. Every one cannot opt for a new car but can always own ‘Used car’ it is also an added advantage if you have just learnt driving. In this way you can refine your driving as well as build up enough confidence to before investing a substantial amount on new car. There are certain fundamentals that have to be followed before buying a car. Especially if it is a used car you have to be careful and well acquainted before investing. To start with:Budget and selection of a car: (pricing, brand, model)…Before buying a car one should always have a rough estimate about spending plan. This way you can select the cars that falls in your budget and then compare it with other cars of same class..Next thing you have to keep in your mind is ‘what kind of car do I want to buy? Or with which manufactures should I go?’ Decide on buying cars depending on your requirement and in this way selection becomes much easier.Look for hidden pointsHistory: (antecedents, accidents, insurance, and depreciation)…Inspect the chassis of the car thoroughly; the body line will give an idea whether the car was involved in a accident. You can check any sign of repainting, similar color body parts etc…. the insurance formalities like regular premiums are paid, policy is revised etc…Ownership: (antecedents: single owner/multiple owner)It is very important to enquire about its ownership as its been owned by a single or multiple owner and if it is multiple , there will value depreciation depending upon its condition.When inspecting a car always check for mechanical and technical problems. As it’s a pre-owned car, proper overall review is necessary. Start with its engine: that it should idle smoothly with out any sputtering and also accelerate with out any hesitation.Wheel alignment plays a very vital role, uneven wear and tear of tyres-balding on the sides or in the middle-indicate poor alignment. Check for battery condition, heat up the engine to check the air-conditioner efficiency also check with the deforestation, defogger fan, heater…every single detail that will give value for your buy. Another important thing that has to be kept in mind before buying a car is with its titles and credentials. Ensure that all the paper works are in order, because sometimes it is possible that you may be buying a stolen car. Checklists of the important documents are as follows:• RC Book (Registration book/certificate)- Also known as Blue book is issued by the RTO (certain offices of some state does not provide the document in the form of booklet rather it will be a single document –Form 21’) the where it reveals the date and address of registration and the record of the owners vehicle, the engine number, chassis number (the engine and the chassis numbers has to be verified with that shown in the book). An entry in the book also acknowledges how many times the vehicle has been sold, the details of the previous of the previous owner (name and address). The state registration should be verified, as it has to be registered with the same state where you intend to use your car otherwise you have to get it transferred it which is again a cumbersome process with lots of formalities and time consuming.• Tax certificate/book – This document contains details about tax paid. The RTO tax is a lifetime tax that has to pay by the owner (some state collect life time tax and some have annual tax payment) and if the papers are not clear, you will have to bear all the unpaid taxes. Another tax that people often forget or ignore it is the road tax, so ensure that all the papers are clear before finalizing your deal.• Insurance – Another vital document which is mandatory for any transfer by RTO. Premiums are paid on regular basis and it is always better to check the due date and also ensure that the insurance papers are transferred in your name before your buy. Though any of these insurance papers cannot give you a clear picture about the vehicle involved in any accidents but still it’s a assurance towards the ‘safety of the car’• Invoice – Demand for the original invoice as every owners keep original invoice given to them by the car dealers/showrooms. The invoice encloses all the car details (purchase date, year, chassis and engine number) which give an idea about its original prize. The invoice also gives the information if the car is financed or not.• NOC (no objection certificate)- If the car is purchased on finance, ask for its documents from the finance company stating all the dues are paid and the company have no claim on the vehicle any more. Form 35- you must have a copy of this duly signed by the financer.• PUC certificate (pollution under control)- every car needs a PUC certificate and it is valid up to one year for every new car and has to be obtained in every six months.Always do your homework before buying your car in terms of researching. Search for online information about the car your looking for, go for its technical and mechanical details and check for its resale value. In this computer world we can get any information from anyone and from anywhere. Use online quotes that will be a great help, compare cars as well as look for best deals with different dealers. Do a thorough study about your car before buying rather than going for the first car you came across. Instead of hurrying, take your time, look as many as cars you can and have an eye for detailing and then decide for the ‘right car’ you want to own. Once you feel your research is complete and now you are ready to look out for your car, comes the next step.Ratify the value of the vehicleIt is not necessary that everyone is well versed with knowledge about cars. May be to a certain extent but to know a in and out of a used car, a professional opinion is must.It is always better to consult a mechanic or get it rated in authorized service center and if you are dealing with a private party then be always on guard as vehicle sold to you could be stolen. You can also contact the dealers to know about the warranty features and also about the resale value of the car.Exterior CheckCheck for the overall condition of the car like dents, nick, scratch, repaint, working condition of light, tail lamps, indicator, wiper (flick all the switches and check if everything working properly ). Also check the tyres in terms of wear and tear, (if you don’t get a good radial tyre, then try to reduce the prize further ) oil tank for its leakage. It is also very important to check the undercarriage of the car. Check for the shock absorbers, lean hard on the corner of the car and release and if the car is rocking up and down then it may need replacing.Interior checkGo through the warning indicator lights, speedometer, the fuel gauge and the other gauge work properly, also check for the glove box lock is intact. Coming to the seating, look if the headrest, adjustable seats, door handles, window knobs, interior lights, seat belts.Also check for the air-conditioning, ensure that all the A/C switches are working and the proper air flows through all the provided vents. Look for any squeaky noise while opening any window or door. Also ensure that the locking system is perfect. The last thing people look for is the tool kit, but one should make sure all the tools present in the kit. Look for the Once the all the interior and exterior factors are analyzed, now it’s the time to take the car for a ride in a literal meaning.Test driveOne cannot just have a overall look and then decide on buying a car. It is very important to take a test derive so that one will have a clear picture about the car. It is better to take a longer stretch so that the engine is heated up. Once the car is warmed up check if there is any kind of noise or vibration or even any kind of odor and any kind of unusual sound or vibration will be an invitation for a major trouble. Check if the steering wheel is perfect, there should not be any kind of vibration. Test the pressure with the hand breaks as well as with the pedal brakes. Drive it on a empty long stretch with a 30kph and apply hard brakes, the car should come to a stop with in no time with out any pressure or vibration. The pedals should be smooth and applying brakes should not with much effort. Finance factorWork at your payment mode before your venture forth, avoid credit card payment through because of high interest rates. And if you are looking for finance, It is always better to avoid the third party concept in any kind of financing, always go for the direct finance as it will save your time as well as money. Opt for easy-payable EMI with zero interest option(now there are leading banks that provide affordable and easily repayable ‘used car loans’. Clinch the dealSo now as you are well versed and clear with all the technical, mechanical as well as legal details, keep in mind certain important points before finalizing the deal.? Ensure that all the terms and conditions of the deal are obtained in writing: This will give a clear picture to both the parties involved in a deal (previous as well as the current owner). There will be no space for confusion to arise.? Negotiate for a better prize: As it is buyers market you can always have your say in terms of bargaining. Before you go for your car shopping, ensure that your are aware with the value of the car you’re buying and the value of trade in. The seller should get the idea that you are also aware of the car markets; you should be always ready for the bargain-battle.? Know that a well stocked dealer will cut a better dealLast but not the least and the most important factor that has t be taken care after finalizing the deal is :Transferring OwnershipWith the sale of the care, the ownership also changes. The original owner (Transferor), who is selling the car should inform the RTO with whom the car was registered with in 14 days with a letter of information about the new owner (Transferee) and incase the new owner falls into the jurisdiction of another RTO, then the Transferor has to inform the this RTO with the similar letter and receiving an acknowledgment of receipt of the letter from the RTO, the transferor is indemnified of all legal, tax, traffic, criminal and other liabilities pertaining to the car. The seller must also take a delivery note signed by a buyer. And if the car has being transferred is in another state, then the transferor has to get a NOC(no objection certificate, form 28’) from his RTO and forward to the RTO in whose jurisdiction the new owner stays. NOC is accompanied by another set of documents required to transferring ownership as follows:• Form "TCA" - Intimation of transfer by Transferee (buyer) • Form "TCR" - Intimation of transfer by Transferor (seller) • Form No.29 - Notice of transfer of ownership of vehicle. • Form No.30 - Report of transfer of ownership of vehicle. • Valid Insurance policy • PUC Certificate • Address proof of the Transferee (the buyer)

Top Ten Secrets to Get Rid of Your Used Car, But Still Earn What it Worth

2008-09-26T09:37:00.001+07:00

In this Article you will find out the top ten secrets to sell your cars for the highest value possible without spending a fortune.

1. Find out How much is your car worth.

There is plenty of cars magazines, newspapers and cars website online that you can use one of them to find how much is your car worth. In state, the bluebook value is a good one. I am pretty sure most other countries has an equivelant book. A good website to find other cars with the same specs as yours & can give you good a feeling of how much its worth is mecarz for used cars.

2. Don't trade it in, but sell it.

Dealerships who allow you to trade in your old car for a newer one usually cut your car value by at least 30%. Don't you believe that 30% is worth your effort in selling your car than trading it in.

3. Ensure that you have your car Registration Document/Certificate.

Your car Registeration Document/Certificate is the best indicator that the car is your & not stolen. If you have lost your car documents, then ensure you retrieve them before you try to sell your car. It will help you gain a better value of your car.

4. Try to sell your car yourself, not through a dealer ship as you will certainly receive more money for it.

A dealership has to ensure that he will make a descent profit out of your car, so for sure he will offer you way less than your car worth. If you are not in a hassle to sell your car & got the time to sell it on your own you will definitely make a better value of your car selling it on your own.

5. Get your car into the finest shape achievable, inside and outside

Give you car a professional cleaning before you even post it for sale. Take care of you tire pressure, oil and screen wash. Remember the look of your car is the first thing the buyer will see. The first impression is very important when trying to sell your car.

6. Advertise your car in the local newspapers, your church, & online.

Try to make a full use of free advertising forums online and your church ads board. A great place to advertise your used cars online for free will be mecarz.com. A lot of countries has some cars specialties magazines which allow you to advertise your car for free as well & they charge a small fee for the magazine buyer. Both of these can be a great free way to increase your car selling chances.

7. Always have an absolute lowest price in mind, and never go below it

You may have to negotiate your price, but never go below the one you had set your mind to.

8. Never allow a mediator.

No matter what the mediator a buyer bring with him say, be careful as he will always try to reduce of your car value. Remember at the end this mediator service is paid by the buyer, why will he consider to be honest to you!!

9. Finally, payment

Cash is always the best option, though bank draft is as good as cash. If you have to accept a check for the price of the car then ensure you don't give the car key yet, till the check is cleared. Always be careful with checks as not all people as honest as your are.

Sorry I know these were 9, but I had skipped one reason that was on my mind when I started writing this article due to a lot of comments and recommendations to drop it by my friend Frank. Though these 9 tips should be enough to help you get the best price out of your car.

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Used Car Vs a New Car

2008-09-26T09:35:00.000+07:00

Buying a used car is a great way to save some money and still get the car you've been searching for. Whether you're constrained by your pocketbook or have certain automotive needs that must be met (such as a backseat for the kids or four-wheel drive for winter weather), today's used car options deliver almost everything new cars do and at a lower overall cost.1. DepreciationThe second you drive a new car off the lot, its value depreciates by as much as 20 percent. Studies show that most cars are only worth 60 to 70 percent of their original value three years after their purchase. When you buy a used car, all the depreciation has already been absorbed by the original owner.2. No Overpriced Dealer RepairsWhen you purchase certain makes and models of new cars, the parts covered under warranty aren't valid if you use your own mechanic. In these instances, your only choice is to return to the dealership to get your repairs done. This is basically the dealership's way of getting you into their shops with their overpriced service. When you buy a used car, you can get repairs done on your own terms.3. Save MoneyBuying used cars whether you are buying from a used car dealership, car classifieds, or online sites like Craigslist simply costs less money than buying new. New cars run an average of $25,000, while used cars are closer to the $10,000 range. If you're buying from a private seller, you might even be able to haggle the price down or barter to keep costs low.4. Save the PlanetWhile buying a hybrid car might seem like a great way to go green, it actually takes more energy to build a new hybrid than it does to buy a fuel-efficient used car. Every time a hybrid comes off the assembly line, it takes about 46,000 miles of driving before the car breaks even? in the amount of energy it saves through fuel efficiency. Buying a used car in the first place as long as it's not a gas guzzler will actually reduce your carbon footprint.5. Lower Car Insurance RatesCar insurance rates are higher for new cars than they are for used cars. The reasons are simple: new cars are more likely to be financed (and therefore need full coverage), and annual insurance rates can run as high as 20 percent of a car's sticker price. Buying a newer, more expensive model can end up costing you money for years.6. Higher Used Car StandardsThanks to new lemon laws and auto history check websites, it has become easier than ever to determine if a used car has undergone any major damage. Some used car dealerships also offer used car certification, which guarantees that they have been looked over and approved by a qualified mechanic.7. Avoiding Car DealershipsWhen buying a used car, you have a number of places to look. You can peruse car classifieds, visit eBay or Craigslist, or opt for a used car dealership. New cars typically only come from one place - the dealer - so you have limited options when it comes to salesmen and haggling over prices.8. Finding Good DealsOwners of new cars can be a pretty finicky set. Many people turn over their cars after one or two years simply as a matter of course, while others may decide that the monthly payments are too high to continue. If you take the time to look for quality used cars, you might find some incredibly good deals from individuals who are motivated to sell.9. More Bang for Your BuckWhen you drive a new car straight off the lot, you typically pay for every added feature. When you upgrade to include a sunroof, tinted windows, and a spoiler, you can leave with a total price thousands of dollars higher than the sticker price. Used cars with these same amenities might cost a little more than those without, but not nearly to the same extent.10. Used Cars can be just as Reliable if carefully inspectedAlthough buying a new car may seem like a more responsible choice, no car purchase is guaranteed to be hassle-free. Factory recalls, faulty parts, and required maintanence repairs can occur just as easily in a new car as they can in a used car. As long as you have your used car purchase checked out and you take good care of it, the overall reliability of your car can be just as good as a new car. Further, cars have also become more reliable with advances in technology.Buying a car - regardless of whether you choose new or used - is a major endeavor that can put a strain on your finances for years. Fortunately, most of the benefits of buying a used car have to do with money. As long as you take your time, evaluate your prospective purchases, and have a mechanic check out the used car before you buy it, you and your used car can spend many happy years together.

Used Cars: "Certified" No Substitute for Extended Warranties

2008-09-26T09:32:00.000+07:00

Thinking about a used car? Nervous about what's under the hood? Used car dealers are feeling your pain all the way to the bank. In an ironic twist, "pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad reputation.

No, they're not just selling overpriced used car extended warranties anymore. They're charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) not to be pieces of junk. The accompanying "certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less protection than the best used car warranties, which you can buy yourself online. Who needs a used car warranty if your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate risk. Thorough extended warranties for used cars are necessary, "certified" or not. In some cases, a half-hearted inspection means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on. Used car problems often only appear months or years after purchase. That's why even for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

Worse, "certified" used cars don't always come with any extended used car warranty coverage. When a "certified" used car warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a new car warranty. Even most standard pre-owned vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified" used car warranties.

You can almost always do better on your own. An independent inspection and a used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower price.

"Certified" Used Car Inspections Inspected

The cornerstone of a "certified" used car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection. There are good reasons to think that the inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended warranty coverage.
Are inspections really added value? Don't you wonder why dealers aren't inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves? Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with cars. Anyone who's had to haggle over a trade-in knows that. The big question is whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows. Trust is still an issue with "certified" cars.

Certified by whom? Think about it: the same people who are trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it. Yes, you read right: the "certification" is usually done by the dealership selling the car. If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

Duplicate inspection. You should have any used car, "certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic. You're up against an industry that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car dealers. Do not give up your first line of defense.

Limits of inspections. No inspection in the world can foresee every possible problem. Oftentimes, something that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was sold--or was virtually undetectable. When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended warranty.
"Certified" Used Car Warranty Coverage under the Hood

The implied selling point of "certified" used cars is they won't break. That kind of makes used car extended warranties seem unnecessary. Naturally, some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway. In order to ease those inquiring minds, "certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least implied. Sadly, too few people will inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty covers.
Does certified mean "under warranty"? Not necessarily. The major manufacturers' "certified" programs usually include some extended warranty protection. But oftentimes, "certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come with any extended warranty coverage. If it does break, tough luck.

How good's the warranty? The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is only for 3 months or 3,000 miles! Ford offers longer "certified" warranties. But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper, covering only the "power train." Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors. Right off the internet, you can buy extended warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several years.
"Certified" Used Cars: Extended Warranties Still Needed

"Certified" used cars offer two things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty. Arguably, neither is worth the price.
Inspection. Let's face reality. The junky used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections. Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a) The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is trying to sell a car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking. In none of these cases will a "certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent inspection and extended used car warranty.

Warranty. A "certified" used car will often cost 10%-25% more. For a $10,000 used car, that's $1,000-$2,500. An extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often cost about the same. But the best used car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified" used car warranties. Given that fact, you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.
Worst of all, certified used cars come with an expensive risk. They tempt you to let your guard down. Ford even issued a press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer Beware." As if that were a good thing.

Of course, in the end, you may buy a "certified" used car anyway. These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't "certified." Just make sure to get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended warranty. "Certified" or not, it's still a used car.
Thinking about a used car? Nervous about what's under the hood? Used car dealers are feeling your pain all the way to the bank. In an ironic twist, "pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad reputation.

No, they're not just selling overpriced used car extended warranties anymore. They're charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) not to be pieces of junk. The accompanying "certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less protection than the best used car warranties, which you can buy yourself online. Who needs a used car warranty if your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate risk. Thorough extended warranties for used cars are necessary, "certified" or not. In some cases, a half-hearted inspection means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on. Used car problems often only appear months or years after purchase. That's why even for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

Worse, "certified" used cars don't always come with any extended used car warranty coverage. When a "certified" used car warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a new car warranty. Even most standard pre-owned vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified" used car warranties.

You can almost always do better on your own. An independent inspection and a used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower price.

"Certified" Used Car Inspections Inspected

The cornerstone of a "certified" used car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection. There are good reasons to think that the inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended warranty coverage.
Are inspections really added value? Don't you wonder why dealers aren't inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves? Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with cars. Anyone who's had to haggle over a trade-in knows that. The big question is whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows. Trust is still an issue with "certified" cars.

Certified by whom? Think about it: the same people who are trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it. Yes, you read right: the "certification" is usually done by the dealership selling the car. If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

Duplicate inspection. You should have any used car, "certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic. You're up against an industry that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car dealers. Do not give up your first line of defense.

Limits of inspections. No inspection in the world can foresee every possible problem. Oftentimes, something that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was sold--or was virtually undetectable. When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended warranty.
"Certified" Used Car Warranty Coverage under the Hood

The implied selling point of "certified" used cars is they won't break. That kind of makes used car extended warranties seem unnecessary. Naturally, some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway. In order to ease those inquiring minds, "certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least implied. Sadly, too few people will inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty covers.
Does certified mean "under warranty"? Not necessarily. The major manufacturers' "certified" programs usually include some extended warranty protection. But oftentimes, "certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come with any extended warranty coverage. If it does break, tough luck.

How good's the warranty? The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is only for 3 months or 3,000 miles! Ford offers longer "certified" warranties. But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper, covering only the "power train." Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors. Right off the internet, you can buy extended warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several years.
"Certified" Used Cars: Extended Warranties Still Needed

"Certified" used cars offer two things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty. Arguably, neither is worth the price.
Inspection. Let's face reality. The junky used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections. Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a) The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is trying to sell a car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking. In none of these cases will a "certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent inspection and extended used car warranty.

Warranty. A "certified" used car will often cost 10%-25% more. For a $10,000 used car, that's $1,000-$2,500. An extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often cost about the same. But the best used car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified" used car warranties. Given that fact, you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.
Worst of all, certified used cars come with an expensive risk. They tempt you to let your guard down. Ford even issued a press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer Beware." As if that were a good thing.

Of course, in the end, you may buy a "certified" used car anyway. These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't "certified." Just make sure to get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended warranty. "Certified" or not, it's still a used car.
Thinking about a used car? Nervous about what's under the hood? Used car dealers are feeling your pain all the way to the bank. In an ironic twist, "pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad reputation.

No, they're not just selling overpriced used car extended warranties anymore. They're charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) not to be pieces of junk. The accompanying "certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less protection than the best used car warranties, which you can buy yourself online. Who needs a used car warranty if your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate risk. Thorough extended warranties for used cars are necessary, "certified" or not. In some cases, a half-hearted inspection means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on. Used car problems often only appear months or years after purchase. That's why even for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

Worse, "certified" used cars don't always come with any extended used car warranty coverage. When a "certified" used car warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a new car warranty. Even most standard pre-owned vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified" used car warranties.

You can almost always do better on your own. An independent inspection and a used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower price.

"Certified" Used Car Inspections Inspected

The cornerstone of a "certified" used car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection. There are good reasons to think that the inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended warranty coverage.
Are inspections really added value? Don't you wonder why dealers aren't inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves? Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with cars. Anyone who's had to haggle over a trade-in knows that. The big question is whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows. Trust is still an issue with "certified" cars.

