Vonage Customers Are Being Hacked!

An article about the lastest security news that I read last week regarding Vonage is pretty scary. With so many people switching telephone service providers to get the lower prices that Vonage offers, it's really a shame that along with new internet technology comes new ways of hacking into people's lives and businesses.

The article says that Vonage customers phone lines are being hacked, and that the hackers can divert and intercept the telephone calls by exploiting a weakness in the system.

If you were considering going with Vonage, I'd definitely give it a little more thought. If their internet phone systems do not have the proper security measures, the company can in no way protect or ensure your privacy. Going with Vonage as your provider may save you a bit of money, but at what cost?

Has this happened to you? If you are a Vonage customer and your phone lines have been hacked, please post a comment to let us know about it! How did you deal with it? What did Vonage do to fix it?

And remember, there are other ways to save money on your phone bill. With PhoneHog, you can earn free long distance minutes that can save you a fortune. It's easy and free to sign up.

New Program from Microsoft Connects Phone and Video to Outlook E-Mail

The New York Times recently reported that Microsoft has launched two new programs that enable people to place calls directly from the Microsoft Outlook e-mail program. Obviously, they are working hard to intermingle calling, conferencing, e-mail, and instant messaging. This type of software recently merged some corporate telephone networks with networks connecting office PC's to the Internet.

Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator 2007 have added voice calling and video conferencing to its features. Microsoft continues to change the way people communicate. The programs can identify to co-workers how to contact each other based on their "presence" status, whether it is via phone, Instant Message, or E-mail.

This is just another great example of how technology is improving our world. Already I can listen to my voicemails from Outlook. It's delivered as an email message with an mp3 attachment. I have always hated listening to voicemail, but for some reason, it's not so bad when I listen via Outlook. I don't even have to pick up the phone. I'm sure we'll start to see this technology in many more of our offices very soon.

If your office has either of these programs, feel free to comment to let us know how you like it. Do you see an improvement in office productivity and communication?

Speaking of telephone calls...Don't forget PhoneHog members can get free long distance. Register today!

How To Help Mend A Broken Family

How is it that family relationships can break down so badly that they can seem irrepairable? Many things can happen such as serious differences of opinion about religion or values, parents getting divorced, and even a family member marrying a person that no one approves of. Have you ever been in a situation like this?
Family matters can often consume a person's life to the point where they are unable to focus, sleep, or concentrate at work. The situation can seem impossible to deal with, let alone to fix. At times like these, heartfelt family communication can be the first step to breaking down the barriers that are keeping them apart.
If this scenario sounds familiar to you, why not suggest family counseling? This can be a way for everyone to sit together to talk about how they feel and get an unbiased opinion from a trained professional about how to begin to repair the damaged that has been done. If family therapy is not an option, how about letting down your guard, picking up the phone, and saying you are sorry and that you want to talk about what's happening? Sometimes it doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong, because as they say, 'blood is thicker than water'. Having your family around is very important, so you should definitely try to work through your differences.
If you are in a situation like this or you ever have been, feel free to comment to let us know how you handled it. Were you able to mend your family relationships? If so, how did you do it?

Pick up the phone and call your loved ones today. Earn free long distance minutes at http://www.phonehog.com/

Can A Long Distance Relationship Work?

Many people put a lot of thought into embarking upon a relationship that would be divided by miles. This is all for good reason! It is seldom that we hear about long distance relationships working out. I have a little bit of relationship advice for those of you who are considering it, or even for those of you who are already in the midst of this kind of love.

Love compatibility and relationship communication are two very important factors that can determine whether or not your long distance relationship will last. It isn't for people who are insecure, because putting that much distance between a couple means there has to be absolute trust. If there is no trust, there is no love. Dating is already hard enough!

Love compatibility is really about having the same morals, values, and expectations in a relationship. For example, if one person in the relationship feels that they should see their partner every single day, but the other person doesn't feel that way - the first person in that relationship is going to be disappointed and maybe hurt. Being relationship compatible will give a long distance love a higher chance of working out.

Relationship communication is vital - especially for long distance relationships! Telling your partner how you feel and being open and honest goes a long way in creating a comfort zone that can span the distance between a couple who are miles apart. Regular phone conversations, just to hear each other's voice, can help with the lonliness that may be encountered. Even though phone bills can be higher than usual, you have to keep the lines open should one partner need to talk. There are pleny of long distance relationships that have ended up in marriage, so hang in there!

Feel free to comment if you have an opinion on this situation. Do you think long distance relationships can last - yes or no? Let us know what you think!

Eliminate the cost of a long distance relationship with free long distance from PhoneHog. Go to http://www.phonehog.com/