Tekologik

Cell Phone Fraud

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:56:16 +0000

In today’s marketplace, there are so many cell phones and cell phone service providers that many consumers do not know one from another. This has led to the crime of cell phone fraud becoming more frequent.

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) defines cell phone fraud as the unauthorized use, tampering, or manipulation of a cell phone or service. As this crime began to rise in the 1990s, the Wireless Telephone Protection Act was passed in 1998 to criminalize the use, possession, manufacture, or sale of hardware or software used to clone fraudulent cell phones. This cloning is a type of cell phone fraud.

Every cell phone has a unique factory-set electronic serial number (ESN) and its own telephone number. Certain people will illegally monitor radio transmissions from the cell phones of legitimate subscribers. These individual then can create a cloned cell phone, which is a cell phone that has been reprogrammed to transmit the serial number and phone number of another legitimate cell phone. As both the cell phone and its clone have the same identifying numbers, the cellular system can not distinguish the difference. The legitimate subscriber who owns the original cell phone will end up getting billed for calls from both the phones. The agency warns that if when you receive your monthly cell phone bill and there are charges on it that you do not recognize, you should contact your cell phone service provider immediately.

The cell phone manufacturers are helping in the fight against cell phone cloning by making improvements on their products to make the cell phones more resistant to reprogramming. These companies have had quite a bit of success with their efforts and some of them feel that the problem should be totally resolved in a few years..

Another type of cell phone fraud is subscriber fraud. This is basically another form of identity theft. The perpetrator uses someone else’s name and social security number to purchase a cell phone and sets up an account with a cell phone service provider. The charges for the phone and any calls that the person makes is billed to the person whose name is on the account. If you are the victim of subscriber fraud you should report it to the authorities immediately a well as contacting your cell phone company, although it will probably be a long and complicated process to get the situation straightened out.

As with any other types of identity theft, there are precautions that you can take. You should shred any documents that contain your personal information, such as old check stubs and bank statements. It is a proven fact that many of these thieves retrieve the information that they need to obtain someone else’s identity by going through that person’s trash. You should also avoid giving out your personal information to any company or Web site that asks for it, usually under the guise of a charity or a sweepstakes contest. You may also want to refrain from carrying your social security card around with you in your purse or wallet as well as any other documents that may have this all-important number written on them in case your purse or wallet is lost or stolen. If the thief does not have your social security number, he cannot steal your identity as easily.

Cell phone cloning has been decreasing with the help of the manufacturers but subscriber fraud is happening more and more frequently. Again, keeping your personal information protected can prevent you from being a victim of these identity thieves.

Understanding How Hospitals Buy Medical Technology

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:50:03 +0000

Modern hospitals depend heavily on medical technology to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. A typical mid-sized hospital has hundreds of items of medical equipment, from simple stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors to highly sophisticated MRI machines and linear accelerators. Hospitals are complex enterprises with entire departments dedicated to technology planning, assessment, acquisition, maintenance, upgrade and replacement at the end of the product life cycle. They have elaborate systems, programs, policies, procedures and protocols in place for purchasing new medical equipment.

To sell successfully to healthcare providers, marketing and sales professionals have to be well versed in the buying processes that healthcare providers use. Medical device marketing is quite different from any other marketing. Typically, hospitals have a review process to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate their medical technology needs. The review’s scope depends on the cost of the technology, and may involve many departments. For expensive equipment, the review most likely will be elaborate. For less expensive and disposable items, the review may simply assess the department’s current needs, and the proposed purchase’s operational and financial impacts. In either case, a market survey and literature search take place to some extent, and this is supplemented with extensive data collection and analysis when needed. This is why white papers and case studies published by medical device manufacturers are very useful during the review process – the decision-makers look for every bit of information they can find. Hence, white papers and case studies can significantly influence the decision-making process. A typical review process includes the following phases:

1. Strategic planning 2. Assessment 3. Acquisition 4. Utilization 5. Repair and maintenance 6. Replacement and disposal

The process starts with strategic planning. In this top-level phase, the relevant stakeholders (e.g., Directors, Professors, Managers, Doctors, Engineers, Purchasing, etc.) review key issues, success factors and resource allocation, and assign responsibilities for sustained improvement in technological performance. They identify the services their facility provides, and the technologies that would complement their existing services. The typical questions to answer are: Where are we? Where do we want to be? How are we going to get there?