Certified by whom? Think about it: the same people who are trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it. Yes, you read right: the "certification" is usually done by the dealership selling the car. If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

Duplicate inspection. You should have any used car, "certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic. You're up against an industry that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car dealers. Do not give up your first line of defense.

Limits of inspections. No inspection in the world can foresee every possible problem. Oftentimes, something that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was sold--or was virtually undetectable. When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended warranty.
"Certified" Used Car Warranty Coverage under the Hood

The implied selling point of "certified" used cars is they won't break. That kind of makes used car extended warranties seem unnecessary. Naturally, some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway. In order to ease those inquiring minds, "certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least implied. Sadly, too few people will inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty covers.
Does certified mean "under warranty"? Not necessarily. The major manufacturers' "certified" programs usually include some extended warranty protection. But oftentimes, "certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come with any extended warranty coverage. If it does break, tough luck.

How good's the warranty? The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is only for 3 months or 3,000 miles! Ford offers longer "certified" warranties. But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper, covering only the "power train." Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors. Right off the internet, you can buy extended warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several years.
"Certified" Used Cars: Extended Warranties Still Needed

"Certified" used cars offer two things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty. Arguably, neither is worth the price.
Inspection. Let's face reality. The junky used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections. Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a) The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is trying to sell a car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking. In none of these cases will a "certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent inspection and extended used car warranty.

Warranty. A "certified" used car will often cost 10%-25% more. For a $10,000 used car, that's $1,000-$2,500. An extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often cost about the same. But the best used car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified" used car warranties. Given that fact, you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.
Worst of all, certified used cars come with an expensive risk. They tempt you to let your guard down. Ford even issued a press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer Beware." As if that were a good thing.

Of course, in the end, you may buy a "certified" used car anyway. These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't "certified." Just make sure to get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended warranty. "Certified" or not, it's still a used car.
Thinking about a used car? Nervous about what's under the hood? Used car dealers are feeling your pain all the way to the bank. In an ironic twist, "pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad reputation.

No, they're not just selling overpriced used car extended warranties anymore. They're charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) not to be pieces of junk. The accompanying "certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less protection than the best used car warranties, which you can buy yourself online. Who needs a used car warranty if your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate risk. Thorough extended warranties for used cars are necessary, "certified" or not. In some cases, a half-hearted inspection means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on. Used car problems often only appear months or years after purchase. That's why even for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

Worse, "certified" used cars don't always come with any extended used car warranty coverage. When a "certified" used car warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a new car warranty. Even most standard pre-owned vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified" used car warranties.

You can almost always do better on your own. An independent inspection and a used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower price.

"Certified" Used Car Inspections Inspected

The cornerstone of a "certified" used car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection. There are good reasons to think that the inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended warranty coverage.
Are inspections really added value? Don't you wonder why dealers aren't inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves? Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with cars. Anyone who's had to haggle over a trade-in knows that. The big question is whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows. Trust is still an issue with "certified" cars.

Certified by whom? Think about it: the same people who are trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it. Yes, you read right: the "certification" is usually done by the dealership selling the car. If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

Duplicate inspection. You should have any used car, "certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic. You're up against an industry that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car dealers. Do not give up your first line of defense.

Limits of inspections. No inspection in the world can foresee every possible problem. Oftentimes, something that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was sold--or was virtually undetectable. When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended warranty.
"Certified" Used Car Warranty Coverage under the Hood

The implied selling point of "certified" used cars is they won't break. That kind of makes used car extended warranties seem unnecessary. Naturally, some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway. In order to ease those inquiring minds, "certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least implied. Sadly, too few people will inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty covers.
Does certified mean "under warranty"? Not necessarily. The major manufacturers' "certified" programs usually include some extended warranty protection. But oftentimes, "certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come with any extended warranty coverage. If it does break, tough luck.

How good's the warranty? The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is only for 3 months or 3,000 miles! Ford offers longer "certified" warranties. But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper, covering only the "power train." Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors. Right off the internet, you can buy extended warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several years.
"Certified" Used Cars: Extended Warranties Still Needed

"Certified" used cars offer two things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty. Arguably, neither is worth the price.
Inspection. Let's face reality. The junky used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections. Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a) The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is trying to sell a car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking. In none of these cases will a "certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent inspection and extended used car warranty.

Warranty. A "certified" used car will often cost 10%-25% more. For a $10,000 used car, that's $1,000-$2,500. An extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often cost about the same. But the best used car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified" used car warranties. Given that fact, you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.
Worst of all, certified used cars come with an expensive risk. They tempt you to let your guard down. Ford even issued a press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer Beware." As if that were a good thing.

Of course, in the end, you may buy a "certified" used car anyway. These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't "certified." Just make sure to get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended warranty. "Certified" or not, it's still a used car.

Bad Credit Car Loan Refinance

2008-09-26T09:30:00.001+07:00

A bad credit car loan refinance program provides the opportunity for an individual to receive better interest rates and a lower payment on a current vehicle. This type of service could be available to a car owner that has a vehicle that is worth more than the remaining balance owed, or if it has already been bought outright. To refinance means to finance again. Bad credit auto loans refinance funds pay off the original lender and begin a new term with a new payment amount. Typically, a program of this nature will have a higher interest rate than a program for the individual in good financial standing, but a lower interest rate than the original agreement. There are no restrictions on the number of times a person can apply for this type of service.

Some borrowers make applications yearly in hopes to find the best rates. As long as the automobile holds its value; a lender will more than likely approve the loan. Bad credit auto loans refinance programs are limited to cars that are either; newer, extremely expensive, or considered classics. Older cars with higher mileage do not keep their value and therefore would not qualify for a bad credit car loans refinance program. The car is pledged as security, and is therefore the leading factor in whether or not approval is achieved. If the borrower's financial score is too low (lower than 550); they may be ineligible to apply.

It is important for the borrower to know what a FICO score is before applying, as there is usually a non-refundable application fee. The FICO score can be checked by obtaining copies of a borrower's financial report from all three nationally recognized reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union. Once the report is obtained, experts recommend reviewing it for inaccuracies. Inaccuracies make up 25% of lowered scores. Typical inaccuracies that will lower a financial score and render a bad credit auto loan refinance applicant ineligible include: incorrect balances on credit cards, incorrect employment information, and unauthorized credit report inquiries, and incorrect accounts belonging to someone else.

Travelling With Kids in the Car

2008-09-26T09:30:00.000+07:00

Pack enough snacks, sandwiches and water to last the entire trip. It is amazing how the time flies when children are eating.
Pack a roll of toilet paper or enough wipes just in case a side of the road stop is necessary.
Bring nappy bags just in case you find out if your child/ren get car sickness.
Pack a bag of your child’s favourite toys. Preferably not hard objects just in case they throw them (speaking from experience here).
Baby Car Organisesr are great so you don’t have to keep reaching behind you to get things. Like this one or this one.
Portable DVD player is essential (remembering spare batteries). Multiple units if there is more than one child or you can get the ones with multiple screens.
Portable game consoles for older children.
Selection of your child’s favourite music to sign along too. Either on the car’s audio system or an individual audio system with headphones.
Arrange the car trip around the child’s nap time.
Break up the car travel in a day. Don’t try to do a 10 hour stint with child/ren in the car.
Everyone’s favourite driving game - Eye Spy with my little eye, something beginning with...
Apply sun-cream to your children’s faces, arms & legs. Sunshades on the windows if you have them.
And most of all - start the day happy and open minded because you don’t know what that car trip will finish up like when you have kids in the car.

Get a New Car Loan

2008-09-26T09:29:00.000+07:00

A car loan is simply a way for you to go about paying for the car that you are looking to purchase. You are going to take out a car loan from a financial lending company and bring it to the car dealership with you. The reason for going about doing this is because the moment that you bring your own New Car Finance to a car dealership you are then considered what is known as any cash buyer in that you can buy the car pretty much out right from them just as if you are paying for it in cash in the first place. You can then you should car finance in order to either buy the car that you want from them or you can also use it to lease a car through them.

When you go about getting yourself a great deal on the type of used cars that is going to last you for a long period of time you might end up thinking that it's something that is based upon a roll of the dice or something to that extent. The reality is however that it really depends on each exact amount of time and research that you are willing to put in to in order to empower yourself with the knowledge that is required in order to get the best possible deal on a New Car Loan that you can get for yourself. The bad credit used car loan that you will end up getting for yourself really is going to end up helping you get a very easy to manage and budget priced because the monthly payments are going to be fairly lower than at what you would normally expect from a car dealership as well as the interest rates on it should also be considerably lower than what you would get from used car dealerships. The reason you and make sure that you do this actually correctly is because you not want to end up having to get locked in to why it is known as an upside down car loan. This is aware you end up having your New Car Loan being worth more than what the price on a used car but you are trying to purchase or are purchasing it is. You should not be afraid about this though because there are a few different things you can do that can guide you in finding yourself the best financial deal on a bad credit used car loan.

Guaranteed Auto Loan Now – Receive Your Car Finance Now

2008-09-26T09:27:00.000+07:00

When it comes down to it in today's world not many people want to go out there not knowing exactly what the process encompasses when they are trying to buy themselves a car either for their own personal luxury or for them to get from place to place with. You really need to make sure that you have all the knowledge that goes with buying a car already in your head or else you risk ending up having to spend a lot more money then you should be in the first place. In order for you to make sure that you are going to get the best possible deal on a Guaranteed Auto Loan you are going to want to make sure that you get car finance before you ever walk into a car dealerships car lot.

A Car Finance Loans is simply a way for you to go about paying for the car that you are looking to purchase. You are going to take out a car loan from a financial lending company and bring it to the car dealership with you. The reason for going about doing this is because the moment that you bring your own Used Car Finance to a car dealership you are then considered what is known as any cash buyer in that you can buy the car pretty much out right from them just as if you are paying for it in cash in the first place. You can then you should car finance in order to either buy the car that you want from them or you can also use it to lease a car through them.

If you happen to have gone through the process of buying a car in your past then you more than likely know how a car salesman is going to work with you. The first thing that they would go about doing is checking your credit score through their third party financing company before they ever begin to negotiate on a fair price for the car that you are looking to purchase a car finance with you. The moment they go about doing this they are going to then offer you a supposedly special finance deals in any attempt to make you buy the car and finance it through their own third party financing car finance solutions. This is something that you are going to want to avoid like the plague and is going to end up making you pay a lot more money down the line in the future on the car that you desire simply because you did not take the time and energy to do all the research that is required before getting yourself a car finance that you need.

What to Expect When Filing a Construction Insurance Claim

2008-09-26T09:21:00.000+07:00

Construction claims are happening more often now due to hurricanes, acts of nature as well as many builders and developers filing bankruptcy. If you have put money down to build a new home, only to find that the developer has gone bankrupt or a storm has destroyed the development, you may be able to make a construction claim. Insurance companies that handle these types of claims will look at several aspects of the construction site before issuing a policy. Most insurance companies will cover any claims made from storm damage, but this may not cover everything. The insurance company will look at the solvency of the developer, the area where the construction is taking place as well as the value of the property. Some instances where you may have a legitimate claim and be able to get money from an insurance company or developer include:If the Home was Hit by Lightening or Destroyed by a StormThe developer will have to have construction insurance in order for such a calamity to be covered. If the developer or builder does have insurance, then they will be covered for the damage. You, however, will not be covered for any inconvenience that it will cost you to stay an extra amount of time in a rental or another home. There is new construction insurance that you can get that will enable you to get coverage in case of such an occurrence. They will then compensate you for your loss. This will include extra time that you have to stay at a rental and cannot be in your property. The compensation has to be backed up with receipts. If the Developer Goes Out of BusinessIf the developer goes bankrupt and you have new construction insurance, you may be able to make a claim. If not, you will be behind the banks and suppliers in order to retrieve any money that you put down on the house. Chances are that you will not see any money if you do not have construction insurance. If the House is VandalizedThis will work just the same as if the house was damaged in a storm. You will not be compensated unless you have specific coverage. Many people today who are thinking of having a home built are looking towards construction coverage. This protects their interest in the property in case of damage or, in some cases, bankruptcy on behalf of the developer or builder. With the new housing market at the lowest point it has been in nearly 30 years, there has been an onslaught of new construction claims with those who insure new construction.

Historic hotels

2008-09-03T13:24:00.001+07:00

Some hotels have gained their renown through tradition, by hosting significant events or persons, such as Schloss Cecilienhof in Potsdam, Germany, which derives its fame from the so-called Potsdam Conference of the World War II allies Winston Churchill, Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin in 1945. The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Mumbai is one of India's most famous and historic hotels because of its association with the Indian independence movement. Other establishments have given name to a particular meal or beverage, as is the case with the Waldorf Astoria in New York City known for its Waldorf Salad or the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, where the drink Singapore Sling was invented. Another example is the Hotel Sacher in Vienna Austria, home of the Sachertorte or the Hotel de Paris where the crèpe Suzette was invented.

Hôtel Ritz in Paris
There are also hotels which became much more popular through films like the Grand Hotel Europe in Saint Petersburg, Russia when James Bond stayed there in the blockbuster Goldeneye. Cannes hotels such as the Carlton or the Martinez become the center of the world during Cannes Film Festival (France).
A number of hotels have entered the public consciousness through popular culture, such as the Ritz Hotel in London, UK ('Putting on The Ritz'), the Algonquin Hotel in New York City with its famed Algonquin Round Table and Hotel Chelsea, also in New York City, subject of a number of songs and also the scene of the stabbing of Nancy Spungen (allegedly by her boyfriend Sid Vicious). Hotels that enter folklore like these two are also often frequented by celebrities, as is the case both with the Ritz and the Chelsea.

Etymology

2008-09-03T13:22:00.002+07:00

The word hotel is derived from the French hôtel (coming from hôte meaning host), which referred to a French version of a townhouse or any other building seeing frequent visitors, rather than a place offering accommodation. In contemporary French usage, hôtel now has the same meaning as the English term, and hôtel particulier is used for the old meaning. The French spelling, with the circumflex, was also used in English, but is now rare. The circumflex replaces the 's' found in the earlier hostel spelling, which over time took on a new, but closely related meaning.

Hotel

2008-09-03T13:21:00.000+07:00

A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning or climate control. Additional common features found in hotel rooms are a telephone, an alarm clock, a television, and Internet connectivity; snack foods and drinks may be supplied in a mini-bar, and facilities for making hot drinks. Larger hotels may provide a number of additional guest facilities such as a restaurant, a swimming pool or childcare, and have conference and social function services.
Some hotels offer various combinations of meals as part of a room and board arrangement. In the United Kingdom, a hotel is required by law to serve food and drinks to all guests within certain stated hours; to avoid this requirement it is not uncommon to come across private hotels which are not subject to this requirement.[citation needed] In Japan, capsule hotels provide a minimized amount of room space and shared facilities.
In Australia and Canada, hotel may also refer to a pub or bar. In India, the word may also refer to a restaurant since the best restaurants were always situated next to a good hotel.

Dealing with Creditors

2008-09-03T00:01:00.000+07:00

To comfort you first, here is what creditors can not do to you:1. They can’t threaten you in everyway.2. They can’t bother you at work.3. They can’t tell your friends or co-workers about your debt.4. They can’t call before 8 a.m. and after 10 p.m.5. They can’t call more than twice in a given week.6. You don’t owe them your life.If they do those things?You can tell them that they are breaking a law, and to stop calling you.Anyway, if they are being relax and reasonable in all this. You should discuss your problem with them honestly.I can’t stretch enough how important about being open and honest with all your creditors. An integral part of paying creditors back according to a repayment plan is staying in touch with them, telling them your situation, and being responsive to their calls and mails.First, you should find a solution to pay them off, no matter how small the amount would be for each payment.Second, tell them what is your plan.Here is what you have to say:Tell them your situation first and your commitment to repaying them the full amount you owe. Confirm that amount! Then, you tell them that you’ve found yourself in a problem cycle with money you are attempting to break, and that you have only a certain amount to pay them if you are going to successfully stop the cycle. Stick to your amount.Tell them when you will start to send them money, I mean tell them the exact date. Until the debt is all repaid. You are not seeking to get agree with the amount you ask to pay because they probably won’t. You are simply telling them what is the least you can do now, if you are going to avoid going right back into the addictive cycle. Tell them the if you get better at the situation you be able to pay at higher rate, that you will let them know first thing.Comfort them by saying that they can call you and mail you, and you will answer them promptly.At this point you have done all you can do and you’d feel much better than avoiding their contacts.What you need to do now is to stick to the plan. Plan to repay them as you told them on the phone. Basically, to earn their trust you have to keep your words.And what he will response to you is something you can not control at all. You just need to keep taking until their impatient beat themselves. There are no reason for you to abuse them in everyway. It isn’t going to help you better the situation, NEVER!Remember, You owe them some money not your life. If conversation leads to nowhere. You will have to writing this out and tell them: “I hear you what you are saying, I will repay you in full amount but I am only able to pay $$ at this time, I will stay in touch with you. Thank you and Goodbye” then you can politely hang up. Why talk if he won’t listen. And they probably call again later time and you will insist on your repayment plan because that is the least you can do. And if you say it right, most of them will have to accept it eventually.

How credit scores are calculated.

2008-09-02T23:59:00.000+07:00

5 factors that influence your credit score:1. Payment history: 35 percent. The bad news: While regular, on-time payments will keep your score high in this category, just one slip-up can undo a lot of your hard work. "Being 30 days or later on one account can cause your score to dip as much as 100 points," Cunningham says.2. Amounts owed: 30 percent. Surprisingly, your income amount does not affect the typical FICO score, though some creditors will ask for the information for their own models. Instead, the formula looks at how much you owe and compares that with your credit limits, Watts says. Want a better score? Keep that number at or below 25 percent, says Janet Garkey, editor with the Credit Union National Association's Center for Personal Finance. Have you ever heard the rumor that lenders will be upset if you have a lot of credit that you can tap? It's not entirely false, Watts says. While your FICO score won't be affected if you have large amounts of credit available, "some lenders may raise their eyebrows," he says.3. Length of credit history: 15 percent. This is the one category over which you really have no control. Lenders want to know how long you've been playing the credit game -- and as far as they're concerned, the longer the better. For creditors, time equals stability. So if you have a good long-term history with a credit card and you're not using it, this could be another good reason to keep it open and active.4. Interest in obtaining new credit: 10 percent. So how do they know that you're looking for credit? They keep a record of every time someone looks at your credit report. These requests to see your history are known as "inquiries." But there are two kinds, and it pays to know the difference. A hard inquiry is when you actually apply for credit and the potential lender pulls your report. That actually will lower your score. While there seems to be no hard or fast rules for just how much it could hurt you, it's best to avoid hard inquiries if you're about to go shopping for a home or auto loan. (Fun fact: If you're shopping for a mortgage, all the mortgage-related hard inquiries within a two-week period will be treated as one, allowing you to shop around for the best deal.) The same is true if you're hunting for a car loan or home equity loan. If you're not actually asking someone to consider you for a loan, that's called a "soft inquiry." Some examples are when a current creditor wants to look at your report, you ask to see your own credit history, or a potential creditor wants to scope you out without your permission. Soft inquiries don't affect your score because they do not indicate that you're out shopping for more debt.To keep your score high, apply only for credit when you need it. And if you're getting ready to buy something big, like a home or a car, hold off on applying for other types of credit. "You don't want to have lots of activity before you make a major life purchase," says Steven Katz, spokesman for TransUnion, one of the three major credit bureaus.5. Mix of credit/miscellaneous: 10 percent. This is kind of a catchall category, Watts says. But the main factor to analyze is whether your financial history shows a mix of different kinds of loans, like mortgages, revolving loans and installment loans. If it does, you demonstrate that you can "responsibly manage more than one type of credit," Watts says.Thanks: www.bankrate.com for wonderful article.

Bad Credit, Consolidation Loan

2008-09-02T23:58:00.000+07:00

Are you looking to consolidate credit card or other debt? Do you have bad credit history? There are many options available online nowadays to help you consolidate your debt. Whether you are wanting to consolidate credit card debt or other kinds of debt, it can be overwhelming searching online to find the best ones for your situation. Here is a short overview of what kind of debt services are available online.
If you are looking for a loan to consolidate your debt, you will need to qualify for the loan, just like any other loan. If you have a home, you may be able to get an equity loan using your equity or even go over the appraised value of your home in order to get the financing you need.
You may be able to qualify for an unsecured loan, which can consolidate your debt with one low monthly payment with no ties to any of your assets.
There are other companies that will help you manage your debt without having to use another loan. These companies usually charge you a fee and then help negotiate lower interest rates with your creditors and manage your monthly payments. There are various ways to do this and every company is different. Usually these techniques will save you money to start paying down the principle on your credit balances.
Some of these companies are definitely worth the small monthly fee, and can save you much more than they charge. But, some of these companies are not legitimate and can take your monthly payments and keep them for a month or more before they make your payments (collecting interest on the money all the while), causing you to accrue late fees and possibly collections. These companies can actually cost you money and make your situation worse.
Be careful when searching for debt consolidation companies to work with. Make sure they are legitimate, long standing companies before you sign on the dotted line. To see our list of recommended debt consolidation lenders click on the link below.
Consolidating your debt can provide great relief and breathing room when it comes time to pay your bills. Sometimes, when you are up to the hilt in debt, it can be so overwhelming just keeping up with your bills that it can be difficult to think about ways to start paying the debt down.

TV advert model punched by daylight mugger

2008-09-02T23:56:00.001+07:00

“Model Rachel Willis, who plays AOL’s internet cyberbabe Connie in TV ads, has been assaulted by a mobile phone mugger.”

Challenges And Prospects For An HIV Vaccine

2008-09-02T23:54:00.000+07:00

Events of the past year in HIV vaccine research have led some to question whether an effective HIV vaccine will ever be developed. In the August 28 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, officials from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, examine the extraordinarily challenging properties of the virus that have made a vaccine elusive and outline the scientific questions that, if answered, could lead to an effective HIV vaccine.
In recent years, the most extensively studied HIV vaccines have aimed to mobilize immune cells called T cells, write Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., NIAID director, and Margaret I. Johnston, Ph.D., director of the Vaccine Research Program in NIAID’s Division of AIDS. T-cell vaccines are not expected to prevent HIV infection. Rather, they could potentially reduce the level of virus (but not eliminate it) following infection, limit the number of immune cells that HIV destroys, and thus delay the progression to AIDS. There is no evidence yet that T-cell HIV vaccines work in humans, however. If the vaccines ultimately do, their effectiveness may vary greatly depending on the genetic make-up of each individual, given that T-cell immunity is dependent on genetic factors. Furthermore, because the virus would persist in the blood of vaccinated individuals, T-cell vaccines would likely generate only transient "herd immunity"–that is, population-wide protection from disease conferred by vaccination of a percentage of the community.
In response to the failure last September of a T-cell vaccine for which many people had high hopes, the HIV vaccine field has undergone a self-reexamination and has determined that the balance between fundamental discovery research and product development should shift toward discovery. In particular, future research must intensify the study of broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV, why most HIV-infected people do not make them, and the design of novel strategies to induce them with a vaccine. Also, studying the earliest stages of HIV infection may shed light on ways to manipulate innate and mucosal immune responses to widen the window of opportunity for viral eradication, to prevent the virus from advancing to gut-associated lymphoid tissue, or both.
The authors conclude with cautious optimism that an effective HIV vaccine will be developed, but will depend on the significant growth of scientific understanding of HIV disease and human responses to the virus.

Teeth whitening industry beating credit crunch

2008-08-29T20:14:00.001+07:00

In the UK press it is daily talking about a dip in consumer spending and gloom and doom but unlike the recession in the 80â€™s and 90â€™s people are showing no sign of reducing spend on personal grooming and health care.Laser Teeth whitening treatment by a specialist is one of the best way to achieve a Hollywood smile. Professional techniques whiten teeth in the shortest time and the effects last longer than home remedies.Lazer teeth whitening treatment system that whitens teeth really quickly--in one session--and it will not cost you an arm and a leg and these are main reasons why out of the available options this is a popular choice.Ever since the mirror was first invented, which gave man the opportunity to take a look at his eroding teeth, people have become obsessed with having whiter teeth. Over the period of the last century more and more dental products have begun to hit the market and it is always improving. There are many teeth whitening products out there on the market now yet some of them are completely useless.Although teeth whitening is very popular, many people are still clueless about the different products and procedures out there. Teeth whitening is a process of lightening the colour of teeth.Discoloration of teeth is a natural process and Zoom teeth whitening is one of the most used and best methods to do so.Professional in-office teeth whitening is an affordable option when Just as any new technology carries a premium, laser teeth whitening is no exception. Next to hair care, teeth whitening is the most in-demand cosmetic procedure in the UK right no and one of the benefits is that Teeth whitening is suitable for most people with good general and dental health.We all whiter teeth, and with so many products on the market, not to mention the procedures that the internet may offer, who would have ever thought it could be a complicated decision.Staring your day with a frown face will not give you any luck. The best way to have a beautiful day is to have a beautiful smile. Having a beautiful smile is having clean and white bright teeth. The first thing that you notice to a person when having a conversation is their teeth. Healthy bright white teeth always get special and extra attention.Teeth whitening can be a great way to improve the look of your smile - Nearly anyone that wants to brighten their teeth or smile can benefit from teeth whitening products. Some reasons you may want to get your teeth whitened may be due to your age, staining, or smoking. These factors all make you an excellent candidate for teeth whitening. Studies indicate that the teeth whitening process is effective in more than 80% of patients. Laser Teeth whitening is now becoming more popular than ever, and research to better the teeth whitening system follows close behind.

Reduce debt through Credit Cards

2008-08-29T20:13:00.001+07:00

Face it folks we exist in a credit influenced society and for good reason. When you have a credit card handy you can buy things quickly on the idea that you will pay them back tomorrow. People in the last 20 years have been borrowing more so now then ever before in our history. The key to which credit card you pick is in the disclosure.
Make sure you read the credit card application thoroughly before signing on the dotted line. Check the microscopic words for fees that are related with anything activating the credit card to fees that are associated with closing the credit card at a later date. So many people over look the small print now and almost always ending up paying from their wallet at a later date. Dont be one of those people.
APR or annual percentage rate is another very important thing to look at when getting a new credit card activated. Some Credit card companies offer special rates at certain times of the year or during times of financial hardships. Make sure that this offer is extended for the rate of time that you have the credit card for and not a special offer that is good for three months then your APR is doubled for the duration of the term.
One of the top uses of credit cards (and one that few folks use them for) is to lower debt or monthly payments that you currently have on your cards. You can do this by checking the annual % rate of your current credit cards to the APR's of new credit cards.
If for example, your currently paying 14% a year interest on the total balance of all of your credit cards then you can simply do a transfer from your old credit card to a new one that your interested in getting. This is not only good to do but its actually encouraged by new credit companies as they are so eager for your business that they will usually give you an incentive to transfer your debt over to them.
Now that you have completed the transfer from credit card A to credit card B you find that your APR has been cut down from 14% interest to around almost 10% interest which makes your monthly payments on your credit card debts that much lower and easier to pay off. Its a nice little trick that newbies dont usually know about but one that could save them many years of financial stress off their lives
So as you see my many years of having credit cards has made me a little smarter in the little methods that i have saved myself money by owning them. Hopefully you have also found this article useful enough that it will help you save on your credit card debt. If one person has been helped through this advice then i have done my fellow credit card holders some justice. Good luck guys , over and out.

The Benefits of Buying on EBay

2008-08-29T20:11:00.000+07:00

eBay is the most popular auction site on the internet. It is also the largest of all auction sites. It is turning over around three million dollars a day, yet there are still people who are careful to buy on eBay.
It is good to be careful. However, let us look at the advantages:
The person who is selling stuff on eBay has often started his/her own business. They get products from wholesalers. Unlike the store where you usually buy things you want or need, this person does not have the same overheads, like rent, phone and electricity bills and employees wages. He can therefore afford to give you the product at the kind of discount you cannot get from the store. I personally have sold a product to someone, still giving myself a 100% profit. The buyer couldn't believe the price he was paying for a brand new product. He thought it was a steal. I got my 100% profit, he got an excellent price he wouldn't pay anywhere else, a win-win situation!
Most people who sell on eBay can only sell if they have a good feedback rating. So it is good to look at the seller's ratings before you buy. You can see from comments others have made what the person is like and whether you can trust him or not. If the seller has even one negative feedback rating, don't buy from him. This will add to your peace of mind.
Most sellers also have return policies. Read everything on the listing's website before you buy. Use the "Question" feature to ask questions if you are not sure. You can also tell from the way the seller answers what kind of a person he is.
Then there is Paypal ... a convenient way to pay. No need to give your credit card number to strangers. This alone should make it much easier for you to buy on Ebay than anywhere else on the internet. And much safer. Sure, you will still get that jerk, but you have a chance to spot him before you buy from him.
Another advantage of buying on eBay is that you have such a great variety of products. What is more, you don't even have to leave your house .... That is the best! You can miss the commuting to the stores and the queues at the checkout. The heat (or the freezing cold) or the kids squabbling, and wanting things you don't feel like spending money on.
As for selling on eBay ... won't it be great to work from home and sell products that you find wholesale and that others ship for you? You can build up a full time income and even automate most of your sales.
Yup, eBay is a winner!

Cheapest Domain Name Registration

2008-08-15T15:15:00.004+07:00

When you have a cheap domain name, the next thing you think about is how to get a cheap domain name registration. But, if you have trouble getting that cheap domain name, you need to make sure you get the right information that will guide you to landing on a very good and cheap domain name. Firstly, it is good to establish what exactly is a domain name and why exactly it is important. When you want to have a website, you must come up with an address or a name that you can use to refer to your site. The name is called a domain name. You can get the name from companies which are licensed to offer the service. What you get from these companies is the registration service and you get to invent your own name.
When you come up with a name and find that it is already taken, you can buy already existing domain names from domain name resellers. They are people or companies who own the names in bulk and are willing to offer them to the public at a price. Therefore, you can search your ideal domain name and get a good offer for it. This good offer is the cheap domain name. This market is a bit unregulated and demand for a particular domain name determines the price. But, before you even think of a cheap domain name registration, make sure that the name is appropriate or suitable for its function. There are several things that you need to consider while choosing a cheap domain name and they include the following.
Firstly, let the name be short and clear. Nothing beats simplicity and if possible, cut all the technical details and let people identify with a name they can pronounce and remember. Let your business aspect come out from the cheap domain name. There are names that you hear about and they totally have no connection with the kind of business they represent. It is not easy to choose a name that meets these qualifications in an almost perfect way but, the secret is real simple. It is taking time and not rushing the process of cheap domain name registration. Many people get some of the best ideas after taking time to think about it. Let your business and personality inspire you to choosing the right domain name.
Cheap domain name registration is done by registrars who are authorized by the internet governing body. You should therefore make sure that the company meets this qualification. The process is simple and your domain name has to meet the right requirements like the non use of symbols. You will then decide on which company has the best offers in terms of price and service. The internet will enable you search and know all you stand to gain when you have a cheap domain name registration with the particular company. You will be happy to make the right decision and there are no two ways about it, you have to have the right information about the process.

CC Domain Registration Information

2008-08-15T15:14:00.004+07:00

Internet marketing is probably the most dynamic job that anyone can wish for today. In Internet marketing, people get to promote people online, in an extremely different marketplace, where tastes come and go, and where you cannot predict who is accessing a website at the other end of the world. Internet marketing is highly volatile as well: what is today’s apparently big trend might be tomorrow’s major dud, and what is tomorrow’s major crowd drawer might be yesterday’s corny joke. Moreover, the Internet is a highly dynamic environment where people are linked closely to one another, so that once news about something leaks onto the Internet, it can spread like wildfire in mere minutes. This means that if you have something good to offer, the world can know about it instantly - but if you have a bad name building up for yourself online, people will shun you even before you step out onto the Internet arena.
In order to best market yourself, you will need a good website that is well designed and easy to navigate. You will also need to have a good domain name that will separate you from everyone else and make you unique. This domain name has to be registered with a domain name registration service in order for you to formally pay your fees, and for other potential domain name buyers to recognize that the domain name is already your own and can no longer be bought. As an Internet marketer, you may need to find the best domain name registration service around, as there are now many domain name registration services available.
First of all, do you need only a domain name, and to register it, or do you also need web hosting space? Some web hosts also offer domain name registration, and because these hosts need to make a living, they are tied up with reliable domain name registration services. You can take advantage of these packages in order to find a package that will allow you to save money in the end, and still have the domain name registration that you need. However, make sure that the same hosting service also has good amenities and features to go with its hosting plans: although some hosts will offer you a lot of web hosting space and domain name registration, you might have only one or two years to keep the domain name before it expires and you have to pay another fee.
Second, what domain name extension are you going to apply for? Are you going to get a dot com, dot net, dot org, dot biz, or a country extension? For some hosting and domain name registration services, the fees will be the same no matter what your domain name extension letters are. However, for some exclusive domain name registration services, a country extension can be more expensive. You will need to scout for the lowest prices for the domain name extension that you want in order to get the best bargain for you.
Take note, moreover, that some domain names can be more expensive than others because speculators believe that they will be bought by more affluent companies, thus bringing the domain name registration service more money. This brings us to the third qualification for a good domain name registration service: you will need to have a list of possible domain names with you, and then look for these domain names and their prices through the domain name registration service’s search engine. You will need to see which the best domain is for the best price in order to get a better bargain. Prices will differ from one registration service to the other, so you will have to look through as many services as possible until you find the best price.

TV Domain Registration Information

2008-08-15T15:13:00.007+07:00

An internet domain name is vital because it can create a site that can serve you by improving the revenue in your business. The names are therefore important because they enable clients or potential customers to know about your business or organization. Domain name registrars have the duty of offering the service of internet domain name registration. A name is very vital and you therefore need to consider a few things before you decide the on the name. It must represent the kind of business you are involved in. It should not be too long because you need to have people remember it whenever they feel like communicating to you or when they need to know what you have to offer. Let it be simple and concise.
You have the option of using up to 63 letters to create an internet domain name but, this does not mean that you have to make it that long. Your domain should be catchy and interesting. Some people come up with very bright ideas which can be monotonous. When you simplify the name, you will encourage more people to get curious and in turn, you will generate a huge web traffic. There are several things a domain name can do to your business. The first thing is that it can help you strengthen your brand name. When you create a strong brand, you will attract so much success to your business or organization. A strong internet domain name will help build the credibility of your organization or business.
There is nothing like credibility and trust in a business and all this can be made possible by a good name which will reflect a good site. It is quite easy to register an internet domain name. You need the services of a good domain name registrar who has a good reputation. There are registrars who are not accredited to offer this kind of service. Therefore, you must make sure that the registrar is accredited. You will know this by checking on the homepage. Most companies that offer this services indicate this vital information on their site. You will then have a provision where you can type in the name you have created. This is done to find out whether the name is available or not.
If the name is not available, you can change the domain name a bit and you can do this by adding hyphens and rearranging some of the words. If you find out that the domain name is available, you will be in a position to go ahead with the registration process. You can choose to have a domain that is registered privately. This will ensure that your personal information is protected. Registration of domain names requires that you give all your contact details and the public will get to access this information on the internet easily. The private registration ensures that the information is barred from the public. When you are done with the process of registration, you can look forward to a good experience that will bring success to your business.

WS Domain Registration

2008-08-15T15:13:00.006+07:00

The story of the .ws domain extension begins with Michael Reed and Alan Ezeir the CEO’s and founders of GDI or Global Domains International which is the company responsible for registering the .ws extension. Michael and Alan were looking for an alternative that businesses could use as an alternative to the widely popular .com extension that exploded throughout the 1990’s.
Both Michael and Alan took a look into country assigned domain extensions that are assigned by the IANA or Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. They are codes that are given to countries to use for the Internet such as .us for the USA or .au for Australia. They were searching for a country code that could be marketed globally as a popular alternative to the very well known .com extension.
After much research they decided to focus all of their efforts on the tiny island of Samoa which is located in the deep South Pacific. With only a population of less than 200,000 people, the .ws domain was not used on a large scale and it seemed to be the perfect domain to market as the top level domain of websites. The .ws domain had the perfect branding power and appeal to do this with.
Michael and Alan now had their plan laid out and set off on a trip to Samoa to negotiate contracts with the government and of Samoa. After many meetings they were convinced that they had them sold, but after going back to the states they found out their business proposal had been rejected and since the time had passed at least a half dozen other companies had a chance to pitch their proposals.
Just before giving up Mike had an idea to contact a Samoan government owned technology company that was given the contract and placed a call to the General Manager. He knew that their ability to properly market the domain on a global scale would be very limited and he pitched to him the idea of starting a partnership. The company accepted the deal.
Moving forward to November of 2000, Global Domains International had sold over 100,000 .ws domains to the customers in over 180 countries. Big names like Yahoo!, Cisco, Dell Computers and Intel are customers as well as many top fortune 500 companies that are buying up the .ws extension daily
The Samoan company wanted to test them and see if they could produce 15,000 .ws registrations in three years and GDI was able to do it in the first month of business. Now they enjoy a percentage of all sales produced by Global Domains International and GDI now has an exclusive 12 year contract to distribute the .ws name worldwide.

Best Domain Registration

2008-08-15T15:12:00.002+07:00

Before dealing with expired domains, you will need to learn and understand how you can use a domain expired name register to find the best and profitable domain names. A domain expired name register is a powerful tool that helps you in searching for the most meaningful expired domain names. It will also make the process of finding such names easier and flexible.
The domain expired name register shows thousands of expired domain names belonging to .COM, .NET, .ORG, .BIZ, and .INFO domain names categories. This register will also display those domains that are pending renewal or deletion. Domains that are listed in a domain expired name register keep changing almost daily, as they are facing constant renewal, deletion or back-ordering. The expired domain register is well organized, easy to scan and search and it comes with a user friendly interface. Its advanced search and sort ability will help you easily find the expired domain name of your choice.
A domain expired name register is a truly dynamic tool that never remains idle, even for a second; its database keeps changing and adjusting itself to accommodate new expired domain names. A typical register usually contains over 100,000 expired domain names at any given point of time. The register will monitor every available expired domain possible, and it will also sort them into a well organized category depending on its status, whether it is pending expiry or deletion.
In life, finding a good expired name is very difficult, and it is almost like seeking out a small needle in a bag of haystacks. But, a domain expired name register will enable you to search efficiently through the entire list of expired names directory without wasting much time.
Here is how a typical domain expired name register works and operates in the real sense:
a) You will need to enter the search keyword based on your preference.
b) Search keywords could be anything in nature. It could the name of a flower or a dictionary word.
c) You can also search through a readymade expired domain names list to find the desired name.
d) When you enter a keyword and hit enter, the domain expired name register will soon return with a number of names. Then, you can pick up a name and register it in your name.
e) A typical expired name register will also allow you to place a backorder without paying an upfront fee.
Apart from the above, a domain expired name register will also assist you in knowing the "whois" database of the domain, about the domain registrar who registered the domain and a brief history of past registration data. There are a number of domain expired name registers that operate online to help people find their expired domains. Some of them offer bare minimum services, by allowing to simply searching expired domain names, while many others operate on a small subscription fee basis. Before you use a domain expired name register, ensure that you choose the best of the lot that offers a host of services related to expired domain names and their registration.

Free Online Dating Site, American Singles in USA and Canada

2008-08-13T13:49:00.001+07:00

Free Online Dating Site, American Singles in USA and Canada
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Millions of American Singles

2008-08-13T13:45:00.000+07:00

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What a Website Needs to Succeed!