Because medical technology greatly impacts the cost and structure of healthcare delivery, hospitals include technology assessment in their planning process, which typically includes cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses.

Cost-benefit analysis calculates the costs of applying the technology and compares them to the benefits resulting from its application. It provides criteria upon which to base decisions of whether to adopt or reject a proposed device. The device is adopted if its benefits exceed its costs. However, one limitation of this analysis is that it expresses all benefits, including therapeutic effects, in monetary terms. Hence, hospitals also conduct cost-effectiveness analyses to quantify therapeutic effects in terms of reduced patient hospital stays, and compare these to the costs of the technology’s implementation. Although at first glance the chosen technology may seem to have limited impact on other facility operations, stakeholders also examine the likely effect of the new equipment on existing services.

Other aspects of cost-effectiveness analysis include assessment of long-term replacement strategies and identification of emerging technologies. Since medical devices have finite longevity, hospitals have replacement plans to minimize the effects of unforeseen capital replacement. By identifying emerging technologies that fit into the projected plans of the hospital’s service area, the hospital tries to avoid investing in nearly obsolete technologies.

Purchase of a new technology is justified only when an increase in equipment’s cost-effectiveness is clearly demonstrated. The typical questions asked during the analysis are:

* Will the new medical device increase the volume of the service? * Will it raise the costs of the service? * Will the device generate additional revenues and, if so, how much? * What is the new device’s expected lifespan? * What is the device’s reliability and the costs associated with its repair and maintenance? * How reliable and reputable is the manufacturer? * What impact will the new device have on routine operating costs? * What will the disposal cost be? * How easy is the device to operate?

Once the technology has been assessed and the decision to purchase has been made, the next phase in the process is technology acquisition, which typically includes the following steps:

* Preparation of general and functional specifications * Clinical, technical and cost evaluations * Review of proposals and evaluations, and making a final decision on a device manufacturer * Contract negotiation for the device’s acquisition * Preparation and issuance of a purchase order * Contract award

A contract award is the green light for the medical device company to deliver and install the product.

All Terrain Cell Phones

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:57:04 +0000

The average cell phone is not designed for rugged use; simply dropping it onto a hard surface can oftentimes render it useless, or at the very least damage it to the point that it needs basic repairs. Let’s face it, cells phones are dropped, thrown, driven over, washed in washing machines, and sometimes flushed. Cell phone users with more active lifestyles are likely to expose their cell phones to shock, sand, rain, and even saltwater.

Makers of cell phones have recognized the need for a more rugged all terrain cell phone and have taken steps towards not only developing phones specifically for rugged outdoor usage but have integrated some of the hardiest features into their entire product line; providing a cell phone that can withstand more abuse.

The XP1, created by cell phone maker Sonim, is perhaps one of the most rugged phones on the market. Coming in at a reasonable $365 per handset, this phone can withstand extreme temperatures, can be dropped, thrown, fully submerged, and even driven over by a car. This phone sacrifices none of the functionality needed from a cell phone; it is still a well designed stylish cell phone capable of making secure phone calls on any GSM network.

Applications of All Terrain Cell Phones

Sports Usage

There is a great application for rugged cell phones in outdoor sports environments. From use on the football field, to Nascar, even to use in water sports a cell phone that can stand up to heavy abuse and still be reliable is a great tool for use in all outdoor sports environments.

Military Use

With all of the various locations around the world that the military has troops stationed, there is a clear need for a cell phone that can tolerate extreme climates of all kinds. From extreme cold temperatures to extreme high desert temperatures, the phones in use would need to be adaptable between the two harsh climates. Additionally, phones that can withstand sand or wind are necessary. Cell phones used by the military also need to be reliable; considering that cell phones might be used in life or death situations, it is crucial to have a rugged cell phone that can be relied up to work no matter what the environment it is exposed to.

Fishing

Recreational fishermen have use of their radios when out at sea, but often have the need to communicate using alternate devices. The same applies for commercial fishermen, often working in harsh temperatures that incorporate salt water. A cell phone that can withstand the temperatures as well as not be affected by the salt water environment is very beneficial. A signal booster might be needed with phones used in these environments, however.

Construction

Not always the safest work environment for electronic gadgetry, a construction site can be rather hazardous to a cell phone! Cell phones can get dropped onto hard concrete surfaces, engulfed by dust and water, and also treated in a less than gentle manner. It’s vital, for safety and convenience reasons, to have a reliable and rugged cell phone on a construction site.