2008-08-13T13:43:00.000+07:00

Proven Formula for All Websites Every business needs a website. It is an absolute MUST! Nowadays, it’s like not being in the phone book. The Internet is a digitally-indexed database that is searchable. Whenever anyone wants to know more about anything, they look it up on the Internet, in their own time, 24/7, without the pressure of a sales person. With search engines, such as Google.com or Yahoo.com, the information they are looking for can be found in seconds. If you aren’t where people are looking, you CAN’T get the sale. Even if you aren’t planning on selling anything online, you still need to have an Internet presence, telling your story and being a 24/7 sales person for you. The Internet is information. So, even if you just have an informational website, people can find out more about you, your company, what you have to offer, and why they should choose you over your competition. A website gives you the opportunity to get all of that across to your potential customer. Following, are proven components of a website and why you will need them in yours. A Home Page is the window into your website and should be short, sweat, and to the point. Statistically, it has been proven that you get about 3 seconds, once a person arrives at your website, to get them interested enough to click for more information. If you can get them to click, then you have them! If you try to give them all of the information at once, then you will lose them. Some websites try to give you their inventory on the home page, or write a story that scrolls forever. This is not good. A home page should not scroll. This is a big “No No”. When people get to a home page and see paragraphs, trust me, they go on to the next website. It needs graphics that represent the services, happy pictures, happy customers, and a quick sales pitch. Remember, people are lazy and won’t read large amounts of text, unless they have a need to. And included on the home page, needs to be quickly gotten across, why someone should use you over your competitor. The About Us page sometimes gets left off, in favor of making the home page the About Us page. You will want to have an About Us page that explains in detail what you have to offer, your history, your mission statement, and a good reason that a potential customer should use buy from you over your competitor. This can be seen as the detailed version of the home page. However, it is a mistake to forgo the About Us page in exchange for a detailed home page. Again, this will just push people away who do not want to read all of the details to find out who you are and what you have to offer. This information should be available for those who wish to see more information after they are intrigued by the home page. Design rules. For uniformity and good design, websites (any marketing piece) should have rules for graphic elements and text. For example, all headings should be the same size/style/color, etc. All subheads should have their own size/style/color, etc. This helps the eye make sense of what it is looking at. Guide your visitor with well-placed graphics and text. Make sure that your website has good navigation, with buttons/links for all main sections of your website. And be sure to keep these navigation buttons/links visible on ANY page. There is nothing more frustrating than to not be able to find your way while browsing a website. People will leave before becoming too frustrated. Don’t let this happen on your website! The constant, flashing email (or other) button/advertisement is a "No No" these days. In the old days, flashing and blinking graphics were used. As websites became more graphically sophisticated, these types of elements were not used any more. It can be annoying to see something flashing just off your vision, when you are trying to read the web page. Text links at the bottom are rarely used any more. They were implemented back in the day of the text-based websites, when they were just starting out. This was for the dial-up users who had the option to turn off graphics for faster web page loading. When this happened, there were no links for navigation, unless a webmaster placed text links at the bottom. Nowadays, most people have broadband connections, and this just isn't necessary any more. The biggest problem I see with websites these days is that a person has to read quite a bit to see what, exactly, a website is selling. When people show up at your website, you get about 3 seconds to peak their interest. Get it across very quickly, with icons/graphics/bullet points that are easy to understand. Tell them why they should choose you over your competition. And then tell them where to go to get started. Another very important element is testimonials. More important than telling them why a potential customer should use your services over your competitions’, is a customer of yours saying the same thing. Not only is a testimonial someone who used your services, but they can say "how" you were able to help them. This gives new potential customers ideas on how your services will help “them”. Testimonials are also sales pitches from your happy customers, people just like them. They are people who were in the same position as they are right now and they got through it, so they can too. They also build credibility. When you are endorsed by other people, you have credibility and that you can do what you say you can do. And even though they may be saying the same thing that you are saying, it is coming from someone just like them, and not someone who is trying to sell them anything. They have nothing to gain by saying this. You do. So they need to hear from them. You absolutely MUST have endorsements for your business; otherwise, you are just blowing your own horn! The next best thing to a testimonial page is an FAQ page. An FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page answers questions for your company 24/7, when you can't be at the phone to answer, and for people who would rather look over your information than speak to someone who might try to sell them something. FAQs also help to give scenarios of how they can be helped, by answering questions that other potential customers have asked, and they might not have thought of themselves. This gets them thinking and gives them answers in a risk-free environment. It is VERY important to have an FAQ working for you 24/7. It's like having a free sales person working for you around the clock, fielding all questions that might come up! It's a MUST-have for ANY website! Your website should also have a clear "call to action". A lot of websites say that “we are here and we do this”, but they don't tell them how to get started, or tell them where to go to get started right now... no call to action. Now that they have the information, now what? People are like sheep. They must be led. You must lead them to the next level; otherwise, they probably won't get there. You should have calls to action by all services, and on your home page. You should sprinkle testimonials throughout, as well, leading them back to the full testimonials and then to the call to action, which should be placed on the testimonials page, as well. You could offer a FREE Consultation by calling right now… or click HERE now to email us 24/7 for a FREE Consultation… something that tells them where to go from here and a reason to get started right now and how. There also needs to be graphics to help tell the story; high-end icons that help draw the eye to the item of interest, to get them to read it. Having a text-only page usually does not get read. People are lazy and will not usually read paragraphs of information in hopes of getting the information they are looking for. They would have to first be extremely interested before reading the “fine print”. And to get them interested, it should be broken up with graphics that represent each section. They will see the related graphic first, and then move to that area if interested. But to give them a page of information usually doesn't work. You also need meta tags. This is very important to search engines. These are hidden key words and phrases that describe what you offer, but also your location, etc. Search engines rely heavily on key words and phrases in order to give your website as a result in a search done for your type of business. In fact, it is also good to have misspelled keywords that people might type in order to find you. Obviously, you won’t want to have misspelled words or phrases on your page, since this will give the wrong impression of who you are. With meta tags, misspelled words are hidden in the code of the website, but can be used to bring people to your website who may not be able to correctly spell some your services. Even putting your competitions’ names and products in your meta tags can help get traffic to your site, so that they can compare your products and services to your competitors’. Another item that puts you high on the search engine results listing is having articles about your type of business, both on your website, and other websites that link back to yours for more information on the subject. Offering free information makes you an authority on the subject, not just someone trying to sell their wares. This plays heavily in search results, along with one-way links back to your website. When you get one-way links back to your site for more information, this gives you much credibility and definitely helps to make you an authority that other sites rely on. So when someone looks up your type of product or service for more information, obviously the search engine will give a site that has the most helpful and free information (and one that other sites rely on for more information on this subject) a higher rating and puts them higher on the search results list. A FREE Tips & Tricks or Hints page is also a good way to get relevant traffic. People are always looking for How-To's and DIY information on all types of subjects. On my site I have FREE Tech Tips that get hits all the time, which pertain to my services. Again, a percentage of these hits click on my services. And the only way I got them there was because of the FREE How-To's that I offer. So, you have to entice people to your site, by offering more than your competitor's website. This is where these types of pages come in handy. It is also good to have a Privacy Policy page. This shows integrity and also builds credibility and a higher ranking in the search engines. This is one item that search engines look for, in particular. Websites with a page dedicated to a Privacy Policy get a higher ranking and your site will show up higher in the search results. A Guarantee page is also a good idea. Again, this gives credibility and will give you an edge over your competitor, who may not offer a guarantee. A website that has a guarantee, but is hard to find, makes a potential customer feel like they have something to hide and may not purchase from that website. However, if you have an easy-to-find Guarantee that you put right in their face (whether you dedicate a page to it, or you put it right on the Home page), it eases potential customers into a buying position. You may want to have a form that allows a customer to request more information about your product or service, and which also lets the customer type in their personal information and what they are looking for. This not only helps you by getting their contact information, it also helps by prompting the potential customer into thinking about other aspects. By doing it this way, you will also get all of the information needed to correctly quote a product or service more effectively, without having to make additional phone calls to the customer. The more common way of requesting information is just by posting an INFO email address and hope that the person requesting the info knows enough about what he is looking for to provide all of the info to get a good quote. This is not usually the case. Most of the time they need a form to fill out. In most cases, there is info that is left out. A form ensures that you get everything needed to quote the product or service accurately. And, also, by offering a form to request more info, leads will be generating 24-7 for you. All you have to do is the quote and give them a call. This reduces the need for cold-calling, and gives you an excuse to call and close the deal. If you incorporate all of the above pages, along with the “way” these pages should be shown, your website will have a higher ranking in the search engines, which puts your website higher in the search results, thus significantly increasing the traffic to your website! The above categories aren't the only things you can do to increase traffic to your website. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) should also be done, as well as swapping links with relevant websites, and posting articles and links back to your website from online article and content websites. To have an award-winning and specially-formulated website designed for your company, contact Michigan Tech Group TODAY at (810) 496-4595 or email us at info@MichiganTechGroup.com Visit us online at http://www.MichiganTechGroup.com Good luck. I hope this article has helped you. If you live in the Lapeer, Genesee, or Tuscola County, Michigan areas, and would like an IT Professional to do a professional to help you in your home or business,please contact Michigan Tech Group at (810) 496-4595, or visit our website at http://www.MichiganTechGroup.com. You can email us at info@MichiganTechGroup.com. If you would like to use this article for any publication, you may do so if you do NOT change any of the content, and the tag line remains intact.

Laser Hair Removal Washington DC

2008-08-13T03:34:00.001+07:00

Laser Hair Removal Washington DC
Laser hair removal in Washington DC is quickly becoming one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for both men and women. If you are sick and tired of shaving, waxing, or tweezing unwanted hair on a daily or weekly basis, and are looking for a more permanent solution, we have exactly what you need. Many men and women are turning to the latest trend in hair removal - the laser. For those interested in our revolutionary non-invasive procedure, here are all the facts that you need to know before you go under the light. This procedure has been hyped around the globe as the permanent solution to unwanted hair removal and has shown great promise in delivering on that claim. However, before investing your valuable time and hard earned money into Laser Hair Removal treatments, we suggest you do a little research.
The effect of removing unwanted hair by laser was first discovered by dermatologists in the late 1960s. Dermatologists discovered that during treatment for skin conditions with lasers, the removal of hair in the treatment area happened to be a side effect and because of this, lasers have been studied extensively for years for their hair removal effectiveness. Many different types of lasers have since been approved by the FDA and now professional treatments for Laser Hair Removal in Washington DC are available to all interested residents.
Today, Laser Hair Removal in Washington DC is one of the fastest growing non-invasive cosmetic procedures on the market. Last year alone, over one million individuals underwent laser treatments around the globe. At our Washington DC clinic, all of the technicians are trained and certified on the latest laser hair removal equipment; this guarantees professional Laser Hair Removal treatments each and every time you visit. To learn more about our approach to this extraordinary treatment, come in for a free and confidential consultation. We’ll give you all the information you need and get you set up for a series of Laser Hair Removal treatments at our Washington DC clinic that will leave you with nothing but hair free skin!

You can visit Yahoo! Domains at domains.yahoo.com or click here to find out more about Yahoo!'s $1.99/yr domain name offer.

2008-08-13T03:18:00.001+07:00

You can visit Yahoo! Domains at domains.yahoo.com or click here to find out more about Yahoo!'s $1.99/yr domain name offer.
Buy Web Hosting, get your Domain Name for Free
Many people do not realize that you need to purchase web hosting services even after you buy a domain name. We recommend that you purchase Yahoo! Web Hosting and get the domain for free, so you can start building your site immediately. We have provided below the lowest possible price on the internet for Yahoo! Web Hosting.

What is a Domain Name?
A domain name can be thought of as the “address” for your website. Most domains consist of the primary name, plus a top level domain name extension such as .com, .org, or .net . For example, for Yahoo.com the name is “Yahoo” plus the top level domain name extension of .com.
For more background on domains please visit this page.
Picking and Registering a Domain
The most difficult aspect in choosing a domain name is finding a name that you like that is not already in use. The basic rules are simple (maximum length of 63 letters, no special characters such as %, &, *) but most of the obvious and attractive names have already been taken. We recommend that you go to Yahoo Domains Home Page and use their domain availability tool.

For more advice on picking a domain name please visit this page.
Domains, Web Hosting, and E-commerce
Many people do not realize that buying a domain name is only the first step in getting your website up and running. All providers also require that you also purchase a web hosting package with your domain name or provide the hosting services yourself.
90% of all web sites are hosted by shared hosting providers such as Yahoo! Web Hosting, Godaddy, or Ipowerweb. We suggest Yahoo! Web Hosting if you are considering purchasing a web hosting service. Not only do you get a free domain name (from Yahoo! Domains) when you buy a Yahoo! Web Hosting plan, but you also get 24/7 toll free phone support from one of the most trusted companies on the internet. Click here for more information about Yahoo! Web Hosting.

We have provided a special 35% discount offer for Yahoo! Web Hosting here or click below: End Affiliate Links 2 -->
Furthermore, if you want to sell your goods or services online, you will either need to buy online shopping cart software like Miva or Paypal our purchase an e-commerce hosting service like Yahoo’s Merchant Solutions. We recommend Yahoo Merchant Solution because it is a turn key e-commerce solution that includes a free domain, set up consulting, and 24/7 service from an established company like Yahoo. Click here to visit Yahoo Merchant Solutions for more info.
Yahoo! Small Business
Yahoo! Domains, Yahoo! Web Hosting, and Yahoo! Merchant Solutions are all a part of Yahoo! Small Business. Yahoo! Small Business provides a suite of online services that helps you get online, advertise online, and sell online.
Click here for more information about Yahoo! Small Business. Other services such as Miva, Monster Commerce, and Pay Pal are not turn key or do not provide the level of service as Yahoo Merchant Solutions. We also have a special 35% discount if you are interested in Yahoo Merchant Solutions. Click here or the button below. -->
We also recommend other domain name providers who also provide superior value and service. Please click on the providers below to get the most recent special offers and promotional prices, plus a full review.
Starting July 1, users who have registered domains with Yahoo's small-business site will see their annual fee for the service jump from $9.95 to $34.95.
The news came in form of e-mail for anyone who has registered a domain with Yahoo Small Business, and a Yahoo representative told CNET News.com Friday that the e-mails have been sent 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days before users were set to renew their domain registration.
But some blogs are expressing dismay at the price increase, which is three and a half times what domain owners have paid in past years.
Yahoo said the $25 price increase is primarily being instituted to match the cost of doing business, and that registering domains--the process of creating a new Web address--can cost even more with other Web sites.
However, other competitors have much lower prices, including GoDaddy.com or Google Apps, both of which charge annual fees of around $10.
Since domain registration is not the core of Yahoo's small-business site, the company said its prices can not be as low as those of sites that focus on registering domains.
Low domain registration fees, though, can be a foot in the door to coax customers to upgrade to more profitable services.
According to Yahoo, new domain registrations will still only cost $9.95 and after a year, the fee will go up to $34.95.
that's just straight up insulting. So the vast majority of users don't realize that they can easily switch (I don't use Yahoo's service, however I would imagine the could)... so basically they're going to fource everyone into pay triple what they used to pay when others like godaddy do it for <10$.>
This thing has MelbourneIT's smell all over it! While everyone else has been selling domain registration in the $10 range, MelbourneIT has been charging $35 for year's now. Yahoo and MIT have some kind of partnership, but as I've discovered, zero interoperablity.$34.95 domains...yeah, how's that workin' out for you Yahoo? Good luck with that.
Yahoo has taken it one step further now. They are preventing domains from being transfered by a clause in their transfer policy. If you less then 60 days from renewal, then you will get charged the $34.95 renewal fee. Other companies allow for a transfer up to the date of renewl, but Yahoo will refuse the transfer so they can force this renewal fee on you.Here is the catch. Since then did not post the change on their site, the only way you will know of the new price is by the email mentioned in the above article. Well as the article states they sent it out to those renewing in 30, 60, or 90 days. Guess what that means. The 30 and 60 day customers will get charged the $34.95 before their domain can be transfered off.This is an obsolute outrage! Yahoo! is going to get the pants sued off of them. They didn't give their customers a choice, they changed the price but the customer service department tells you to bad, you still need to pay it. Something fishy is going on here. CNET needs to be an advocate for their loyal readers and contact Yahoo! regaurding this shady practice of not allowing customers to transfer off, and certainly not allowing them enough time.
As a customer of GD, Yahoo, etc ... some people need to take into account.1) Yahoo has a great support team that does not tell you that you need to hire a programmer etc to solve your problem that is related to their scripting.2) Many other domain companies and registra's have 1 800 numbers unlike GDwhich after a year of asking for support and help and never getting it can cost you the difference between GD price which is not $6.99/1.99/9.95 if you do not have their domain club package which cost $89.99 a year to get the discount rate or you have to be a RESELLER, like you need that headache. Worse still you will have to add other items to get a deal, but believe next year it will all add up to the same price.34.95 - 9.95 = 25.00I can show you proof it will cost you more than that at GD over the year in long distant charges for support, etcoh and so much moreEver wonder why the In famous Go Daddy Founder needs to brag and never lets anyone comment a bad comment on his blogs ? Try it for yourself ....... no one ever gets to post the truth ....Learn to GOOGLE Go Daddy ...... truth about his site - and problems others have had, that is where you will find people are allowed to post the truth about all their bad experiences with the GDRemember the person who talks and boasts the least is always the better buy anyone who has to toot their own horn and get their employees to post on their own site, needs to be really insecure about who they are in the first placeWatch the video .... and ask yourself ... if you are really good why are you putting someone else down?

Yahoo! Domains 2

2008-08-13T03:16:00.001+07:00

Yahoo! Domains
Choosing the right domain name and domain name provider is the first step to creating your new website. Yahoo! Domains is one of the leading domain registrars in the world and has the backing of Yahoo!, a leading internet company. In fact, Yahoo! hosts its domains and websites on the very same servers as Yahoo.com, making it the most reliable domain and hosting provider in the industry.
In addition, Yahoo! provides domain names for as little as $1.99 per year for new customers, and $12.95 for existing customers, with no set up fees. Other, domain providers charge as much as $35 per year and do not provide as many features or functionality as Yahoo! For example, Yahoo! Domains is one of the few companies that provides 24/7 toll free phone and email support.

Yahoo Domains: Review

2008-08-13T03:13:00.001+07:00

Yahoo Domains: Review
Yahoo! Small Business offers Yahoo! Domains for $9.95/year. Here's a roundup of reviews and other links related to Yahoo! Domains:
PC Magazine review - Editor's Choice, thanks to ease-of-use
h100best-domain-names.com has a bad user review due to poor customer response
UpperHost gives them a 70% favorable review, saying they're a bit expensive and weak on features
Tony Cooper's Marketing Madness explains how to grab an expired Yahoo domain
MyCgiScripts offers a script to check for expires Yahoo domains
Overall, Yahoo offers an extremely reliable brand and service -- but you pay a slight premium compared to GoDaddy. Still, Yahoo Domain registration comes in lower than the overpriced Network Solutions and even Dotster.

Domains Yahoo

2008-08-13T03:12:00.001+07:00

Domains Yahoo :
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Domain Name Registration from Yahoo! Small Business yahoo domain name
Domain name registration from Yahoo! Small Business. Includes domain and email forwarding and phone support.smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/ - 24k - 2005年3月24日 - 頁庫存檔 - 類似網頁
Yahoo Domain Keys: Another Ineffective Spam Remedy shumans.com
... Yahoo today unveiled plans to launch its Domain Keys software as an open-source toolkit in 2004. The intent is to allow developers of major e-mail systems to integrate Yahoo’s public/private key authentication system into their own ...yahoo domain nameshumans.com/archives/000036.php - 17k - 頁庫存檔 - 類似網頁
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...yahoo domain name Yahoo 'Domain Keys' E-mail authentication without a King Maker? Written by Justin. Yahoo this week announced they're working on an open-source software that uses public key cryptography to digitally sign e-mail and verify its ...www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/36403 - 類似網頁
Yahoo Proposes Anti-Spam Standard For Internet
Yahoo's domain authentication proposal is intriguing, both in its conservative approach and in the company's considerable clout and credibility. But any system that proposes to change all the e-mail servers on the Internet faces an ...www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1430976,00.asp - 91k - 頁庫存檔 - 類似網頁
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Weblog for Costin Manolache: Yahoo Domain Keys yahoo domain name
... Unfortunately, just like SPF the yahoo domain key solution is based on DNS and would lock out small sites using their ... comes from yahoo (or a provider using domain keys ), and filter out all the forged mail with an yahoo address. ...www.webweavertech.com/costin/archives/000336.html - 10k - 頁庫存檔 - 類似網頁
WebMaster Forum - Yahoo! Domain $4.98! Catch?
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domain name yahoo

2008-07-23T00:35:00.002+07:00

More information about Yahoo! Domains:
Domain Basics
Private Domain Registration
Use an Existing Domain
Private Domain Registration
Did you know that anyone — including spammers and telemarketers — can find your contact information just by looking up your domain name online?That's right. The Internet's governing body, ICANN, requires that every domain owner's name and contact information be listed in an online database. Unfortunately, many solicitors regularly go through this database to gather contacts for marketing campaigns.Now you can keep your contact information out of the public eye using Yahoo! Private Domain Registration.
How Does Private Domain Registration Work?
When you sign up, our partner Melbourne IT updates your registration listing with generic contact information that points to Melbourne IT's offices.
Whenever someone looks up your domain and tries to contact you, Melbourne IT receives the call, email, or letter and screens the information on your behalf.
Melbourne IT forwards prescreened communications to you, so you can reply as you see fit.
See how your contact information looks with and without Yahoo! Private Domain Registration.
How Much Does Private Domain Registration Cost?
Yahoo! Private Domain Registration is available for just $0.99 per month with Yahoo! Web Hosting (three-month term), Yahoo! Merchant Solutions, or Yahoo! Business Mail plans, or just $9.00 per year with Yahoo! Domains or Yahoo! Custom Mailbox plans.
How Do You Sign Up?
You can add Private Domain Registration with your plan during the signup process.*

Airline

2008-07-23T00:35:00.000+07:00

The First Airlines

Failed attempt at an airline before DELAG
DELAG, Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft (German: acronym for "German Airship Transport Corporation") was the world's first airline. It was founded on November 16, 1909 with government assistance, and operated airships manufactured by Zeppelin Corporation. Its headquarters were in Frankfurt. (Note: Americans, such as Rufus Porter and Frederick Marriott, attempted to start airlines in the mid-19th century, focusing on the New York-California route. Those attempts foundered due to such mishaps as the aircraft catching fire and the aircraft being ripped apart by spectators.) The five oldest non-dirigible airlines that still exist are Australia's Qantas, Netherland's KLM, Colombia's Avianca, Czech Republic's Czech Airlines and Mexico's Mexicana. KLM first flew in May 1920 while Qantas (for the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited) was founded in Queensland, Australia in late 1920. Qantas has operated ever since with a perfect safety record with no loss of lives [1].

[edit] U.S. Airline Industry

[edit] Early Development
Tony Jannus conducted the United States' first scheduled commercial airline flight on 1 January 1914 for the Saint Petersburg-routes, Braniff Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines (originally a division of Boeing), Trans World Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and Eastern Air Lines, to name a few.

US airline route structure before World War II
Passenger service during the early 1920s was sporadic: most airlines at the time were focused on carrying bags of mail. In 1925, however, the Ford Motor Company bought out the Stout Aircraft Company and began construction of the all-metal Ford Trimotor, which became the first successful American airliner. With a 12-passenger capacity, the Trimotor made passenger service potentially profitable. Air service was seen as a supplement to rail service in the American transportation network.
At the same time, Juan Trippe began a crusade to create an air network that would link America to the world, and he achieved this goal through his airline, Pan American World Airways, with a fleet of flying boats that linked Los Angeles to Shanghai and Boston to London. Pan Am and Northwest Airways (which began flights to Canada in the 1920s) were the only U.S. airlines to go international before the 1940s.
With the introduction of the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-3 in the 1930s, the U.S. airline industry was generally profitable, even during the Great Depression. This trend continued until the beginning of World War II.

[edit] Development since 1945

Post-war airline route structure.[citation needed]
As governments met to set the standards and scope for an emergent civil air industry toward the end of the war, it was no surprise that the U.S. took a position of maximum operating freedom. After all, U.S. airline companies were not devastated by the war, as European companies and the few Asian companies had been. This preference for "open skies" operating regimes continues, within limitations, to this day.
World War II, like World War I, brought new life to the airline industry. Many airlines in the Allied countries were flush from lease contracts to the military, and foresaw a future explosive demand for civil air transport, for both passengers and cargo. They were eager to invest in the newly emerging flagships of air travel such as the Boeing Stratocruiser, Lockheed Constellation, and Douglas DC-6. Most of these new aircraft were based on American bombers such as the B-29, which had spearheaded research into new technologies such as pressurization. Most offered increased efficiency from both added speed and greater payload.
In the 1950s, the De Havilland Comet, Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8, and Sud Aviation Caravelle became the first flagships of the Jet Age in the West, while the Soviet Union bloc countered with the Tupolev Tu-104 and Tupolev Tu-124 in the fleets of state-owned carriers such as Aeroflot and Interflug. The Vickers Viscount and Lockheed L-188 Electra inaugurated turboprop transport.

Airline trunk route systems.[citation needed]
The next big boost for the airlines would come in the 1970s, when the Boeing 747, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, and Lockheed L-1011 inaugurated widebody ("jumbo jet") service, which is still the standard in international travel. The Tupolev Tu-144 and its Western counterpart, Concorde, made supersonic travel a reality. Concorde first flew in 1969 and operated through 2003. In 1972, Airbus began producing Europe's most commercially successful line of airliners to date. The added efficiencies for these aircraft were often not in speed, but in passenger capacity, payload, and range. Airbus also features modern electronic cockpits that were common across their aircraft to enable pilots to fly multiple aircraft with minimal cross-training.
1978's U.S. airline industry deregulation lowered barriers for new airlines. In this period, new start-ups entered during downturns in the normal 8-10 year business cycle. At that time, they find aircraft, are financed, contract hangar and maintenance services, train new employees, and recruit laid off staff from other airlines.
As the business cycle returned to normalcy, major airlines dominated their routes through aggressive pricing and additional capacity offerings, often swamping new startups. Only America West Airlines (which has since merged with US Airways) remained a significant survivor from this new entrant era, as dozens, even hundreds, have gone under.
In many ways, the biggest winner in the deregulated environment was the air passenger. Indeed, the U.S. witnessed an explosive growth in demand for air travel, as many millions who had never or rarely flown before became regular fliers, even joining frequent flyer loyalty programs and receiving free flights and other benefits from their flying. New services and higher frequencies meant that business fliers could fly to another city, do business, and return the same day, for almost any point in the country. Air travel's advantages put intercity bus lines under pressure, and most have withered away.
By the 1980s, almost half of the total flying in the world took place in the U.S., and today the domestic industry operates over 10,000 daily departures nationwide.

De-regulated hub and spoke airline route structures.[citation needed]
Toward the end of the century, a new style of low cost airline emerged, offering a no-frills product at a lower price. Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, AirTran Airways, Skybus Airlines and other low-cost carriers began to represent a serious challenge to the so-called "legacy airlines", as did their low-cost counterparts in Europe, Canada, and Asia. Their commercial viability represented a serious competitive threat to the legacy carriers. However, of these, ATA and Skybus have since ceased operations.
Thus the last 50 years of the airline industry have varied from reasonably profitable, to devastatingly depressed. As the first major market to deregulate the industry in 1978, U.S. airlines have experienced more turbulence than almost any other country or region. Today, almost every single legacy carrier except for American Airlines has operated under Chapter 11 bankruptcy provisions or have gone out of business.

[edit] European Airline Industry

The Imperial Airways Empire Terminal, Victoria, London. Trains ran from here to flying boats in Southampton, and to Croydon Airport.
The first countries in Europe to embrace air transport were Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
KLM, the oldest carrier still operating under its original name, was founded in 1919. The first flight (operated on behalf of KLM by Aircraft Transport and Travel) transported two English passengers to Schiphol, Amsterdam from London in 1920. Like other major European airlines of the time (see France and the UK below), KLM's early growth depended heavily on the needs to service links with far-flung colonial possessions (Dutch Indies). It is only after the loss of the Dutch Empire that KLM found itself based at a small country with few potential passengers, depending heavily on transfer traffic, and was one of the first to introduce the hub-system to facilitate easy connections.
France began an air mail service to Morocco in 1919 that was bought out in 1927, renamed Aéropostale, and injected with capital to become a major international carrier. In 1933, Aéropostale went bankrupt, was nationalized and merged with several other airlines into what became Air France.
In Finland, the charter establishing Aero O/Y (now Finnair, one of the oldest still-operating airlines in the world) was signed in the city of Helsinki on 12 September 1923. Junkers F 13 D-335 became the first aircraft of the company, when Aero took delivery of it on 14 March 1924. The first flight was between Helsinki and Tallinn, capital of Estonia, and it took place on 20 March 1924, one week later.
Germany's Lufthansa began in 1926. Lufthansa, unlike most other airlines at the time, became a major investor in airlines outside of Europe, providing capital to Varig and Avianca. German airliners built by Junkers, Dornier, and Fokker were the most advanced in the world at the time. The peak of German air travel came in the mid-1930s, when Nazi propaganda ministers approved the start of commercial zeppelin service: the big airships were a symbol of industrial might, but the fact that they used flammable hydrogen gas raised safety concerns that culminated with the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. The reason they used hydrogen instead of the not-flammable helium gas was a United States military embargo on helium.
The British company Aircraft Transport and Travel commenced a London to Paris service on 25 August 1919, this was the world's first regular international flight. The United Kingdom's flag carrier during this period was Imperial Airways, which became BOAC (British Overseas Airways Co.) in 1939. Imperial Airways used huge Handley-Page biplanes for routes between London, the Middle East, and India: images of Imperial aircraft in the middle of the Rub'al Khali, being maintained by Bedouins, are among the most famous pictures from the heyday of the British Empire.

[edit] Deregulation
Deregulation of the European Union airspace in the early 1990s has had substantial effect on structure of the industry there. The shift towards 'budget' airlines on shorter routes has been significant. Airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair have grown at the expense of the traditional national airlines.
There has also been a trend for these national airlines themselves to be privatised such as has occurred for Aer Lingus (Ireland) and British Airways. Other national airlines, including Italy's Alitalia, have suffered - particularly with the rapid increase of oil prices in early 2008.

[edit] Latin American Airline Industry

LAN jets at Santiago, Chile (SCL)
Along the first countries to have regular airlines in Latin America were Chile with LAN Chile (today LAN Airlines), Colombia with Avianca, Mexico with Mexicana de Aviación, Brazil with Varig, and TACA as a bound of several airlines of Central American countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua). All the previous airlines started regular operations before World War II.
Aeromexico is also in service since 1934, but was initially called Aeronaves de México. The same situation happened with other regional airlines, such as Aerolineas Argentinas. All of these airlines are still in service.
The air travel market has evolved rapidly over recent years in Latin America. Some industry estimations over 2000 new aircraft will begin service over the next five years in this region.
These airlines serve domestic flights within their countries, as well as connections within Latin America and also overseas flights to North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia.
Just one airline, LAN (Latin American Networks) has international subsidiaries: Chile as the central operation along with Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and some operations in the Dominican Republic.
The main hubs in Latin America are Sao Paulo in Brazil, Bogota in Colombia,Caracas in Venezuela, Lima in Peru, Mexico City in Mexico, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Santiago in Chile.

[edit] Asian Airline Industry
Some of the first countries in Asia to embrace air transport were India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
One of the first countries in Asia to embrace air transport was the Philippines. Philippine Airlines was founded on February 26, 1941, making it Asia's oldest carrier and the oldest operating under its current name. The airline was started by a group of businessmen led by Andres Soriano, hailed as one of the Philippines' leading industrialists at the time. The airline’s first flight was made on March 15, 1941 with a single Beech Model 18 NPC-54 aircraft, which started its daily services between Manila (from Nielson Field) and Baguio, later to expand with larger aircraft such as the DC-3 and Vickers Viscount. Notably Philippine Airlines leased Japan Airlines their first aircraft, a DC-3 named "Kinsei". On July 31, 1946, a chartered Philippine Airlines DC-4 ferried 40 American servicemen to Oakland,California from Nielson Airport in Makati City with stops in Guam, Wake Island, Johnston Atoll and Honolulu, Hawaii, making PAL the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific Ocean. A regular service between Manila and San Francisco was started in December. It was during this year that the airline was designated as the Philippines flag carrier.

Air India Boeing 747-400. The Government of India is the majority stake-holder in Air India and Indian Airlines.
Another airline company to begin early operations was Air India, which had its beginning as Tata Airlines in 1932, a division of Tata Sons Ltd. (now Tata Group) by India's leading industrialist JRD Tata. On October 15, 1932, J. R. D. Tata himself flew a single engined De Havilland Puss Moth carrying air mail (postal mail of Imperial Airways) from Karachi to Bombay via Ahmedabad. The aircraft continued to Madras via Bellary piloted by Royal Air Force pilot Nevill Vincent.
With the outbreak of World War Two, the airline presence in Asia came to a relative halt, with many new flag carriers donating their aircraft for military aid and other uses.
Following the end of World War II, regular commercial service was restored in India and Tata Airlines became a public limited company on 29 July 1946 under the name Air India. After the Independence of India, 49% of the airline was acquired by the Government of India. In return, the airline was granted status to operate international services from India as the designated flag carrier under the name Air India International.
Neighbouring countries also soon embraced air transport, notably with the beginning of a new nation, Pakistan began Orient Airways Ltd (Pakistan International Airlines), Cathay Pacific founded in 1946, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines in 1947 (as Malayan Airways), Garuda Indonesia in 1949, Japan Airlines in 1951, and Korean Air in 1962.

[edit] Regulatory considerations

[edit] National
Many countries have national airlines that the government owns and operates. Fully private airlines are subject to a great deal of government regulation for economic, political, and safety concerns. For instance, the government often intervenes to halt airline labor actions in order to protect the free flow of people, communications, and goods between different regions without compromising safety.
The United States, Australia, and to a lesser extent Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Japan have "deregulated" their airlines. In the past, these governments dictated airfares, route networks, and other operational requirements for each airline. Since deregulation, airlines have been largely free to negotiate their own operating arrangements with different airports, enter and exit routes easily, and to levy airfares and supply flights according to market demand.
The entry barriers for new airlines are lower in a deregulated market, and so the U.S. has seen hundreds of airlines start up (sometimes for only a brief operating period). This has produced far greater competition than before deregulation in most markets, and average fares tend to drop 20% or more. The added competition, together with pricing freedom, means that new entrants often take market share with highly reduced rates that, to a limited degree, full service airlines must match. This is a major constraint on profitability for established carriers, which tend to have a higher cost base.
As a result, profitability in a deregulated market is uneven for most airlines. These forces have caused some major airlines to go out of business, in addition to most of the poorly established new entrants.

[edit] International

Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-412 taking off from London Heathrow Airport. The Boeing 747-412 has been the flagship of the SIA fleet since its first delivery on 18 March 1989.
Groups such as the International Civil Aviation Organization establish worldwide standards for safety and other vital concerns. Most international air traffic is regulated by bilateral agreements between countries, which designate specific carriers to operate on specific routes. The model of such an agreement was the Bermuda Agreement between the US and UK following World War II, which designated airports to be used for transatlantic flights and gave each government the authority to nominate carriers to operate routes.
Bilateral agreements are based on the "freedoms of the air," a group of generalized traffic rights ranging from the freedom to overfly a country to the freedom to provide domestic flights within a country (a very rarely granted right known as cabotage). Most agreements permit airlines to fly from their home country to designated airports in the other country: some also extend the freedom to provide continuing service to a third country, or to another destination in the other country while carrying passengers from overseas.
In the 1990s, "open skies" agreements became more common. These agreements take many of these regulatory powers from state governments and open up international routes to further competition. Open skies agreements have met some criticism, particularly within the European Union, whose airlines would be at a comparative disadvantage with the United States' because of cabotage restrictions.

[edit] Economic considerations

TAM Airlines Airbus A330-200
Historically, air travel has survived largely through state support, whether in the form of equity or subsidies. The airline industry as a whole has made a cumulative loss during its 120-year history, once the costs include subsidies for aircraft development and airport construction.[1][2]
One argument is that positive externalities, such as higher growth due to global mobility, outweigh the microeconomic losses and justify continuing government intervention. A historically high level of government intervention in the airline industry can be seen as part of a wider political consensus on strategic forms of transport, such as highways and railways, both of which receive public funding in most parts of the world. Profitability is likely to improve in the future as privatization continues and more competitive low-cost carriers proliferate.
Although many countries continue to operate state-owned or parastatal airlines, many large airlines today are privately owned and are therefore governed by microeconomic principles in order to maximize shareholder profit.

Lufthansa Boeing 747-400

[edit] Ticket revenue
Airlines assign prices to their services in an attempt to maximize profitability. The pricing of airline tickets has become increasingly complicated over the years and is now largely determined by computerized yield management systems.
Because of the complications in scheduling flights and maintaining profitability, airlines have many loopholes that can be used by the knowledgeable traveler. Many of these airfare secrets are becoming more and more known to the general public, so airlines are forced to make constant adjustments.
Most airlines use differentiated pricing, a form of price discrimination, in order to sell air services at varying prices simultaneously to different segments. Factors influencing the price include the days remaining until departure, the booked load factor, the forecast of total demand by price point, competitive pricing in force, and variations by day of week of departure and by time of day. Carriers often accomplish this by dividing each cabin of the aircraft (first, business and economy) into a number of travel classes for pricing purposes.
A complicating factor is that of origin-destination control ("O&D control"). Someone purchasing a ticket from Melbourne to Sydney (as an example) for AU$200 is competing with someone else who wants to fly Melbourne to Los Angeles through Sydney on the same flight, and who is willing to pay AU$1400. Should the airline prefer the $1400 passenger, or the $200 passenger plus a possible Sydney-Los Angeles passenger willing to pay $1300? Airlines have to make hundreds of thousands of similar pricing decisions daily.
The advent of advanced computerized reservations systems in the late 1970s, most notably Sabre, allowed airlines to easily perform cost-benefit analyses on different pricing structures, leading to almost perfect price discrimination in some cases (that is, filling each seat on an aircraft at the highest price that can be charged without driving the consumer elsewhere).
The intense nature of airfare pricing has led to the term "fare war" to describe efforts by airlines to undercut other airlines on competitive routes. Through computers, new airfares can be published quickly and efficiently to the airlines' sales channels. For this purpose the airlines use the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO), who distribute latest fares for more than 500 airlines to Computer Reservation Systems across the world.
The extent of these pricing phenomena is strongest in "legacy" carriers. In contrast, low fare carriers usually offer preannounced and simplified price structure, and sometimes quote prices for each leg of a trip separately.
Computers also allow airlines to predict, with some accuracy, how many passengers will actually fly after making a reservation to fly. This allows airlines to overbook their flights enough to fill the aircraft while accounting for "no-shows," but not enough (in most cases) to force paying passengers off the aircraft for lack of seats. Since an average of ⅓ of all seats are flown empty[citation needed], stimulative pricing for low demand flights coupled with overbooking on high demand flights can help reduce this figure.

An Airbus A340-600 of Virgin Atlantic Airways

[edit] Operating costs
Full-service airlines have a high level of fixed and operating costs in order to establish and maintain air services: labor, fuel, airplanes, engines, spares and parts, IT services and networks, airport equipment, airport handling services, sales distribution, catering, training, aviation insurance and other costs. Thus all but a small percentage of the income from ticket sales is paid out to a wide variety of external providers or internal cost centers.
Moreover, the industry is structured so that airlines often act as tax collectors. Airline fuel is untaxed, however, due to a series of treaties existing between countries. Ticket prices include a number of fees, taxes, and surcharges they have little or no control over, and these are passed through to various providers. Airlines are also responsible for enforcing government regulations. If airlines carry passengers without proper documentation on an international flight, they are responsible for returning them back to the originating country.
Analysis of the 1992-1996 period shows that every player in the air transport chain is far more profitable than the airlines, who collect and pass through fees and revenues to them from ticket sales. While airlines as a whole earned 6% return on capital employed (2-3.5% less than the cost of capital), airports earned 10%, catering companies 10-13%, handling companies 11-14%, aircraft lessors 15%, aircraft manufacturers 16%, and global distribution companies more than 30%. (Source: Spinetta, 2000, quoted in Doganis, 2002)
In contrast, Southwest Airlines has been the most profitable of airline companies since 1970.[citation needed]
The widespread entrance of a new breed of low cost airlines beginning at the turn of the century has accelerated the demand that full service carriers control costs. Many of these low cost companies emulate Southwest Airlines in various respects, and like Southwest, they are able to eke out a consistent profit throughout all phases of the business cycle.[citation needed]
As a result, a shakeout of airlines is occurring in the U.S. and elsewhere. United Airlines, US Airways (twice), Delta Air Lines, and Northwest Airlines have all declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Some[who?] argue that it would be far better for the industry as a whole if a wave of actual closures were to reduce the number of "undead" airlines competing with healthy airlines while being artificially protected from creditors via bankruptcy law. On the other hand, some[who?] have pointed out that the reduction in capacity would be short lived given that there would be large quantities of relatively new aircraft that bankruptcies would want to get rid of and would re-enter the market either as increased fleets for the survivors or the basis of cheap planes for new startups.
Where an airline has established an engineering base at an airport then there may be considerable economic advantages in using that same airport as a preferred focus (or "hub") for its scheduled flights.

[edit] Assets and financing

The Boeing 777-200 of Malaysia Airlines
Airline financing is quite complex, since airlines are highly leveraged operations. Not only must they purchase (or lease) new airliner bodies and engines regularly, they must make major long-term fleet decisions with the goal of meeting the demands of their markets while producing a fleet that is relatively economical to operate and maintain. Compare Southwest Airlines and their reliance on a single airplane type (the Boeing 737 and derivatives), with the now defunct Eastern Air Lines which operated 17 different aircraft types, each with varying pilot, engine, maintenance, and support needs.
A second financial issue is that of hedging oil and fuel purchases, which are usually second only to labor in its relative cost to the company. However, with the current high fuel prices it has become the largest cost to an airline. While hedging instruments can be expensive, they can easily pay for themselves many times over in periods of increasing fuel costs, such as in the 2000-2005 period.
In view of the congestion apparent at many international airports, the ownership of slots at certain airports (the right to take-off or land an aircraft at a particular time of day or night) has become a significant tradable asset for many airlines. Clearly take-off slots at popular times of the day can be critical in attracting the more profitable business traveler to a given airline's flight and in establishing a competitive advantage against a competing airline. If a particular city has two or more airports, market forces will tend to attract the less profitable routes, or those on which competition is weakest, to the less congested airport, where slots are likely to be more available and therefore cheaper. Other factors, such as surface transport facilities and onward connections, will also affect the relative appeal of different airports and some long distance flights may need to operate from the one with the longest runway.

[edit] Airline partnerships
Code sharing is the most common type of airline partnership; it involves one airline selling tickets for another airline's flights under its own airline code. An early example of this was Japan Airlines' code sharing partnership with Aeroflot in the 1960s on flights from Tokyo to Moscow: Aeroflot operated the flights using Aeroflot aircraft, but JAL sold tickets for the flights as if they were JAL flights. This practice allows airlines to expand their operations, at least on paper, into parts of the world where they cannot afford to establish bases or purchase aircraft. Another example was the Austrian- Sabena partnership on the Vienna-Brussels-New York JFK route during the late 60's, using a Sabena Boeing 707 with Austrian colors.
Since airline reservation requests are often made by city-pair (such as "show me flights from Chicago to Düsseldorf"), an airline who is able to code share with another airline for a variety of routes might be able to be listed as indeed offering a Chicago-Düsseldorf flight. The passenger is advised however, that Airline 1 operates the flight from say Chicago to Amsterdam, and Airline 2 operates the continuing flight (on a different airplane, sometimes from another terminal) to Düsseldorf. Thus the primary rationale for code sharing is to expand one's service offerings in city-pair terms so as to increase sales.
A more recent development is the airline alliance, which became prevalent in the 1990s. These alliances can act as virtual mergers to get around government restrictions. Groups of airlines such as the Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam coordinate their passenger service programs (such as lounges and frequent flyer programs), offer special interline tickets, and often engage in extensive codesharing (sometimes systemwide). These are increasingly integrated business combinations-- sometimes including cross-equity arrangements-- in which products, service standards, schedules, and airport facilities are standardized and combined for higher efficiency. One of the first airlines to start an alliance with another airline was KLM, who partnered with Northwest Airlines. Both airlines later entered the SkyTeam alliance after the fusion of KLM and Air France in 2004.
Often the companies combine IT operations, buy fuel, or purchase airplanes as a bloc in order to achieve higher bargaining power. However, the alliances have been most successful at purchasing invisible supplies and services, such as fuel. Airlines usually prefer to purchase items visible to their passengers to differentiate themselves from local competitors. If an airline's main domestic competitor flies Boeing airliners, then the airline may prefer to use Airbus aircraft regardless of what the rest of the alliance chooses.