The large carrier recognize the need that some of their users have for a rugged all terrain phone; and now offer, in their product lineup, several phones that can withstand the extreme environments they will be exposed to during the course of their use.

Adobe to Present at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Exposition

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:52:13 +0000

t at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Exposition

March 25, 2008- Toronto, Canada – Adobe Systems Incorporated will be speaking and exhibiting at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Expo, taking place on April 15 -16, 2008 at the Design Exchange in Toronto Ontario.

Presenting on behalf of Adobe System will be Mark James, Business Development Manager. He is responsible for the marketing of Adobe Acrobat and enterprise solutions in Canada.

An avid speaker, Mr. James has presented in numerous Adobe and industry events such as the annual conference of the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia and IEEE XPlore, and has written for a wide range of publications such as Enterprise Magazine and Government Purchasing Guide.

To register for Early-Bird Passes please visit http://gov.wowgao.com/registration OR call (416)292-0038 Ext. 812.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Adobe Systems Incorporated offers business, creative, and mobile software solutions that revolutionize how the world engages with ideas and information. With a reputation for excellence and a portfolio of many of the most respected and recognizable software brands, Adobe is one of the world’s largest and most diversified software companies

About the 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference & Expo

The 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference and Expo will focus on the latest IT products and solutions being developed and sought after in the healthcare and public service sector, including Web 2.0, Patient Monitoring Systems, Document Management, Business Intelligence, Mobile Data Systems, RFID Solutions, Biometrics and much more.

As one of Canada’s leading annual IT conference and exposition, the event features ground breaking IT applications that aim to educate key IT professionals, Government officials, developers, architects, engineers and medical professionals with the necessary tools and techniques for the reliable, effective management of all public information services across Canada. For more information about the event, please visit http://gov.wowgao.com

About WowGao Inc.

WowGao Inc. is an award winning leading event management company that produces, since 2003, internationally renowned conferences and expositions that address the latest innovations and developments in the information technology industry. Our featured events include:

Government & Health Technologies Conference and Expo, April 15 & 16, 2008

Wireless & Mobile Expo and Conference, July 15 & 16, 2008

RFID Forum, July 15 & 16, 2008

Financial Services Technology Forum, October 2008

For more information about the events, please visit http://www.wowgao.com/

For conference inquiries

Conference Producer

(416) 292 – 0038 ext. 840 | conference@wowgao.com

WowGao Inc. | www.wowgao.com

t at the 2008 Health Technologies Conference and Exposition

Presenting on behalf of Adobe System will be Mark James, Business Development Manager. He is responsible for the marketing of Adobe Acrobat and enterprise solutions in Canada.

To register for Early-Bird Passes please visit http://gov.wowgao.com/registration OR call (416)292-0038 Ext. 812.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

About the 2008 Government and Health Technologies Conference & Expo

About WowGao Inc.

Government & Health Technologies Conference and Expo, April 15 & 16, 2008

Wireless & Mobile Expo and Conference, July 15 & 16, 2008

RFID Forum, July 15 & 16, 2008

Financial Services Technology Forum, October 2008

For more information about the events, please visit http://www.wowgao.com/

For conference inquiries

Conference Producer

(416) 292 – 0038 ext. 840 | conference@wowgao.com

WowGao Inc. | www.wowgao.com

Neat and Comfortable Bathroom Suites

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:41:55 +0000

Bathroom suites should be able to give comfort and usability for those who use it. In addition, bathroom suite should also be neat so that users can easily find what they need while in the bathroom such as towels, toothpaste, and others. With less vast space, people can make a bathroom comfortable and neat. This arrangement requires only the settings in the bathroom were good furniture or other accessories.

Currently has available a variety of bathroom units that can be purchased with various brands and prices. However, does not have to choose expensive bathroom suites to be able to get all these comforts. Thing to note is what features are most needed in the bathroom. Naturally, every home has a different concept.

When did the household do not like to linger in the bathroom, the furniture selected is the furniture that can meet the main needs in the bathroom such as bath, shower, basin sets, and toilets. In addition, if necessary, it is also added a bathroom cabinet that has been equipped with a mirror so that it can multifunctional and efficient.

If you have trouble getting what you need, you can visit BetterBathrooms.com. In addition to satisfactory service, the price offered is also very varied with a high quality product.