[edit] Environmental impacts
Main article: Aviation and the environment
Aircraft engines emit noise pollution, gases and particulate emissions, and contribute to global warming [3][4] and global dimming.[5]
Modern turbofan and turboprop engines are considerably more fuel-efficient and less polluting than earlier models. However, despite this, the rapid growth of air travel in recent years contributes to an increase in total pollution attributable to aviation, offsetting some of the reductions achieved by automobiles. In the EU greenhouse gas emissions from aviation increased by 87% between 1990 and 2006.[6]
In the context of climate change and peak oil, there is a debate about possible taxation of air travel and the inclusion of aviation in an emissions trading scheme, with a view to ensuring that the total external costs of aviation are taken into account.[7]
The airline industry is responsible for about 11 percent of greenhouse gases emitted by the U.S. transportation sector. Boeing estimates that biofuels could reduce flight-related greenhouse-gas emissions by 60 to 80 percent. The solution would be blending algae fuels with existing jet fuel: [8]
Boeing and Air New Zealand are collaborating with leading Brazilian biofuels maker Tecbio and Aquaflow Bionomic of New Zealand and other jet biofuel developers around the world.
Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Green Fund are looking into the technology as part of a biofuels initiative. [9]

[edit] Call signs
Each operator of a scheduled or charter flight uses a airline call sign when communicating with airports or air traffic control centers. Most of these call-signs are derived from the airline's trade name, but for reasons of history, marketing, or the need to reduce ambiguity in spoken English (so that pilots do not mistakenly make navigational decisions based on instructions issued to a different aircraft), some airlines and air forces use call-signs less obviously connected with their trading name. For example, British Airways uses a Speedbird call-sign, named after the logo of its predecessor, BOAC, while America West used Cactus reflecting that company's home in the state of Arizona and to differentiate itself from numerous other airlines using America and West in their call signs.

[edit] Airline personnel
The various types of airline personnel include:
Flight crews, responsible for the operation of the aircraft. Flight crew members include:
Pilots (Captain and First Officer: some older aircraft also require a Flight Engineer)
Flight attendants, (led by a purser on larger aircraft)
in-flight security personnel on some airlines (most notably El Al)
Groundcrew, responsible for operations at airports. Ground crew members include:
Aerospace and avionics engineers responsible for certifying the aircraft for flight and management of aircraft maintenance
Aerospace engineers, responsible for airframe, powerplant and electrical systems maintenance
Avionics engineers responsible for avionics and instruments maintenance
Airframe and powerplant technicians
Electric System technicians, responsible for maintenance of electrical systems
Avionics technicians, responsible for maintenance of avionics
Flight dispatchers
Baggage handlers
Rampers
Gate agents
Ticket agents
Passenger service agents (such as airline lounge employees)
Reservations agents, usually (but not always) at facilities outside the airport.
Airlines follow a corporate structure where each broad area of operations (such as maintenance, flight operations, and passenger service) is supervised by a vice president. Larger airlines often appoint vice presidents to oversee each of the airline's hubs as well. Airlines employ lawyers to deal with regulatory procedures and other administrative tasks.[citation needed]

[edit] Industry Trends

The headquarters of Air India in Mumbai, India.
The pattern of ownership has gone from government owned or supported to independent, for-profit public companies. This occurs as regulators permit greater freedom and non-government ownership, in steps that are usually decades apart. This pattern is not seen for all airlines in all regions.[original research?]
The overall trend of demand has been consistently increasing. In the 1950s and 1960s, annual growth rates of 15% or more were common. Annual growth of 5-6% persisted through the 1980s and 1990s[citation needed]. Growth rates are not consistent in all regions, but countries with a de-regulated airline industry have more competition and greater pricing freedom. This results in lower fares and sometimes dramatic spurts in traffic growth. The U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Mexico,India and other markets exhibit this trend. The industry has been observed to be cyclical in its financial performance. Four or five years of poor earnings precede five or six years of improvement. But profitability even in the good years is generally low, in the range of 2-3% net profit after interest and tax. In times of profit, airlines lease new generations of airplanes and upgrade services in response to higher demand. Since 1980, the industry has not earned back the cost of capital during the best of times. Conversely, in bad times losses can be dramatically worse. Warren Buffett once said that despite all the money that has been invested in all airlines, the net profit is less than zero. He believes it is one of the hardest businesses to manage.[citation needed]
As in many mature industries, consolidation is a trend. Airline groupings may consist of limited bilateral partnerships, long-term, multi-faceted alliances between carriers, equity arrangements, mergers, or takeovers. Since governments often restrict ownership and merger between companies in different countries, most consolidation takes place within a country. In the U.S., over 200 airlines have merged, been taken over, or gone out of business since deregulation in 1978. Many international airline managers are lobbying their governments to permit greater consolidation to achieve higher economy and efficiency.

Credit card

2008-07-23T00:30:00.000+07:00

Credit cards are issued after an account has been approved by the credit provider, after which cardholders can use it to make purchases at merchants accepting that card.
When a purchase is made, the credit card user agrees to pay the card issuer. The cardholder indicates his/her consent to pay, by signing a receipt with a record of the card details and indicating the amount to be paid or by entering a Personal identification number (PIN). Also, many merchants now accept verbal authorizations via telephone and electronic authorization using the Internet, known as a 'Card/Cardholder Not Present' (CNP) transaction.
Electronic verification systems allow merchants to verify that the card is valid and the credit card customer has sufficient credit to cover the purchase in a few seconds, allowing the verification to happen at time of purchase. The verification is performed using a credit card payment terminal or Point of Sale (POS) system with a communications link to the merchant's acquiring bank. Data from the card is obtained from a magnetic stripe or chip on the card; the latter system is in the United Kingdom and Ireland commonly known as Chip and PIN, but is more technically an EMV card.
Other variations of verification systems are used by eCommerce merchants to determine if the user's account is valid and able to accept the charge. These will typically involve the cardholder providing additional information, such as the security code printed on the back of the card, or the address of the cardholder.
Each month, the credit card user is sent a statement indicating the purchases undertaken with the card, any outstanding fees, and the total amount owed. After receiving the statement, the cardholder may dispute any charges that he or she thinks are incorrect (see Fair Credit Billing Act for details of the US regulations). Otherwise, the cardholder must pay a defined minimum proportion of the bill by a due date, or may choose to pay a higher amount up to the entire amount owed. The credit provider charges interest on the amount owed (typically at a much higher rate than most other forms of debt). Some financial institutions can arrange for automatic payments to be deducted from the user's bank accounts, thus avoiding late payment altogether as long as the cardholder has sufficient funds.

[edit] Interest charges
Credit card issuers usually waive interest charges if the balance is paid in full each month, but typically will charge full interest on the entire outstanding balance from the date of each purchase if the total balance is not paid.
For example, if a user had a $1,000 transaction and repaid it in full within this grace period, there would be no interest charged. If, however, even $1.00 of the total amount remained unpaid, interest would be charged on the $1,000 from the date of purchase until the payment is received. The precise manner in which interest is charged is usually detailed in a cardholder agreement which may be summarized on the back of the monthly statement. The general calculation formula most financial institutions use to determine the amount of interest to be charged is APR/100 x ADB/365 x number of days revolved. Take the Annual percentage rate (APR) and divide by 100 then multiply to the amount of the average daily balance (ADB) divided by 365 and then take this total and multiply by the total number of days the amount revolved before payment was made on the account. Financial institutions refer to interest charged back to the original time of the transaction and up to the time a payment was made, if not in full, as RRFC or residual retail finance charge. Thus after an amount has revolved and a payment has been made, the user of the card will still receive interest charges on their statement after paying the next statement in full (in fact the statement may only have a charge for interest that collected up until the date the full balance was paid...i.e. when the balance stopped revolving).[1]
The credit card may simply serve as a form of revolving credit, or it may become a complicated financial instrument with multiple balance segments each at a different interest rate, possibly with a single umbrella credit limit, or with separate credit limits applicable to the various balance segments. Usually this compartmentalization is the result of special incentive offers from the issuing bank, to encourage balance transfers from cards of other issuers. In the event that several interest rates apply to various balance segments, payment allocation is generally at the discretion of the issuing bank, and payments will therefore usually be allocated towards the lowest rate balances until paid in full before any money is paid towards higher rate balances. Interest rates can vary considerably from card to card, and the interest rate on a particular card may jump dramatically if the card user is late with a payment on that card or any other credit instrument, or even if the issuing bank decides to raise its revenue.

[edit] Benefits
Because of intense competition in the credit card industry, credit card providers often offer incentives such as frequent flyer points, gift certificates, or cash back (typically up to 1 percent based on total purchases) to try to attract customers to their programs.
Low interest credit cards or even 0% interest credit cards are available. The only downside to consumers is that the period of low interest credit cards is limited to a fixed term, usually between 6 and 12 months after which a higher rate is charged. However, services are available which alert credit card holders when their low interest period is due to expire. Most such services charge a monthly or annual fee.

[edit] Grace period
A credit card's grace period is the time the customer has to pay the balance before interest is charged to the balance. Grace periods vary, but usually range from 20 to 30 days depending on the type of credit card and the issuing bank. Some policies allow for reinstatement after certain conditions are met.
Usually, if a customer is late paying the balance, finance charges will be calculated and the grace period does not apply. Finance charges incurred depend on the grace period and balance; with most credit cards there is no grace period if there is any outstanding balance from the previous billing cycle or statement (i.e. interest is applied on both the previous balance and new transactions). However, there are some credit cards that will only apply finance charge on the previous or old balance, excluding new transactions.

[edit] The merchant's side

An example of street markets accepting credit cards
For merchants, a credit card transaction is often more secure than other forms of payment, such as checks, because the issuing bank commits to pay the merchant the moment the transaction is authorized, regardless of whether the consumer defaults on the credit card payment (except for legitimate disputes, which are discussed below, and can result in charges back to the merchant). In most cases, cards are even more secure than cash, because they discourage theft by the merchant's employees and reduce the amount of cash on the premises.
For each purchase, the bank charges the merchant a commission (discount fee) for this service and there may be a certain delay before the agreed payment is received by the merchant. The commission is often a percentage of the transaction amount, plus a fixed fee. In addition, a merchant may be penalized or have their ability to receive payment using that credit card restricted if there are too many cancellations or reversals of charges as a result of disputes. Some small merchants require credit purchases to have a minimum amount (usually between $5 and $10) to compensate for the transaction costs, though this is not always allowed by the credit card consortium.
In some countries, for example the Nordic countries, banks guarantee payment on stolen cards only if an ID card is checked and the ID card number/civic registration number is written down on the receipt together with the signature. In these countries merchants therefore usually ask for ID. Non-Nordic citizens, who are unlikely to possess a Nordic ID card or driving license, will instead have to show their passport, and the passport number will be written down on the receipt, sometimes together with other information. Some shops use the card's PIN for identification, and in that case showing an ID card is not necessary.

[edit] Parties involved
Cardholder: The holder of the card used to make a purchase; the consumer.
Card-issuing bank: The financial institution or other organization that issued the credit card to the cardholder. This bank bills the consumer for repayment and bears the risk that the card is used fraudulently. American Express and Discover were previously the only card-issuing banks for their respective brands, but as of 2007, this is no longer the case.
Merchant: The individual or business accepting credit card payments for products or services sold to the cardholder
Acquiring bank: The financial institution accepting payment for the products or services on behalf of the merchant.
Independent sales organization: Resellers (to merchants) of the services of the acquiring bank.
Merchant account: This could refer to the acquiring bank or the independent sales organization, but in general is the organization that the merchant deals with.
Credit Card association: An association of card-issuing banks such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, etc. that set transaction terms for merchants, card-issuing banks, and acquiring banks.
Transaction network: The system that implements the mechanics of the electronic transactions. May be operated by an independent company, and one company may operate multiple networks. Transaction processing networks include: Cardnet, Nabanco, Omaha, Paymentech, NDC Atlanta, Nova, Vital, Concord EFSnet, and VisaNet.[2]
Affinity partner: Some institutions lend their names to an issuer to attract customers that have a strong relationship with that institution, and get paid a fee or a percentage of the balance for each card issued using their name. Examples of typical affinity partners are sports teams, universities and charities.
The flow of information and money between these parties — always through the card associations — is known as the interchange, and it consists of a few steps.

[edit] Transaction steps
Authorization: The cardholder pays for the purchase and the merchant submits the transaction to the acquirer (acquiring bank). The acquirer verifies the credit card number, the transaction type and the amount with the issuer (Card-issuing bank) and reserves that amount of the cardholder's credit limit for the merchant. An authorization will generate an approval code, which the merchant stores with the transaction.
Batching: Authorized transactions are stored in "batches", which are sent to the acquirer. Batches are typically submitted once per day at the end of the business day. If a transaction is not submitted in the batch, the authorization will stay valid for a period determined by the issuer, after which the held amount will be returned back to the cardholder's available credit (see authorization hold). Some transactions may be submitted in the batch without prior authorizations; these are either transactions falling under the merchant's floor limit or ones where the authorization was unsuccessful but the merchant still attempts to force the transaction through. (Such may be the case when the cardholder is not present but owes the merchant additional money, such as extending a hotel stay or car rental.)
Clearing and Settlement: The acquirer sends the batch transactions through the credit card association, which debits the issuers for payment and credits the acquirer. Essentially, the issuer pays the acquirer for the transaction.
Funding: Once the acquirer has been paid, the acquirer pays the merchant. The merchant receives the amount totaling the funds in the batch minus the "discount rate," which is the fee the merchant pays the acquirer for processing the transactions.
Chargebacks: A chargeback is an event in which money in a merchant account is held due to a dispute relating to the transaction. Chargebacks are typically initiated by the cardholder. In the event of a chargeback, the issuer returns the transaction to the acquirer for resolution. The acquirer then forwards the chargeback to the merchant, who must either accept the chargeback or contest it.

[edit] Secured credit cards
A secured credit card is a type of credit card secured by a deposit account owned by the cardholder. Typically, the cardholder must deposit between 100% and 200% of the total amount of credit desired. Thus if the cardholder puts down $1000, they will be given credit in the range of $500–$1000. In some cases, credit card issuers will offer incentives even on their secured card portfolios. In these cases, the deposit required may be significantly less than the required credit limit, and can be as low as 10% of the desired credit limit. This deposit is held in a special savings account. Credit card issuers offer this because they have noticed that delinquencies were notably reduced when the customer perceives something to lose if the balance is not repaid.
The cardholder of a secured credit card is still expected to make regular payments, as with a regular credit card, but should they default on a payment, the card issuer has the option of recovering the cost of the purchases paid to the merchants out of the deposit. The advantage of the secured card for an individual with negative or no credit history is that most companies report regularly to the major credit bureaus. This allows for building of positive credit history.
Although the deposit is in the hands of the credit card issuer as security in the event of default by the consumer, the deposit will not be debited simply for missing one or two payments. Usually the deposit is only used as an offset when the account is closed, either at the request of the customer or due to severe delinquency (150 to 180 days). This means that an account which is less than 150 days delinquent will continue to accrue interest and fees, and could result in a balance which is much higher than the actual credit limit on the card. In these cases the total debt may far exceed the original deposit and the cardholder not only forfeits their deposit but is left with an additional debt.
Most of these conditions are usually described in a cardholder agreement which the cardholder signs when their account is opened.
Secured credit cards are an option to allow a person with a poor credit history or no credit history to have a credit card which might not otherwise be available. They are often offered as a means of rebuilding one's credit. Secured credit cards are available with both Visa and MasterCard logos on them. Fees and service charges for secured credit cards often exceed those charged for ordinary non-secured credit cards, however, for people in certain situations, (for example, after charging off on other credit cards, or people with a long history of delinquency on various forms of debt), secured cards can often be less expensive in total cost than unsecured credit cards, even including the security deposit.
Sometimes a credit card will be secured by the equity in the borrower's home.[3][4] This is called a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

[edit] Prepaid "credit" cards
See also: Stored-value card
A prepaid credit card is not a credit card,[5] since no credit is offered by the card issuer: the card-holder spends money which has been "stored" via a prior deposit by the card-holder or someone else, such as a parent or employer. However, it carries a credit-card brand (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) and can be used in similar ways just as though it were a regular credit card.[5][6]
After purchasing the card, the cardholder loads it with any amount of money, up to the predetermined card limit [7] and then uses the card to make purchases the same way as a typical credit card. Prepaid cards can be issued to minors (above 13) since there is no credit line involved. The main advantage over secured credit cards (see above section) is that you are not required to come up with $500 or more to open an account. [8] With prepaid credit cards you are not charged any interest but you are often charged a purchasing fee plus monthly fees after an arbitrary time period. Many other fees also usually apply to a prepaid card.[5]
Prepaid credit cards are sometimes marketed to teenagers[5] for shopping online without having their parents complete the transaction.[9][10][11][12]
Because of the many fees that apply to obtaining and using credit-card-branded prepaid cards, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada describes them as "an expensive way to spend your own money".[13] The agency publishes a booklet, "Pre-paid cards",[14] which explains the advantages and disadvantages of this type of prepaid card.

[edit] Features
As well as convenient, accessible credit, credit cards offer consumers an easy way to track expenses, which is necessary for both monitoring personal expenditures and the tracking of work-related expenses for taxation and reimbursement purposes. Credit cards are accepted worldwide, and are available with a large variety of credit limits, repayment arrangement, and other perks (such as rewards schemes in which points earned by purchasing goods with the card can be redeemed for further goods and services or credit card cashback).
Some countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, limit the amount for which a consumer can be held liable due to fraudulent transactions as a result of a consumer's credit card being lost or stolen.

[edit] Security
Credit card security relies on the physical security of the plastic card as well as the privacy of the credit card number. Therefore, whenever a person other than the card owner has access to the card or its number, security is potentially compromised. Merchants often accept credit card numbers without additional verification for mail order purchases. They however record the delivery address as a security measure to minimise fraudulent purchases. Some merchants will accept a credit card number for in-store purchases, whereupon access to the number allows easy fraud, but many require the card itself to be present, and require a signature. Thus, a stolen card can be cancelled, and if this is done quickly, no fraud can take place in this way. For internet purchases, there is sometimes the same level of security as for mail order (number only) hence requiring only that the fraudster take care about collecting the goods, but often there are additional measures. The main one is to require a security PIN with the card, which requires that the thief have access to the card, as well as the PIN.
An additional feature to secure the credit card transaction and prohibit the use of a lost credit card is the MobiClear solution. Each transaction is authenticated through a call to the user mobile phone. The transaction is released once the transaction has been confirmed by the cardholder pushing his/her pincode during the call.
The PCI DSS is the security standard issued by The PCI SSC (Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council). This data security standard is used by acquiring banks to impose cardholder data security measures upon their merchants.

[edit] Problems
Main article: Credit card fraud

A smart card, combining credit card and debit card properties. The 3 by 5 mm security chip embedded in the card is shown enlarged in the inset. The contact pads on the card enable electronic access to the chip.
The low security of the credit card system presents countless opportunities for fraud. This opportunity has created a huge black market in stolen credit card numbers, which are generally used quickly before the cards are reported stolen.
The goal of the credit card companies is not to eliminate fraud, but to "reduce it to manageable levels".[15] This implies that high-cost low-return fraud prevention measures will not be used if their cost exceeds the potential gains from fraud reduction.
Most internet fraud is done through the use of stolen credit card information which is obtained in many ways, the simplest being copying information from retailers, either online or offline. Despite efforts to improve security for remote purchases using credit cards, systems with security holes are usually the result of poor implementations of card acquisition by merchants. For example, a website that uses SSL to encrypt card numbers from a client may simply email the number from the webserver to someone who manually processes the card details at a card terminal. Naturally, anywhere card details become human-readable before being processed at the acquiring bank, a security risk is created. However, many banks offer systems where encrypted card details captured on a merchant's webserver can be sent directly to the payment processor.
Controlled Payment Numbers are another option for protecting one's credit card number: they are "alias" numbers linked to one's actual card number, generated as needed, valid for a relatively short time, with a very low limit, and typically only valid with a single merchant.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are responsible for prosecuting criminals who engage in credit card fraud in the United States, but they do not have the resources to pursue all criminals. In general, federal officials only prosecute cases exceeding US $5000 in value. Three improvements to card security have been introduced to the more common credit card networks but none has proven to help reduce credit card fraud so far. First, the on-line verification system used by merchants is being enhanced to require a 4 digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) known only to the card holder. Second, the cards themselves are being replaced with similar-looking tamper-resistant smart cards which are intended to make forgery more difficult. The majority of smartcard (IC card) based credit cards comply with the EMV (Europay MasterCard Visa) standard. Third, an additional 3 or 4 digit code is now present on the back of most cards, for use in "card not present" transactions. See CVV2 for more information.
The way credit card owners pay off their balances has a tremendous effect on their credit history. All the information is collected by credit bureaus. The credit information stays on the credit report, depending on the jurisdiction and the situation, for 1, 2, 5, 7 or even 10 years after the debt is repaid.

[edit] Profits and losses
In recent times, credit card portfolios have been very profitable for banks, largely due to the booming economy of the late nineties. However, in the case of credit cards, such high returns go hand in hand with risk, since the business is essentially one of making unsecured (uncollateralized) loans, and thus dependent on borrowers not to default in large numbers.

[edit] Costs
Credit card issuers (banks) have several types of costs:

[edit] Interest expenses
Banks generally borrow the money they then lend to their customers. As they receive very low-interest loans from other firms, they may borrow as much as their customers require, while lending their capital to other borrowers at higher rates. If the card issuer charges 15% on money lent to users, and it costs 5% to borrow the money to lend, and the balance sits with the cardholder for a year, the issuer earns 10% on the loan. This 5% difference is the "interest expense" and the 10% is the "net interest spread".

[edit] Operating costs
This is the cost of running the credit card portfolio, including everything from paying the executives who run the company to printing the plastics, to mailing the statements, to running the computers that keep track of every cardholder's balance, to taking the many phone calls which cardholders place to their issuer, to protecting the customers from fraud rings. Depending on the issuer, marketing programs are also a significant portion of expenses.

[edit] Charge offs
When a consumer becomes severely delinquent on a debt (often at the point of six months without payment), the creditor may declare the debt to be a charge-off. It will then be listed as such on the debtor's credit bureau reports (Equifax, for instance, lists "R9" in the "status" column to denote a charge-off.) The item will include relevant dates, and the amount of the bad debt.[16]
A charge-off is considered to be "written off as uncollectable." To banks, bad debts and even fraud are simply part of the cost of doing business.
However, the debt is still legally valid, and the creditor can attempt to collect the full amount for the time periods permitted under state law, which is usually 3 to 7 years. This includes contacts from internal collections staff, or more likely, an outside collection agency. If the amount is large (generally over $1500 - $2000), there is the possibility of a lawsuit or arbitration.
In the US, as the charge off number climbs or becomes erratic, officials from the Federal Reserve take a close look at the finances of the bank and may impose various operating strictures on the bank, and in the most extreme cases, may close the bank entirely.

[edit] Rewards

Qantas Frequent Flyer co-branded credit cards
Many credit card customers receive rewards, such as frequent flier points, gift certificates, or cash back as an incentive to use the card. Rewards are generally tied to purchasing an item or service on the card, which may or may not include balance transfers, cash advances, or other special uses. Depending on the type of card, rewards will generally cost the issuer between 0.25% and 2.0% of the spend. Networks such as Visa or MasterCard have increased their fees to allow issuers to fund their rewards system. However, most rewards points are accrued as a liability on a company's balance sheet and expensed at the time of reward redemption. As a result, some issuers discourage redemption by forcing the cardholder to call customer service for rewards. On their servicing website, redeeming awards is usually a feature that is very well hidden by the issuers. Others encourage redemption for lower cost merchandise; instead of an airline ticket, which is very expensive to an issuer, the cardholder may be encouraged to redeem for a gift certificate instead. With a fractured and competitive environment, rewards points cut dramatically into an issuer's bottom line, and rewards points and related incentives must be carefully managed to ensure a profitable portfolio. There is a case to be made that rewards not redeemed should follow the same path as gift cards that are not used: in certain states the gift card breakage goes to the state's treasury. The same could happen to the value of points or cash not redeemed.

[edit] Fraud
The cost of fraud is high; in the UK in 2004 it was over £500 million.[17] When a card is stolen, or an unauthorized duplicate made, most card issuers will refund some or all of the charges that the customer has received for things they did not buy. These refunds will, in some cases, be at the expense of the merchant, especially in mail order cases where the merchant cannot claim sight of the card. In several countries, merchants will lose the money if no ID card was asked for, therefore merchants usually require ID card in these countries. Credit card companies generally guarantee the merchant will be paid on legitimate transactions regardless of whether the consumer pays their credit card bill.

[edit] Revenues
Offsetting costs are the following revenues:

[edit] Interchange fee
Main article: Interchange fee
Bank card associations such as Visa and MasterCard require merchants to pay billions of dollars in Interchange fees to banks that issue their credit and debit cards.[18] Card-issuing banks obtain these interchange fees in addition to the enormous revenue they receive from card holder interest and fees. Interchange fees are the single largest component of the various fees that banks deduct from merchants' credit card sales. Merchants pay their banks fees of 1 to 6 percent of each sale (for large merchants these fees may be negotiated[19], but will vary not only from merchant to merchant, but also from card to card, with business cards and rewards cards generally costing the merchants more to process), which is why many merchants prefer cash, PIN-based debit cards, or even cheques, or will add a percentage to the sale price to cover the interchange fee. Traditionally, interchange fees have been set by the bank card associations and their major card-issuing banks, who are the primary beneficiaries of these fees.[20]
The interchange fee that applies to a particular merchant is a function of many variables including the type of merchant, the merchant's total card sales volume, the merchant's average transaction amount, whether the cards are physically present, if the card's magnetic stripe is read or if the transaction is hand-keyed or entered on a website, the specific type of card, when the transaction is settled, the authorized and settled transaction amounts, etc. For a typical credit card issuer, interchange fee revenues may represent about a quarter of total revenues,[19] but this will vary greatly among credit card issuers. Interchange fees may consume over 50 percent of profits from card sales for some merchants (such as supermarkets) that operate on slim margins. Merchants contend that interchange fees force them to raise prices for everyone; banks contend that interchange fees enable them to offer better cardholder rewards for their best customers.

[edit] Interest on outstanding balances
Interest charges vary widely from card issuer to card issuer. Often, there are "teaser" rates in effect for initial periods of time (as low as zero percent for, say, six months), whereas regular rates can be as high as 40 percent. In the U.S. there is no federal limit on the interest or late fees credit card issuers can charge; the interest rates are set by the states, with some states such as South Dakota, having no ceiling on interest rates and fees, inviting some banks to establish their credit card operations there. Other states, for example Delaware, have very weak usury laws. The teaser rate no longer applies if the customer doesn't pay his bills on time, and is replaced by a penalty interest rate (for example, 24.99%) that applies retroactively. So customers should be wary of these offers, that usually contain some traps.

[edit] Fees charged to customers
The major fees are for:
Late payments or overdue payments
Charges that result in exceeding the credit limit on the card (whether done deliberately or by mistake), called overlimit fees
Returned cheque fees or payment processing fees (eg phone payment fee)
Cash advances and convenience cheques (often 3% of the amount)[21]. Transactions in a foreign currency (as much as 3% of the amount). A few financial institutions do not charge a fee for this.
Membership fees (annual or monthly), sometimes a percentage of the credit limit.
Exchange Rate Loading Fees (May not even appear on your statement!)[22]

[edit] Neutral consumer resources

[edit] Canada
The Government of Canada maintains a database of the fees, features, interest rates and reward programs of nearly 200 credit cards available in Canada. This database is updated on a quarterly basis with information supplied by the credit card issuing companies. Information in the database is published every quarter on the website of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC).
Information in the database is published in two formats. It is available in PDF comparison tables that break down the information according to type of credit card, allowing the reader to compare the features of, for example, all the student credit cards in the database.
The database also feeds into an interactive tool on the FCAC website.[23] The interactive tool uses several interview-type questions to build a profile of the user's credit card usage habits and needs, eliminating unsuitable choices based on the profile, so that the user is presented with a small number of credit cards and the ability to carry out detailed comparisons of features, reward programs, interest rates, etc.

[edit] History
The concept of using a card for purchases was described in 1887 by Edward Bellamy in his utopian novel Looking Backward. Bellamy used the term credit card eleven times in this novel.[24]
The modern credit card was the successor of a variety of merchant credit schemes. It was first used in the 1920s, in the United States, specifically to sell fuel to a growing number of automobile owners. In 1938 several companies started to accept each other's cards.
The concept of paying merchants using a card was invented in 1950 by Ralph Schneider and Frank X. McNamara in order to consolidate multiple cards. The Diners Club, which was created partially through a merger with Dine and Sign, produced the first "general purpose" charge card, which is similar but required the entire bill to be paid with each statement; it was followed shortly thereafter by American Express and Carte Blanche. Western Union had begun issuing charge cards to its frequent customers in 1914.
Bank of America created the BankAmericard in 1958, a product which eventually evolved into the Visa system ("Chargex" also became Visa). MasterCard came to being in 1966 when a group of credit-issuing banks established MasterCharge. The fractured nature of the US banking system meant that credit cards became an effective way for those who were travelling around the country to move their credit to places where they could not directly use their banking facilities. In 1966 Barclaycard in the UK launched the first credit card outside of the US.
There are now countless variations on the basic concept of revolving credit for individuals (as issued by banks and honored by a network of financial institutions), including organization-branded credit cards, corporate-user credit cards, store cards and so on.
In contrast, although having reached very high adoption levels in the US, Canada and the UK, it is important to note that many cultures were much more cash-oriented in the latter half of the twentieth century, or had developed alternative forms of cash-less payments, such as Carte bleue or the EC-card (Germany, France, Switzerland, among many others). In these places, the take-up of credit cards was initially much slower. It took until the 1990s to reach anything like the percentage market-penetration levels achieved in the US, Canada or UK. In many countries acceptance still remains poor as the use of a credit card system depends on the banking system being perceived as reliable.
In contrast, because of the legislative framework surrounding banking system overdrafts, some countries, France in particular, were much faster to develop and adopt chip-based credit cards which are now seen as major anti-fraud credit devices.
The design of the credit card itself has become a major selling point in recent years. The value of the card to the issuer is often related to the customer's usage of the card, or to the customer's financial worth. This has led to the rise of Co-Brand and Affinity cards - where the card design is related to the "affinity" (a university, for example) leading to higher card usage. In most cases a percentage of the value of the card is returned to the affinity group.

[edit] Charga-Plate
The Charga-Plate was an early predecessor to the credit card. It was a 2 1/2" x 1 1/4" rectangle of sheet metal, similar to a military dog tag, that was embossed with the customer's name, city and state (no address). It held a small paper card for a signature. It was laid in the imprinter first, then a charge slip on top of it, onto which an inked ribbon was pressed.[25] Charga-Plate was a trademark of Farrington Manufacturing Co. Charga-Plates were issued by large-scale merchants, much like department store credit cards of today. In some cases, the plates were kept in the issuing store rather than held by customers. When an authorized user made a purchase, a clerk retrieved the plate from the store's files and then processed the purchase. Charga-Plates speeded back-office bookkeeping that was done manually in paper ledgers in each store, before computers.

[edit] Collectible credit cards
A growing field of numismatics (study of money), or more specifically exonumia (study of money-like objects), credit card collectors seek to collect various embodiments of credit from the now familiar plastic cards to older paper merchant cards, and even metal tokens that were accepted as merchant credit cards. Early credit cards were made of celluloid, then metal and fiber, then paper and are now mostly plastic.

[edit] Controversy
Credit card debt has soared, particularly among young people. Since the late 1990s, lawmakers, consumer advocacy groups, college officials and other higher education affiliates have become increasingly concerned about the rising use of credit cards among college students. The major credit card companies have been accused of targeting a younger audience, in particular college students, many of whom are already in debt with college tuition fees and college loans and who typically are less experienced at managing their own finances.
A 2006 documentary film titled Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders deals with this subject in detail.[26] The nonprofit group Americans for Fairness in Lending works with Maxed Out to educate Americans about credit card abuse.
Another controversial area is the universal default feature of many North American credit card contracts. When a cardholder is late paying a particular credit card issuer, that card's interest rate can be raised, often considerably. Universal default allows creditors to periodically check cardholders' credit portfolios to view trade, thus allowing the institution to decrease the credit limit or increase rates on cardholders who may be late with another credit card issuer. Being late on one credit card will potentially affect all the cardholder's credit cards. Citibank voluntarily stopped this practice in March 2007 and Chase stopped the practice in November 2007.[27]
Another controversial area is the trailing interest issue. Trailing interest is the practice of charging interest on the entire bill no matter what percentage of it is paid. U.S Senator Carl Levin raised the issue at a U.S Senate Hearing of millions of Americans whom he said are slaves to hidden fees, compounding interest and cryptic terms. Their woes were heard in a Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing which was chaired by Senator Levin who said that he intends to keep the spotlight on credit card companies and that legislative action may be necessary to purge the industry.[28]
In the United States, some have called for Congress to enact additional regulations on the industry; to expand the disclosure box clearly disclosing rate hikes, use plain language, incorporate balance payoff disclosures, and also to outlaw universal default. At a congress hearing around March 1, 2007, Citibank announced it would no longer practice this, effective immediately. Opponents of such regulation argue that customers must become more proactive and self-responsible in evaluating and negotiating terms with credit offerers. Some of the nation's influential top credit card issuers, who are among the top fifty corporate contributors to political campaigns, successfully opposed it.

[edit] Hidden costs
In the United Kingdom, merchants won the right through The Credit Cards (Price Discrimination) Order 1990[29] to charge customers different prices according to the payment method. The United Kingdom is the world's most credit-card-intensive country, with 67 million credit cards for a population of 59 million people.[30]
In the United States, until 1984 federal law prohibited surcharges on card transactions. Although the federal Truth in Lending Act provisions that prohibited surcharges expired that year, a number of states have since enacted laws that continue to outlaw the practice; California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas have laws against surcharges.

[edit] Redlining
Credit Card redlining is a spatially discriminatory practice among credit card issuers of providing different amounts of credit to different areas, based on their ethnic-minority composition, rather than on economic criteria, such as the potential profitability of operating in those areas.[31]

[edit] Credit card numbering
Main article: Credit card number
The numbers found on credit cards have a certain amount of internal structure, and share a common numbering scheme.
The card number's prefix, called the Bank Identification Number, is the sequence of digits at the beginning of the number that determine the bank to which a credit card number belongs. This is the first six digits for MasterCard and Visa cards. The next nine digits are the individual account number, and the final digit is a validity check code.
In addition to the main credit card number, credit cards also carry issue and expiration dates (given to the nearest month), as well as extra codes such as issue numbers and security codes. Not all credit cards have the same sets of extra codes nor do they use the same number of digits.

[edit] Credit cards in ATMs
Many credit cards can also be used in an ATM to withdraw money against the credit limit extended to the card, but many card issuers charge interest on cash advances before they do so on purchases. The interest on cash advances is commonly charged from the date the withdrawal is made, rather than the monthly billing date. Many card issuers levy a commission for cash withdrawals, even if the ATM belongs to the same bank as the card issuer. Merchants do not offer cashback on credit card transactions because they would pay a percentage commission of the additional cash amount to their bank or merchant services provider, thereby making it uneconomical.
Many credit card companies will also, when applying payments to a card, do so at the end of a billing cycle, and apply those payments to everything before cash advances. For this reason, many consumers have large cash balances, which have no grace period and incur interest at a rate that is (usually) higher than the purchase rate, and will carry those balance for years, even if they pay off their statement balance each month.

[edit] Credit cards as funding for entrepreneurs
Credit cards are a creative, yet often risky way for entrepreneurs to acquire capital for their start ups when more conventional financing is unavailable. It is rumoured that Larry Page and Sergey Brin's start up of Google was financed by credit cards to buy the necessary computers and office equipment, more specifically "a terabyte of hard disks".[32] Similarly, filmmaker Robert Townsend financed part of Hollywood Shuffle using credit cards.[33] Director Kevin Smith funded Clerks in part by maxing out several credit cards. Richard Hatch also financed his production of Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming partly through his credit cards. Famed hedge fund manager Bruce Kovner began his career (and, later on, his firm Caxton Associates) in financial markets by borrowing from his credit card.

Guaranteed Extra Cash Online

2008-07-11T03:12:00.000+07:00

For college students and other people who feel burned out trying to balance paying the bills and living at the same time, ads like these can prove to be irresistible. Many of them make perfect sense and easily hook you based on good concepts. Unfortunately, many times the product or service does not match the brilliance of a great idea for making money from home or through the Internet. As I’ve learned myself, the further you go down this road, the more excited you get. You basically get hooked, and if you aren’t careful, you will end up working hard and falling further into debt than you can imagine. Much like gambling, the lure of easy money and independence can make just about anyone fall prey to work at home scams that feed off your dreams to get to your wallet so they can go on to the next victim. Hopefully, you will never fall victim to these scam artists. However, the fact of the matter is that these scammers would not be wasting their time if they were not making any money. And as long as people continue to get mixed up in this business, these scammers are going to stick around to trick more and more people. The best way to keep a scammer’s claws away from your credit card is to do thorough research on each opportunity that you are considering. This means doing much more than simply reading a bit about it online. In my personal experience, I have been taken by companies who were savvy enough to pollute the Internet with staged testimonials, guarantees, questionable references to big name endorsements, and even appearances in the Better Business Bureau. A colleague of mine who invested in vending machine placement services even went so far as to physically go to the manufacturing plant to tour the warehouse as well as contact the Better Business Bureau of that state. What he received, in return, were twenty malfunctioning candy machines with a list of local businesses who had apparently agreed to receive them. Not only did none of these businesses know what he was talking about, many of them were hostile when he showed up to place them. What you want to do is check message boards such as the ASK section of Yahoo.com. Another simple method of weeding out the scams from the genuine opportunities is to go to a search engine and simply type in the company name followed by the word “scam”. If you do this, and you are barraged by an endless list of complaints, you my friend have found a nugget of gold in a sea of mud. In terms of the Better Business Bureau, it is best to contact them directly to ask about any complaints, and also find out how long a company has been listed. The Better Business Bureau operates state by state. They will be able to tell you if they have any complaints on file. If they do, you will want to avoid the opportunity at all costs. But if it appears that a company is doing business the right way, you can continue your own research. Being in the Business Bureau is not necessarily that hard to accomplish. Many scammers can use their money and connections to set up a front to initially qualify for the Better Business Bureau just long enough for them to collect their cash from unsuspecting victims, close shop, create a new identity and start again. Before you decide to do anything, attempt to get in touch with the company that you are interested in. Can you get a human being on the phone? Do they have an actually physical address? How long does it take them to respond to your e-mails, if at all? If you cannot even talk to the company before you start, there is not chance that they will be around when you really need them. I once made quite a bit of money selling vacation vouchers on auction sites. The marketing plan was sound, and the money saving vouchers was a hit. Only problem was, I could never get in touch with their customer service department to handle my customer inquiries and complaints once I realized that the promises that existed in writing on the vouchers were misleading at best. This proved to be such a problem that it took me over a year to recover from the negative publicity on my auction site. Of course, there are legitimate home based businesses out there. With the Internet and all the low cost, web producing tools available, there seems to be a renaissance in entrepreneurship. Basically, just find a product or service you can market online, and do your research. Sell on EBay if you don’t want to build your own website. You can have a website their and all search engine marketing is already done by EBay. The Small Business Association has an office in downtown Tacoma and contains invaluable information on their website http://www.sba.com. Since small business is the backbone of our country economically, sources such as these are eager to help you create a plan with realistic expectations. However, like anything else worthwhile, you have to do your homework and work hard at it. The problem is that too many people make you think you can practically go online and make money just clicking on a mouse. You want to steer clear of any business that asks to you to pay for their “Top Secret” e-book that will teach you how to make an automated income.” Think about it, if you are in dire need of cash, can you imagine any other situation in which you would not only work for free, but pay for the privilege to work. There are no magic formals or secrets worth paying for. All of the information in these e-books can be found for free through your own research if you have common internet skills. If you don’t want to work hard and just make a few easy extra bucks without donating your blood or volunteering to be a guinea pig, it is possible to make some good extra money filling out online surveys or through mystery shopping. There are real opportunities out there which require no fee to get started. Not only that, several of them will even give you a $5 bonus just for signing up. If a company such as this is legitimate, they would be making lots of money through the success of its members. Companies that require that $49.97 start up fee only make money through the fee and only want to teach you how to get other people to do the same. The products are all useless lists and general information that anyone with a functioning mind could figure out on their own, or get for free by doing their own research. In 12 years of trying to make a living on the Internet, the following are the best companies I have ever encountered for making a few extra bucks filling out surveys, playing games and mystery shopping. They probably won’t pay the rent, but if you’re interested in making an extra $400 or $500 a month or eating out at nice restaurants and going to movies for free, you may want to check these out: Mystery Shopping Providers Association: ." target=new>http://www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers/">. This site contains all the information you will ever need on starting up as a mystery shopper. It is also a portal for the best sites to go to for mystery shopping jobs online, and they don’t require that you invest a penny. InboxDollars.com. (you can sign up for free and get $5 just for signing up. You can make a few hundred dollars in one day, theoretically, if you are willing to use a credit card to sign up for free or paid trials. Just make sure you have the patience to fill out the long surveys and keep detailed records so you can remember to cancel your free trials before you get charged. Also, you can fill out surveys to make a dollar or two which are completely free. I’ve made about $400 with this site. http://www..sendearnings.com.(almost identical to InboxDollars.com) http://www.treasuretrooper.com. (a lot of free surveys and cool games). http://www.tiktikcash.com. By far the best of the survey sites. The free surveys are tremendous. You can make a dollar or two in one minute. This site has the shortest, most painless surveys. I made over thirty bucks in less than after signing up.

All About Pizza

2008-07-11T03:11:00.001+07:00

The term pizza covers a lot of territory. If you want to learn all about pizzas, then you should have a bit of a background on pizzas: specifically the history of pizza, pizza origin, pizza facts, and even pizza trivia such as who invented pizza. The subject also delves into the different types and styles of pizzas. The varieties currently existing defy any attempts at enumeration. Thus, most people who attempt such a task stop at a broad categorization of pizza types according to certain attributes such as crust thickness, crust elasticity, crust baking and cooking procedures, toppings, etc. Aside from general, historical or trivial information, other things are of interest to the pizza lovers. For instance, homemade pizza enthusiasts would like to know certain tips and tricks for making pizza. This includes pizza making techniques, the best pizza crust recipes, pizza toppings, homemade pizza sauce, etc. Some other interesting topics will be frozen pizza dough and where best to attain them, what are the criteria for choosing the, what are the methods for preparing them, etc. It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled "all about pizza." However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes. Some pizza facts and trivia Accounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the "mother of the pizza crust." However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans - the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won't be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito - a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings. Now, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn't blurt these out just to anybody or you'll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you're talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits. " Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies. " Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States. " The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York. " The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year. " New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza. (New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.) Pizza types and pizza styles The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza? Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens. New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese - fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza. The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world - generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings. The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork. You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant. Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you've found. Some pizza making tips and techniques Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency - that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties. If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen. Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength. Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.

Can Data Breaches Be Expected From Bankrupt Mortgage Lenders?

2008-07-11T03:09:00.000+07:00

The stock market is in a tumult. Actually, it has been for about a year, ever since the subprime fiasco (anyone take a look at Moody's performance over the past year?) Now that that particular issue has been beaten to death, other mortgage related issues are cropping up. Most of the stuff covered in the media is financial in nature, but some of those mortgage related issues do concern information security. It's no secret that there are plenty of companies in the US that discard sensitive documents by dumping them unceremoniously: leave it by the curb, drive it to a dumpster, heave it over the walls of abandoned property, and other assorted mind boggling insecure practices. In fact, MSNBC has an article on this issue, and names numerous bankrupt mortgage companies whose borrowers' records were found in dumpsters and recycling centers. The information on those documents include credit card numbers and SSNs, as well as addresses, names, and other information needed to secure a mortgage. Since the companies have filed for bankruptcy and are no more, the potential victims involved have no legal recourse, and are left to fend for themselves. In a way, it makes sense that companies that have filed for bankruptcy are behaving this way. (Not that I'm saying this is proper procedure.) For starters, if a company does wrong, one goes after the company; however, the company has filed for bankruptcy, it is no more, so there's no one to "go after." In light of the company status, this means that the actual person remaining behind to dispose of things, be they desks or credit applications, can opt to do whatever he feels like. He could shred the applications. He could dump them nearby. He could walk away and let the building's owner take care of them. What does he care? It's not as if he's gonna get fired. Also, proper disposal requires either time, money, or both. A bankrupt company doesn't have money. It may have time, assuming people are going to stick around, but chances are their shredder has been seized by creditors. People are not going to stick around to shred things by hand, literally. Aren't there any laws regulating this? Apparently, such issues are covered by FACTA, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, and although its guidelines require that "businesses to dispose of sensitive financial documents in a way that protects against 'unauthorized access to or use of the information'" [msnbc.com], it stops short of requiring the physical destruction of data. I'm not a lawyer, but perhaps there's enough leeway in the language for one to go around dropping sensitive documents in dumpsters? Like I mentioned before, inappropriate disposal of sensitive documents has been going on forever; I'm pretty sure this has been a problem since the very first mortgage was issued. My personal belief is that most companies would act responsibly and try to properly dispose of such information. But, this may prove to be a point of concern as well because of widespread misconceptions of what it means to protect data against unauthorized access. What happens if a company that files for bankruptcy decides to sell their company computers to pay off creditors? Most people would delete the information found in the computer, and that's that-end of story. Except, it's not. When files are deleted, the actual data still resides in the hard disks; it's just that the computer's operating system doesn't have a way to find the information anymore. Indeed, this is how retail data restoration applications such as Norton are able to recover accidentally deleted files. Some may be aware of this and decide to format the entire computer before sending it off to the new owners. The problem with this approach is the same as deleting files: data recovery is a cinch with the right software. Some of them retail for $30 or less-as in free. So, the sensitive data that's supposed to be deleted can be recovered, if not easily, at least cheaply-perhaps by people with criminal interests. Am I being paranoid? I don't think so. I've been tracking fraud for years now, and I can't help but conclude that the criminal underworld has plenty of people looking to be niche operators, not to mention that there are infinitesimal ways of defrauding people (look up "salad oil" and "American Express," for an example). An identification theft ring looking to collect sensitive information from bankrupt mortgage dealers wouldn't surprise me, especially in an environment where such companies are dropping left and right. The economics behind it make sense as well. A used computer will retail anywhere from $100 to $500. The information in it, if not wiped correctly, will average many times more even if you factor in the purchase of data recovery software. Criminals have different ways of capitalizing on personal data, ranging from selling the information outright to engaging in something with better returns. Is there a better way to protect oneself? Whole disk encryption is a way to ensure that such problems do not occur: One can just reformat the encrypted drive itself to install a new OS; the original data remains encrypted, so there's no way to extract the data. Plus, the added benefit is that the data is protected in the event that a computer gets lost or stolen. However, commonsense dictates that encryption is something ongoing concerns sign up for, not businesses about to go bankrupt. My guess is that sooner or later we'll find instances of data breaches originating from equipment being traced back to bankrupt mortgage dealers. The stock market is in a tumult. Actually, it has been for about a year, ever since the subprime fiasco (anyone take a look at Moody's performance over the past year?) Now that that particular issue has been beaten to death, other mortgagerelated issues are cropping up. Most of the stuff covered in the media is financial in nature, but some of those mortgagerelated issues do concern information security. It's no secret that there are plenty of companies in the US that discard sensitive documents by dumping them unceremoniously: leave it by the curb, drive it to a dumpster, heave it over the walls of abandoned property, and other assorted mindboggling insecure practices. In fact, MSNBC has an article on this issue, and names numerous bankrupt mortgage companies whose borrowers' records were found in dumpsters and recycling centers. The information on those documents include credit card numbers and SSNs, as well as addresses, names, and other information needed to secure a mortgage. Since the companies have filed for bankruptcy and are no more, the potential victims involved have no legal recourse, and are left to fend for themselves. In a way, it makes sense that companies that have filed for bankruptcy are behaving this way. (Not that I'm saying this is proper procedure.) For starters, if a company does wrong, one goes after the company; however, the company has filed for bankruptcy, it is no more, so there's no one to "go after." In light of the company status, this means that the actual person remaining behind to dispose of things, be they desks or credit applications, can opt to do whatever he feels like. He could shred the applications. He could dump them nearby. He could walk away and let the building's owner take care of them. What does he care? It's not as if he's gonna get fired. Also, proper disposal requires either time, money, or both. A bankrupt company doesn't have money. It may have time, assuming people are going to stick around, but chances are their shredder has been seized by creditors. People are not going to stick around to shred things by hand, literally. Aren't there any laws regulating this? Apparently, such issues are covered by FACTA, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, and although its guidelines require that "businesses to dispose of sensitive financial documents in a way that protects against 'unauthorized access to or use of the information'" [msnbc.com], it stops short of requiring the physical destruction of data. I'm not a lawyer, but perhaps there's enough leeway in the language for one to go around dropping sensitive documents in dumpsters? Like I mentioned before, inappropriate disposal of sensitive documents has been going on forever; I'm pretty sure this has been a problem since the very first mortgage was issued. My personal belief is that most companies would act responsibly and try to properly dispose of such information. But, this may prove to be a point of concern as well because of widespread misconceptions of what it means to protect data against unauthorized access. What happens if a company that files for bankruptcy decides to sell their company computers to pay off creditors? Most people would delete the information found in the computer, and that's that-end of story. Except, it's not. When files are deleted, the actual data still resides in the hard disks; it's just that the computer's operating system doesn't have a way to find the information anymore. Indeed, this is how retail data restoration applications such as Norton are able to recover accidentally deleted files. Some may be aware of this and decide to format the entire computer before sending it off to the new owners. The problem with this approach is the same as deleting files: data recovery is a cinch with the right software. Some of them retail for $30 or less-as in free. So, the sensitive data that's supposed to be deleted can be recovered, if not easily, at least cheaply-perhaps by people with criminal interests. Am I being paranoid? I don't think so. I've been tracking fraud for years now, and I can't help but conclude that the criminal underworld has plenty of people looking to be niche operators, not to mention that there are infinitesimal ways of defrauding people (look up "salad oil" and "American Express," for an example). An identification theft ring looking to collect sensitive information from bankrupt mortgage dealers wouldn't surprise me, especially in an environment where such companies are dropping left and right. The economics behind it make sense as well. A used computer will retail anywhere from $100 to $500. The information in it, if not wiped correctly, will average many times more even if you factor in the purchase of data recovery software. Criminals have different ways of capitalizing on personal data, ranging from selling the information outright to engaging in something with better returns. Is there a better way to protect oneself? Whole disk encryption is a way to ensure that such problems do not occur: One can just reformat the encrypted drive itself to install a new OS; the original data remains encrypted, so there's no way to extract the data. Plus, the added benefit is that the data is protected in the event that a computer gets lost or stolen. However, commonsense dictates that encryption is something ongoing concerns sign up for, not businesses about to go bankrupt. My guess is that sooner or later we'll find instances of data breaches originating from equipment being traced back to bankrupt mortgage dealers.

GOOGLE ADSENSE TOP PAYING KEYWORDS

2008-07-07T01:37:00.000+07:00

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14.65
refinancing equity loans
115.01
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distance education degree online
52.52
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31.80
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60.59
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celebrex attorney
41.00
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refinance bad credit
44.97
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36.34
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37.95
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44.22
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25.78
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20.60
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38.84
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vioxx lawyer
24.87
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consolidation loans
127.16
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com personals yahoo
48.22
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at t com
39.65
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litigation funding
27.56
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commercial credit counseling
40.41
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no cost refinancing
37.70
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student consolidation
62.02
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insurance medical short term
28.50
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line of credit rates
27.71
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american relief tax
23.80
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currency online trading
53.13
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best home equity loan
51.72
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fortis insurance short term
27.85
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life assurance online
24.86
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consolidate my debt
29.61
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life insurance uk
53.52
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affordable term life insurance
39.86
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life assurance quote
26.54
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christian credit counseling
22.82
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46.70
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accident attorney michigan
49.61
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att store wireless
32.54
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interest rate refinance
29.54
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company health insurance life mega
31.23
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arizona criminal attorney
34.86
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term life insurance
25.35
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home loans poor credit
29.47
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private loan consolidation
27.37
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cover critical illness insurance
37.97
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home equity credit
38.00
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student loan consolidation
26.09
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ca health in insurance
59.29
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criminal houston lawyer
34.70
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attorney california tax
21.35
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car insurance philadelphia
29.88
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recall vioxx
42.66
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alicante car in rental
50.18
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dallas criminal attorney
59.11
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attorney irs tax
26.70
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equity home line rate
22.69
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mortgage rates refinance
36.65
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lombard direct
35.00
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35.74
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low interest refinance
33.38
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mega life and health insurance company
26.62
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insurance quote term
64.58
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at and t cellular
39.11
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wells fargo home equity
28.89
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consumer credit consolidation
47.29
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ca insurance medical
36.11
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car law lemon
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46.81
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click affiliate
81.23
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hyip investment
48.65
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35.70
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christian counseling debt
38.27
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insurance online term
19.25
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home equity lines of credit
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equity lines of credit
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care ge insurance long term
68.11
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comcast high speed internet
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critical illness cover
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25.39
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california dui attorney
19.94
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home equity line of credit loans
47.04
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criminal federal lawyer
34.54
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29.72
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online forex trading
26.82
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law lemon new york
18.79
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28.77
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health life mega
51.34
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cal vet
29.73
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attack heart vioxx
53.13
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non profit debt
37.31
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23.51
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desk help it software
24.46
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low interest home loans
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software anti spam
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litigation finance
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consolidating student loan
218.38
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yahoo personal ads
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vioxx attorney
51.06
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eloan com
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vioxx stroke
18.85
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debt consolidation programs
84.91
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masters degree education online
53.56
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law lemon new state york
22.26
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25.18
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fixed home equity loan
23.05
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40.43
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29.05
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125 home equity
39.86
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25.88
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law lemon rv
65.87
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florida law lemon
41.43
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86.48
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36.11
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60.40
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74.91
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32.24
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21.54
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47.22
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26.55
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93.90
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31.85
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55.68
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careone
46.58
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46.13
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24.93
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36.29
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41.75
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dedicated hosting linux

Web hosting

2008-06-28T04:59:00.000+07:00

A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to provide their own website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server they own for use by their clients as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for servers they do not own to be located in their data center, called colocation.Contents[hide]1 Service scope 2 Hosting reliability and uptime 3 Types of hosting 4 Obtaining hosting 5 References 6 See also//[edit] Service scopeThe scope of hosting services varies widely. The most basic is web page and small-scale file hosting, where files can be uploaded via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or a Web interface. The files are usually delivered to the Web "as is" or with little processing. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) offer this service free to their subscribers. People can also obtain Web page hosting from other, alternative service providers. Personal web site hosting is typically free, advertisement-sponsored, or cheap. Business web site hosting often has a higher expense.Single page hosting is generally sufficient only for personal web pages. A complex site calls for a more comprehensive package that provides database support and application development platforms (e.g. PHP, Java, Ruby on Rails, and ASP.NET). These facilities allow the customers to write or install scripts for applications like forums and content management. For e-commerce, SSL is also highly recommended.The host may also provide an interface or control panel for managing the Web server and installing scripts as well as other services like e-mail. Some hosts specialize in certain software or services (e.g. e-commerce). They are commonly used by larger companies to outsource network infrastructure to a hosting company. To find a web hosting company, searchable directories can be used. One must be extremely careful when searching for a new company because many of the people promoting service providers are actually affiliates and the reviews are biased.[edit] Hosting reliability and uptime Multiple racks of servers, and how a datacenter commonly looks.Hosting uptime refers to the percentage of time the host is accessible via the internet. Many providers state that they aim for a 99.9% uptime, but there may be server restarts and planned (or unplanned) maintenance in any hosting environment.A common claim from the popular hosting providers is '99% or 99.9% server uptime' but this often refers only to a server being powered on and doesn't account for network downtime. Real downtime can potentially be larger than the percentage guaranteed by the provider. Many providers tie uptime and accessibility into their own service level agreement (SLA). SLAs sometimes include refunds or reduced costs if performance goals are not met.[edit] Types of hosting A typical server "cage," commonly seen in colocation centres.Internet hosting services can run Web servers; see Internet hosting services.Hosting services limited to the Web:Free web hosting service: is free, (sometimes) advertisement-supported web hosting, and is often limited when compared to paid hosting.Shared web hosting service: one's Web site is placed on the same server as many other sites, ranging from a few to hundreds or thousands. Typically, all domains may share a common pool of server resources, such as RAM and the CPU. A shared website may be hosted with a reseller.Reseller web hosting: allows clients to become web hosts themselves. Resellers could function, for individual domains, under any combination of these listed types of hosting, depending on who they are affiliated with as a provider. Resellers' accounts may vary tremendously in size: they may have their own virtual dedicated server to a colocated server.Virtual Dedicated Server: dividing a server into virtual servers, where each user feels like they're on their own dedicated server, but they're actually sharing a server with many other users. The users may have root access to their own virtual space. This is also known as a virtual private server or VPS.Dedicated hosting service: the user gets his or her own Web server and gains full control over it (root access for Linux/administrator access for Windows); however, the user typically does not own the server. Another type of Dedicated hosting is Self-Managed or Unmanaged. This is usually the least expensive for Dedicated plans. The user has full administrative access to the box, which means the client is responsible for the security and maintenance of his own dedicated box.Managed hosting service: the user gets his or her own Web server but is not allowed full control over it (root access for Linux/administrator access for Windows); however, they are allowed to manage their data via FTP or other remote management tools. The user is disallowed full control so that the provider can guarantee quality of service by not allowing the user to modify the server or potentially create configuration problems. The user typically does not own the server. The server is leased to the client.Colocation web hosting service: similar to the dedicated web hosting service, but the user owns the colo server; the hosting company provides physical space that the server takes up and takes care of the server. This is the most powerful and expensive type of the web hosting service. In most cases, the colocation provider may provide little to no support directly for their client's machine, providing only the electrical, Internet access, and storage facilities for the server. In most cases for colo, the client would have his own administrator visit the data center on site to do any hardware upgrades or changes.Clustered hosting: having multiple servers hosting the same content for better resource utilization. Clustered Servers are a perfect solution for high-availability dedicated hosting, or creating a scalable web hosting solution.Grid hosting : this form of distributed hosting is when a server cluster acts like a grid and is composed of multiple nodes.Home server: usually a single machine placed in a private residence can be used to host one or more web sites from a usually consumer-grade broadband connection. These can be purpose-built machines or more commonly old PC's.Some ISPs actively attempt to block home servers by disallowing incoming requests to TCP port 80 of the user's connection and by refusing to provide static IP addresses. A common way to attain a reliable DNS hostname is by creating an account with a dynamic DNS service. A dynamic DNS service will automatically change the IP address that a URL points to when the IP address changes.Some specific types of hosting provided by web host service providers:File hosting service: hosts files, not web pagesImage hosting service Video hosting service Blog hosting service One-click hosting Shopping cart software [edit] Obtaining hostingWeb hosting is often provided as part of a general Internet access plan; there are many free and paid providers offering these services.A customer needs to evaluate the requirements of the application to choose what kind of hosting to use. Such considerations include database server software, scripting software, and operating system. Most hosting providers provide Linux-based web hosting which offers a wide range of different software. A typical configuration for a Linux server is the LAMP platform: Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP/Perl/Python. The webhosting client may want to have other services, such as email for their business domain, databases or multi-media services for streaming media. A customer may also choose Windows for its hosting platform. The customer still can choose from PHP, Perl, and Python but may also use ASP .Net or Classic ASP.Web hosting packages often include a Web Content Management System, so the end-user doesn't have to worry about the more technical aspects. These Web Content Management systems are great for the average user, but for those who want more control over their website design, this feature can sometimes be a nuisance rather than a feature.Mac OS X has supported Apache since v10.4 "Tiger", and the Darwin (operating system) provides a Unix-like interface via Terminal.app. Such systems have complete Web hosting capabilities, including support for PHP, and Perl and Shell scripts. Personal Web Sharing can be activated in the Sharing panel of System Preferences...[1].One may also search the Internet to find active webhosting message boards and forums that may provide feedback on what type of webhosting company may suit his/her needs.[edit] References^ How to Activate Web Hosting on a Macintosh [edit] See alsoOverselling Shared web hosting service Dedicated hosting service

2007-06-16T18:09:00.001+07:00

Plug-ins

Maxxwell Render for 3dsmax, Maya, Lightwav

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Cebas.finalDOF.1.0.for3dsmax6-7

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Cebas.finalFlares.1.0.for3dsmax6-7

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Digimation.Phoenix.1.5f.for.3dsmax6-7

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SITNI.SATI.AFTERBURN.V3.2.FOR.3dsmax.V7

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SITNI.SATI.DREAMSCAPE.V2.5.FOR.3dsmax.V7

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Gears.DTX.Deformation.v1.0.0.1.MAX.6.7.8

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Swift3D.MAX.v3.0.148.Plugin.for.MAX

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EPHERE.Ornatrix.v1.4.Max.6.7.8

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FisheyeRender.v1.20.MAX.6.7

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Vehicle.studio.car.truck.v1.7.max.7.8

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Software

Autodesk 3DS MAX 8 with Service Pack 3

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Adobe After Effect 7.0

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Macromedia Director MX 2004 10.1

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EndorphinLearningEdition2.5.2

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winrar_3.5

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NOD32.Antivirus.System.2.50.41.WinXP.2K

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WS_FTPPro803

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FlashGet.v1.71

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deepexploration4.0

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Adobe.Premiere.Pro.v2.0.WinXP

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Maya7

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